Jamille Matt salvaged a point for League Two leaders, Walsall in a 2-2 draw away to Bromley at Hayes Lane.
Matt rescued a point for Walsall with a close-range 70th minute strike on his 400th career appearance from Connor Barrett’s low cross.
Ben Thompson curled Bromley ahead from a counter-attack in the seventh minute which fell for Cameron Congreve to cut back into his path.
Walsall substitute, Levi Amantchi however pulled his team level against his former team on-the-turn in the first minute of injury time, before Harry McKirdy restored the hosts’ lead with a lobbed 55th minute strike for his first goal at Bromley.
Bromley remain tenth and now four points off the final play-off spot, whilst Walsall remain top and will only be displaced if Bradford beat Tranmere by seven goals or more.
Having seen their play-off dreams suffer a dent in a disappointing loss at Tranmere last weekend, Bromley bounced back with a confident start which saw a third-minute corner come to nothing.
Andy Woodman’s Ravens soon got their reward in the seventh minute as a Walsall free-kick was cleared up the left by Michael Cheek, who played a clever backward flick for Congreve to latch onto and cut back for Thompson to curl in from 18 yards into the top-left corner to add more pain to Walsall’s sloppy defence in 2025.
Walsall’s evening got worse after Ellis Harrison was forced off with a hamstring injury after 18 minutes but his replacement, Amantchi got happy cheers from the home crowd on his return to Hayes Lane – having left the Ravens for Walsall in January.
Bromley however refused to relent as Cheek put Corey Whitely’s curled 23rd-minute cross into the near-left corner but his goal was disallowed for handball, amidst two offsides in the build-up.
Cheek again went close eight minutes later but his chipped shot was cleared off the line although the offside flag had been raised for his initial position, as he met a headed pass from a deep cross into the box.
Bromley soon found themselves protecting their lead defensively as Jamie Jellis fired over the bar then Amantchi turned Connor Barrett’s cross wide of his near-right corner.
Walsall captain, Matt found himself yellow carded for a 38th minute shove on Thompson into the advertising hoardings during a free-kick, as the Saddlers once again found themselves forced to dig deep defensively to try and keep their deficit down to a single goal into half-time.
Luck eventually fell Walsall’s way in the first minute of first-half injury-time as a cross from the right by Oisin McEntee found Amantchi to turn and smash in low against his former team to restore parity at the break.
Bromley opted to make a change at half-time as Kamarl Grant was substituted for McKirdy which paid off barely ten minutes later, with a loose Walsall touch crossed by Cheek into McKirdy’s pass and last month’s signing lobbed in on his right foot to put the hosts back in front.
Walsall immediately mounted a response but Taylor Allen’s volley and Jellis’ follow-up shot were denied by Grant Smith.
Smith however couldn’t prevent Matt on his 400th appearance netting Walsall’s equaliser in the 70th minute from Barrett’s low cross via the right flank.
Bromley soon thought that they had a chance to retake the lead after McEntee fouled Cheek, but referee – Ruebyn Ricardo snubbed the hosts’ appeal for a penalty.
Both teams proceeded to push for a late winner and Walsall went close on a 86th minute counter-attack but Allen’s cross was nodded away from goal by a back-tracking Ashley Charles, as neither team ultimately found a match-winning goal and settled for a point apiece.
What’s Next?
Bromley face a trip to relegation-battling Carlisle United at Brunton Park on Saturday 22 March at 3pm GMT.
Walsall will also be back in action at the same time as they head further afield out of South London into Kent, as they visit Gillingham.
Teams
Bromley: Grant Smith, Kamarl Grant (McKirdy 46′), Deji Elerewe, Byron Webster, Adam Mayor, Jude Arthurs, Ashley Charles (Dennis 88′), Cameron Congreve (Ilunga 74′), Ben Thompson, Corey Whitely, Michael Cheek (Kabamba 87′)
Substitutes: Louis Dennis, Brooklyn Ilunga, Nicke Kabamba, Sam Long, Harry McKirdy, Idris Odutayo, Omar Sowunmi
Walsall: Sam Hornby, Oisin McEntee, David Okagbue, Taylor Allen, Connor Barrett, Brandon Comley, Evan Weir, Liam Gordon, Jamie Jellis, Jamille Matt, Ellis Harrison (Amantchi 19′)
Substitutes: Albert Adomah, Levi Amantchi, Charlie Lakin, Tommy Simkin, Ryan Stirk, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Williams
Referee – Ruebyn Ricardo
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