Bromley moved to within three points of the last League Two Play-Off spot with a 3-0 victory at Gillingham.
Louis Dennis fired Bromley ahead from Jude Arthurs’ flick-on pass after the latter got a touch on Michael Cheek’s low cross in the seventh minute.
Arthurs doubled the Ravens’ lead with a close-range 26th-minute strike, before Kamarl Grant sealed victory with a 76th-minute tap-in from Corey Whitely’s low cross to extend the Ravens’ unbeaten league run to 12 matches.
Gillingham stayed 14th in the table whilst Bromley climbed to 11th and just three points off the last play-off spot.
Just one point separated both teams coming into this game but it was Gillingham who went close in the third minute as Timothee Dieng’s shot from Joseph Gbode cross was blocked, then Josh Andrews fired wide on the follow-up.
Bromley though arrived at Priestfield unbeaten in 11 matches following a 1-1 draw against Swindon, and soon grabbed a seventh-minute lead as Cheek’s low cross was flicked by Arthurs across for Dennis to roll into the net.
With just 22 league goals this season, Gillingham’s creativity struggles continued whilst Shadrach Ogie blocked Danny Imray’s shot, amidst speculation over a potential recall for Imray at Crystal Palace following interest from higher league-level clubs.
Gillingham’s first-half woes worsened three minutes later as Idris Odutayo’s throw-in got nodded on twice inside the box, which eventually fell for Arthurs to flick in with his back to goal to double the Ravens’ lead.
Bromley’s top goalscorer, Michael Cheek missed two chances to put the game beyond Gillingham before half-time, as he first headed over the bar then his cutback pass was converted onto goal by Odutayo but Glenn Morris saved Odutayo’s shot.
Gillingham opted for a triple half-time substitution as Max Clark, Timothee Dieng and Jack Nolan got hooked off, with Remeao Hutton, Armani Little and Jayden Clarke sent on to try and desperately salvage at least a comeback draw.
Mark Bonner’s gamble brought improved intensity but their end product continued to stutter, amidst Andrews’ 47th-minute header put wide.
Gillingham almost found their first goal in the 61st minute but Andrews’ header was blocked by Grant Smith, whilst Little’s follow-up shot was cleared by Omar Sowunmi.
Bromley continued to defend resiliently and got rewarded from a 76th-minute free-kick, as Ben Thompson found Whitely up the right to play in a low cross which Grant turned in from close range for his first goal since August’s away win at Harrogate.
Andy Woodman’s Ravens however had just six clean sheets coming into this game but that stat became seven in the 88th minute, as Gillingham substitute – Elliott Nevitt fired a penalty over the bar following Sowunmi’s foul on Andrews.
What’s Next?
Gillingham head to three-match winless Chesterfield on Sunday 5 January at 3pm GMT, as both teams look to boost their play-off ambitions.
Bromley head to Crewe Alexandra at the same time that day looking to extend their unbeaten run, ahead of their mouth-watering historic FA Cup trip to Newcastle on Sunday 13 January (3pm).
Teams
Gillingham: Glenn Morris, Max Clark (Hutton 46′), Shadrach Ogie, Max Ehmer, Robbie McKenzie, Ethan Coleman (Nevitt 55′), Timothee Dieng (Little 46′), Joseph Gbode, Jonny Williams (E.Williams 77′), Jack Nolan (Clarke 46′), Josh Andrews
Substitutes: Luca Ashby-Hammond, Jayden Clarke, Sam Gale Remeao Hutton, Armani Little, Elliott Nevitt, Euan Williams
Bromley: Grant Smith, Kamarl Grant, Omar Sowunmi, Deji Elerewe (Reynolds 80′), Idris Odutayo, Jude Arthurs (Charles 80′), Ben Thompson, Danny Imray, Corey Whitely, Louis Dennis (Amantchi 71′), Michael Cheek (Olomola 90′)
Substitutes: Levi Amantchi, Ashley Charles, Cameron Congreve, Sam Long, Olufela Olomola, Callum Reynolds, Byron Webster
Referee – Ben Atkinson
Leave a Reply