Bromley Held to 2-2 Draw Against Gillingham

Michael Cheek became Bromley’s top modern-era goalscorer in a 2-2 draw against League Two leaders, Gillingham. 

Max Clark netted a 98th-minute equalising penalty for the Gils after referee, James Durkin controversially awarded a late spot-kick following Garath McCleary’s collision with Grant Smith.

Nicke Kabamba fired Bromley ahead with a brilliant seventh-minute volley from Cheek’s knockdown header.

Cheek headed in his 133rd club goal from Idris Odutayo’s 12th-minute cross to cement his historic record-breaking status as Bromley’s top goalscorer in the modern era, as Andy Woodman’s Ravens doubled their lead.

Josh Andrews halved Gillingham’s deficit with a 56th-minute header from Remeao Hutton’s throw-in.

Gillingham remained top of League Two albeit on goal difference from Swindon and Walsall, whilst Bromley slipped to fifth as a consequence of having blown their 2-0 lead.

Woodman post match was critical of how his team allowed the game to turn into “bit of a basketball match,” given their first-half dominance but praised Gillingham for giving his team a proper contest in an interview with Bromley’s YouTube channel.

“I thought first half was excellent. I thought second half we were scrappy. We weren’t really in control of the game. We made it a bit of a basketball match, which we’re not good at, and we needed to show a little bit of composure and we didn’t.

“That said they’re going to try the kitchen sink at you a little bit and we didn’t cope with it particularly well I didn’t think. Fair play to them. You know, they huffed and puffed and uh but we should have been out of sight. We shouldn’t have been relying on that decision. We should have been four or five up easily.”

With top spot, unbeaten record and local pride in Kent at stake come kick-off in front of a sold-out Copperjax Community Stadium, Bromley enjoyed a strong start but Gillingham almost took a fourth-minute lead on a quick attack but Elliott Nevitt fired over the bar.

That missed opportunity proved costly just three minutes later as a direct cross towards the right flank was nodded down by Cheek toward Kabamba, who let the ball bounce before he smashed his shot into the near-bottom right corner to put Woodman’s Ravens in front.

Gillingham immediately attempted to respond and Clark found himself fouled by Will Hondermarck, which led to a series of quick-fire set-pieces, which was ended by a scruffy strike wide after Bromley’s Smith dropped an easy save inside his goalmouth.

Bromley once again punished the Gills’ wasteful final touch as Odutayo was allowed to freely advance up the left and whipped in a cross, which Cheek casually met with a header on the bounce into the left corner to double the hosts’ lead.

Cheek’s header also ensured that the 34-year-old became Bromley’s record goalscorer in the modern era with 133 goals, which surpassed the 132 goal tally of Butch Dunn set in 208 appearances between 1978-82.

Such was Bromley’s confidence in the opening phases, Gillingham had Glenn Morris and Robbie McKenzie to thank that the game wasn’t effectively over after 22 minutes, with Morris having blocked Kabamba’s chipped shot before McKenzie cleared Cheek’s header off the line.

Bromley however proved difficult to break down defensively before half time as Jonny Williams put a 35th-minute strike wide from 25 yards for the visitors, before Smith saved Josh Andrews’ shot three minutes later.

Gillingham however hadn’t tasted a league defeat in 15 matches since Gareth Ainsworth took charge in late-March – although they were unbeaten in 18 total league games including three games prior to Ainsworth’s arrival – and began the second half on the front foot.

That reignited spark eventually paid dividends from a throw-in in the 56th minute from Hutton, which found Andrews unmarked to nod into the bottom-left corner to reduce the Gils’ deficit.

Bromley almost re-opened their two-goal lead just past the hour mark as Cheek struck the right-side post before Kabamba’s rebound effort was deflected wide.

Kabamba then saw a 72nd-minute flicked shot denied by Morris before the latter then denied Mitch Pinnock’s 75th-minute shot, whilst Cheek’s rebound strike was too blocked as the Ravens enjoyed their best spell of the second half.

Gillingham however won a controversial 94th-minute penalty after substitute, Garath McCleary collided with Smith which saw referee – Durkin debatably adjudge Smith at fault despite McCleary’s clear direct run into the goalkeeper.

Clark stepped up and dispatched the penalty down the middle to salvage a draw for Gillingham who stayed top and Bromley slipped to fifth, amidst Durkin’s decision to snub a clear foul on Sowunmi during a late corner.

Woodman post-match described the penalty as a moment which “robbed” Bromley of the win as an obvious foul which left him baffled at the referee’s decision,

“I mean it’s a foul on the keeper. I don’t really get it.”

 

What’s Next?

Bromley head to Oldham on Saturday 13 September in a 3pm kick-off at Boundary Park.

Gillingham at the same time on that date will play host to Notts County.

 

Teams

Bromley: Grant Smith, Omar Sowunmi, Kyle Cameron (Webster 52′), Idris Odutayo, Marcus Ifill (Krauhaus 58′), Corey Whitely (Arthurs 58′), Ashley Charles, Will Hondermarck, Mitch Pinnock, Michael Cheek, Nicke Kabamba (Dinanga 87′)

Substitutes: Sam Long, Ben Krauhaus, Ben Thompson, Marcus Dinanga, Byron Webster, Jemiah Umolu, Jude Arthurs

Gillingham: Glenn Morris, Sam Gale, Robbie McKenzie, Andy Smith, Remeao Hutton (Smith 63′), Armani Little (McCleary 64′), Ethan Coleman (Khumbeni 57′), Max Clark, Jonny Williams, Elliott Nevitt (Vokes 64′), Josh Andrews (Rowe 70′)

Substitutes: Jake Turner, Garath McCleary, Aaron Rowe, Jonny Smith, Sam Vokes, Nelson Khumbeni, Lenni Cirino

Referee – James Durkin