Cole Stockton’s injury-time rebound header rescued Salford a dramatic 3-3 draw at home to Bromley at Peninsula Stadium from 3-0 down.
Stockton nodded in a 92nd minute equaliser on the rebound to rescue a point for Salford after Matty Lund’s shot had been deflected into his path by Grant Smith, after Lewis Warrington and Lund had initially pulled goals back for the hosts in the 61st and 78th minutes respectively.
Cameron Congreve opened the scoring with a 13th minute strike from Michael Cheek’s headed pass after Bromley’s top goalscorer met Carl Jenkinson’s throw-in.
Cheek then added the Ravens’ second goal as he nodded in from Danny Imray’s 38th minute cross, before Congreve snatched his second goal from a 51st minute cutback pass by Imray to put them 3-0 up early in the second half.
Salford remained eighth in the League Two table and two points off Bradford who hold the final play-off spot, whilst Bromley remained in 16th position.
With just three wins amassed in total between Salford and Bromley so far in 2025 amidst FA Cup exits away at Manchester City and Newcastle respectively, it wasn’t surprising that the opening minutes was scrappy until Ryan Watford put a 11th minute long-range shot wide for the hosts.
Bromley however snatched a surprise early lead with their first proper attack as Jenkinson’s 13th minute throw-in was headed on by Cheek for Congreve to smash into the net, which was only their second league goal in five games.
Cole Stockton tried to mount a response for Salford in the 15th minute as he met Conor McAleny’s square pass but his shot was blocked and quickly cleared.
Bromley almost doubled their lead in the 19th minute as Ben Thompson’s deep cross to the left post was nodded just wide across goal by Cheek.
Crystal Palace loanee, Imray saw two shots blocked after he survived transfer interest from Wycombe in the January transfer window, which means that he will see out the season with Bromley.
Imray soon proved his value with his third assist of the season in the 38th minute as he sprinted up the right and hooked in a cross, which Cheek was able to meet and nod into the top-right corner to double Bromley’s lead.
Grant Smith protected the Ravens’ lead with a 41st minute save of Stockton’s shot as Salford failed to find an equaliser before half-time.
Salford boss, Karl Robinson consequently rung the changes as Kevin Berkoe, Watson and McAleny were substituted for Rosaire Longelo, Warrington and Kouassi respectively, which saw the Ammies start the second half brightly.
Bromley however knocked out further hope of a Salford fightback after substitute, Kamarl Grant unleashed Imray up the right, and the right-back calmly teed up Congreve to smash in his second goal which put the Ravens 3-0 up after 51 minutes and up to 12th in the table at that point.
Salford nevertheless continued to push in hope of a fightback and clawed a goal back just past the hour mark after Kouassi outmuscled Grant up Salford’s left, with his cutback pass curled low into the far-right corner by Warrington to reduce their deficit.
Their hopes of a comeback however looked unlikely until Lund on his 150th appearance for Salford nodded in from Jon Taylor’s cross, which further reduced their deficit to a single goal to set up a grandstand finish.
Salford ultimately completed their comeback in the second minute of injury time after Smith parried Lund’s shot into the path of Stockton, and the 30 year-old nodded in on the rebound to rescue a vital point for the play-off chasing Ammies in a stunning fightback.
What’s Next?
Salford will again be at home as they host relegation-battling Tranmere at 3pm GMT on Saturday 8 February.
Bromley will also be in action at the same time on that date as Woodman’s Ravens visit fellow mid-table opposition, MK Dons.
Teams
Salford: Jamie Jones, Curtis Tilt (Okoronkwo 81′), Stephan Negru, Haji Mnoga, Kevin Berkoe (Longelo 46′), Ryan Watson (Warrington 46′), Matty Lund, Jon Taylor, Conor McAleny (Kouassi 46′), Hakeeb Adelakun, Cole Stockton
Substitutes: Kylian Kouassi, Rosaire Longelo, Francis Okoronkwo, Tosin Olopade, Lewis Warrington, Will Wright, Matty Young
Bromley: Grant Smith, Carl Jenkinson (Grant 44′), Byron Webster, Maldini Kacurri (Whitely 78′), Danny Imray, Jude Arthurs, Ashley Charles, Ben Thompson, Adam Mayor, Cameron Congreve, Michael Cheek (Kabamba 79′)
Substitutes: Louis Dennis, Kamarl Grant, Brooke Ilunga, Nicke Kabamba, Lewis Leigh, Sam Long, Corey Whitely
Referee – Simon Mather
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