Wycombe Wanderers ended Bromley’s historic Carabao Cup run with a 5-4 win on penalties, after a 1-1 draw at Copperjax Stadium.
Cameron Stones netted Wycombe’s winning penalty as the shootout was ultimately settled by Will Hondermarck’s penalty hitting the crossbar in sudden death, after Byron Webster missed a chance to put Andy Woodman’s Ravens through with their fifth spot-kick.
Magnus Westergaard headed Wycombe into a fifth-minute lead from Taylor Allen’s cross but Bromley equalised 30 minutes later, after Jude Arthurs volleyed in from a sloppy clearance of Mitch Pinnock’s long throw-in.
Wycombe will discover their third-round opposition post 10pm BST tomorrow evening (27 August) following the conclusion of Grimsby’s tie against Manchester United.
With just ten places separating Bromley and Wycombe on the EFL ladder with the latter having suffered a difficult start to their season, it was unsurprising that the hosts began on the front foot as Pinnock saw a third-minute shot blocked.
Marcus Dinanga and Ashley Charles were unable to further finish off follow-up attempts for Bromley.
Wycombe instead broke forward two minutes later in a series of fast-paced passes into the box started by Westergaard, who calmly positioned himself into space to nod Allen’s cross into the right corner to put the Chairboys in front.
Nicke Kabamba then saw two successive headers denied as Bromley almost equalised three minutes later, before he and Dinanga saw chances denied in the 17th minute as the hosts’ frustrations continued.
Ben Krauhaus was the next Bromley player to find himself frustrated after he pounced on a 20th-minute heel flick from Kabamba, only for Will Norris to save his tame shot.
Wycombe however almost doubled their lead in the 25th minute after Allen’s cross was deflected to Caolan Boyd-Munce, yet the midfielder rifled wide across the goal.
Bromley’s resilient pressure eventually paid off from a 35th-minute long throw-in by Pinnock which was deflected down for Arthurs to volley their equaliser into the left corner from the edge of the box.
Wycombe almost retook their lead just three minutes later through a delicate cross by Dan Casey but Sam Long saved James Tilley’s header.
Up the other end, Norris saved a powerful low strike from Arthurs but Wycombe finished the first half on top as Ewan Henderson forced a 44th-minute saved from Long, before Casey headed a free-kick wide in the second minute of first-half injury-time.
Both teams subsequently enjoyed short periods of possession early in the second half until Marcus Ifill’s pass towards Kabamba was deflected behind by Casey.
Referee, Thomas Parsons waved away 63rd-minute penalty appeals from Bromley after substitute, Jemiah Umolu was tugged to ground inside the box.
Wycombe however couldn’t take advantage of the ref’s decision as Alex Lowry fired over the bar in the 67th minute, before he then pounced on Westergaard’s pass five minutes later but fired low into Long’s palms.
The League One team continued to stay on top of Bromley as their superior experience began to tell but James Tilley fired a 78th-minute on-the-turn strike into the side-netting.
Bromley almost found a 82nd-minute winner after Will Hondermarck began a move up the left which saw Idris Odutayo bend a shot towards the far right corner, but Norris was alert to make the save to set up a tense finish.
The tie ultimately headed to a penalty shootout after Charles smashed a 94th-minute strike over the bar from a scrappy clearance, before Kyle Cameron’s header was saved by Norris moments before the full-time whistle blew.
Boyd-Munce opened the shootout for Wycombe but Michael Cheek immediately pulled the hosts level with their first penalty.
Mekhi Savage missed Wycombe’s second penalty but Norris saved Arthurs’ penalty to keep the score locked at 1-1 apiece, before Alex Hartridge, Idris Odutayo, Lowry and Ifill scored the following penalties.
Westergaard put Wycombe’s fifth penalty wide which gave Byron Webster a chance to win the shootout for Bromley, but the skipper put his penalty wide to send the tie to sudden death.
Fin Back, Kyle Cameron and Stones converted the first three penalties of the sudden death period before Hondermarck struck the crossbar to send Wycombe through.
What’s Next?
Bromley now face the second of four consecutive home games in all competitions as they host Harrogate in League Two on 30 August at 3pm BST, followed by their first group game in the Vertu Trophy against Crystal Palace Under-21s on 2 September (7:45pm).
Woodman’s Ravens then meet Gillingham on 6 September at 5:30pm in game considered by many fans to be a Kent derby, despite Bromley having been located within South-East London since London boroughs were introduced in 1965.
Wycombe face a tough League One visit to high-flying Stevenage on 30 August (3pm).
Teams
Bromley: Sam Long, Byron Webster, Omar Sowunmi, Kyle Cameron, Marcus Ifill, Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs, Mitch Pinnock (Odutayo 59′), Ben Krauhaus (Hondermarck 60′), Marcus Dinanga (Cheek 60′), Nicke Kabamba (Umolu 60′)
Substitutes: Deji Elerewe, Michael Cheek, Sam German, Will Hondermarck, Brooklyn Ilunga, Idris Odutayo, Grant Smith, Alex Stepien-Iwumene, Jemiah Umolu
Wycombe: Will Norris, Fin Back, Taylor Allen (Gregory 69′), Alex Hartridge, Dan Casey, George Abbott (Stones 85′), Caolan Boyd-Munce, James Tilley (Olabiyi 80′), Magnus Westergaard, Ewan Henderson (Lowry 46′), Junior Quitirna (Savage 69′)
Substitutes: Arthur Gregory, Jack Grimmer, Anders Hagelskjaer, Alex Lowry, Stuart Moore, Micah Olabiyi, Mekhi Savage, Cameron Stones, Daniel Udoh
Referee – Thomas Parsons
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