Michael Cheek netted a 52nd-minute winner as Bromley won 1-0 away at Crewe Alexandra to end their five-match winless league run.
Cheek fired in his 52nd-minute winner from Omar Sowunmi’s knockdown header of Idris Odutayo’s direct cross to settle a tight contest at Mornflake Stadium. .
Crewe’s defeat meant that they slipped to eighth in the table, whilst Bromley climbed to 10th and ended their five-match winless league run.
Only four points separated Crewe and Bromley at kick-off with a mere five clean sheets combined due to defensive fragilities, so a lively start wasn’t too surprising as Bromley won a first-minute free-kick, which was cleared moments into the second minute.
Crewe in response moments later saw chances from Tommi O’Reilly and Josh March blocked by Sam Long, who then saved a tame flick-on shot from Conor Thomas just four minutes later.
Crewe’s James Connolly however conceded possession carelessly in the third minute to Cheek, but Tom Booth was alert to deny Cheek a sixth goal of the season.
Crewe however looked the more creative as Jack Lankester curled over the top-right corner in the 11th minute, before his shot two minutes later from Tommi O’Reilly’s low cross was blocked by Long then a Bromley defender off the line.
Bromley’s best chances of the first half fell to Ben Thompson as he fired wide of the bottom left corner in the 17th minute, then forced a save from Booth in the 34th minute, although the ex Millwall midfielder was booked shortly afterwards for a foul on Mickey Demetriou.
Crewe however almost went into the break in front if not for Sam Long’s deflective punch to deny Lankester, although the latter was in an offside position.
Lankester’s offside moment however would haunt Crewe early in the second half as Bromley came out on the front foot, which culminated in a 52nd-minute throw-in that was blocked out to Odutayo whose direct cross was nodded down by Sowunmi for Cheek to fire the Raven in front.
Max Sanders almost dragged Crewe level just two minutes later but rifled his shot over the top left corner, before Cheek and Ben Krauhaus saw shots denied.
Bromley almost wrapped up victory in the 75th minute after Cheek nodded a cross down for Jude Arthurs to shoot, but the midfielder on his 200th appearance fired over the bar.
Krauhaus and substitute, Nicke Kabamba both saw 79th-minute headers denied by Booth as Andy Woodman’s Ravens continued to pile on the pressure in search of a second goal.
Crewe however failed to deliver an equaliser as Bromley survived nine minutes of injury time to end their seven-match winless streak in all competitions (excluding penalty shootouts), which included their last five league matches.
What’s Next?
Crewe turn their attention to a Vertu Trophy tie against Liverpool Under-21s on Tuesday 14 October at 7pm BST, before they visit MK Dons in a league clash on 18 October at 3pm.
Bromley continue their league campaign with a visit to Cambridge United on Saturday 18 October at 12:30pm, in a match selected for live TV coverage in the UK on Sky Sports + Red Button.
Teams
Crewe Alexandra: Tom Booth, James Golding (Rankine 81′), Mickey Demetriou, James Connolly (Tezgel 58′), Lewis Billington, Max Sanders, Conor Thomas (Lunt 68′), Reece Hutchinson, Tommi O’Reilly, Jack Lankester (Mingi 81′), Josh March (Moult 68′)
Substitutes: Charlie Finney, Owen Lunt, Jay Mingi, Louis Moult, Dion Rankine, Emre Tezgel, Sam Waller
Bromley: Sam Long, Omar Sowunmi, Kyle Cameron, Idris Odutayo, Marcus Ifill, Jude Arthurs, Ashley Charles, Ben Thompson (Hondermarck 73′), Mitch Pinnock, Ben Krauhaus, Michael Cheek (Kabamba 76′)
Substitutes: Marcus Dinanga, Will Hondermarck, Brooklyn Illunga, Nicke Kabamba, George Penn, Grant Smith, Alex Stepien-Iwumene
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