Bromley fell to their first League Two defeat of the season with a 3-1 loss at Bradford City.
Richard Smallwood fired Bradford ahead in the ninth minute from the penalty spot after Ashley Charles was red carded for handball.
Andy Cook doubled the Bantams’ lead with a 42nd minute rebound effort from close range, after his initial shot had been blocked.
Bobby Pointon wrapped up victory with a 79th minute low strike but Byron Webster denied the Bantams a clean sheet, with his header from a 86th minute free-kick.
The result lifted Bradford up to second in the table whilst Bromley slipped to seventh but still in the early play-off placings.
Unbeaten in their opening two league fixtures without conceding, Bromley found themselves defending early on as Bradford made an energetic attacking start.
Bradford’s intense pressure soon boiled over during a seventh minute set-piece as a header was unintentionally handballed by Ashley Charles on the line.
Referee – Scott Simpson however controversially declared the handball to be intentional and red carded Charles, which marked Bromley’s first red card in the EFL.
Smallwood stepped up and rolled his penalty into the bottom-right corner as Bromley goalkeeper, Grant Smith dived the other way.
Bradford quickly proceeded to control the game but wasted a chance to claim a second goal in the 16th minute, as Cook flicked Bradley Halliday’s cross wide near the right post.
Alex Pattison and Antoni Sarcevic then saw headers denied in the 29th minute as Graham Alexander’s Bantams continued to batter Bromley.
Bromley however did create their own opportunity to level in the 31st minute from a Jude Arthurs corner, which found Kamarl Grant to shoot but Sam Walker made a comfortable low save.
Grant then made a headed block to deny Pattison in the 39th minute as Bradford continue to control the game.
Bradford eventually added their second goal late in the 41st minute from a cross which found Cook to volley towards goal, only for Smith to make a block which Cook quickly followed up for his first league goal of the season.
Bromley consequently were behind at half-time for the first time this season and manager, Andy Woodman substituted Cameron Congreve for Lewis Leigh as the Ravens pressed higher in the second half.
Referee, Simpson however lacked the guts to send off Smallwood in the 48th minute, after the ex Middlesbrough midfielder shoved Arthurs to ground and instead awarded just a yellow card.
Bradford took advantage of Simpson’s sloppiness and soon continued to control the game, during which Neill Byrne fired over from a knockdown headed pass by Cook.
Bromley however nearly halved their deficit in the 66th minute from a corner, but Michael Cheek’s header was cleared away from goal.
Tyreik Wright fired wide for Bradford three minutes later, then Cook’s 75th minute shot was saved by Smith, as the Bantams looked to wrap up victory.
Substitute, Pointon however settled the tie with a 79th minute strike low into the bottom-right corner from Sarcevic’s pass.
Bromley however didn’t leave Valley Parade empty-handed after a 86th minute free-kick from Leigh was nodded in by Webster, as the defender netted his first EFL goal since January 2020 in a 1-1 draw against Oldham in this very division.
Bradford eventually saw the game out to go second in the table, whilst Bromley slipped to seventh and missed out on the chance to go top if they had won this fixture.
What’s Next?
Bradford will visit Grimsby at Blundell Park at 3pm BST, on Saturday 31 August, just over two weeks since they lost to the Mariners on penalties in the Carabao Cup.
Bromley meanwhile host Crewe Alexandra at Hayes Lane at the exact same time.
Teams
Bradford – Sam Walker, Ciaran Kelly, Neill Byrne, Aden Baldwin, Tyreik Wright (Oduor 83′), Alex Pattison (Pointon 61′), Richie Smallwood, Antoni Sarcevic, Bradley Halliday, Calum Kavanagh (Sanderson 61′), Andy Cook (Walker 83′)
Substitutes: Colin Doyle, Clarke Oduor, Bobby Pointon, Lewis Richards, Olly Sanderson, Jack Shepherd, Jamie Walker
Bromley – Grant Smith, Kamarl Grant, Byron Webster, Callum Reynolds, Idris Odutayo, Cameron Congreve (Leigh 46′), Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs, Danny Imray (Dinanga 26′), Corey Whitely (Dennis 62′), Michael Cheek (Amantchi 83′)
Substitutes: Sam Long, Lewis Leigh, Marcus Dinanga, Louis Dennis, Levi Amantchi, Bes Topalloj, Olufela Olomola
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