Omar Sowunmi’s header and Michael Cheek’s strike saw Bromley boost their promotion ambitions with a 2-0 away win at Colchester.
Sowunmi broke the deadlock with his 74th-minute header from Mitch Pinnock’s free-kick, before Cheek wrapped up victory with a 78th-minute finish.
Bromley climbed to eighth in the League Two table at the full-time whistle and just two points off the summit until results elsewhere dropped them to ninth, whilst Colchester remained 14th until results elsewhere in the mid-afternoon games dropped them to 16th.
Having suffered FA Cup exits against MK Dons and Bristol Rovers respectively last weekend, Colchester and Bromley knew that this was an opportunity to push on in the promotion race with little distractions – aside from the Vertu Trophy.
Colchester initially were the more front-footed team but struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances aside from a series of creatively mixed-up corners, until Kyreece Lisbie fired wide in the 35th minute just yards from goal after he met Teddy Bishop’s cross.
Bromley though were the first to go close to breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute after Will Hondermarck met Cheek’s headed pass, yet the midfielder fired wide of his near-left corner.
Idris Odutayo then smashed a 32nd-minute rebound shot onto the cross bar from a free-kick after Jack Tucker had fouled Cheek.
Colchester eventually finished the first half on top but Grant Smith made a 41st-minute save to keep Bromley level at half time as he scruffily blocked Lisbie’s curled shot from the left flank, but Sowunmi was alert to head the ball clear to the away fans’ relief.
Aside from a 48th-minute header from Sowunmi, the second half was just as scrappy until Cheek forced a 71st-minute save from Matt Macey.
That moment proved a turning point as just three minutes later, Lisbie fouled Odutayo which proved costly as Pinnock’s free-kick was headed in by Sowunmi to break the deadlock.
Bromley quickly destroyed any hopes that Colchester had of a comeback as a rapid-pace 78th-minute counter-attack from Krauhaus resulted in a foul, from which Cheek was alert to slot in the Ravens’ second goal.
Bromley eventually survived a spell of defensive resilience as Micah Mbick and Harry Anderson put headers wide for the host, before they secured victory to climb to eighth in the table.
What’s Next?
Colchester turn their attention to their final group match in the Vertu Trophy as they host Fulham Under-21s on Tuesday 11 November at 7:45pm GMT, before their League Two trip to Walsall on Saturday 15 November at 3pm.
Bromley too will be in Vertu Trophy action on the above date as they host AFC Wimbledon in a winner-takes-all showdown at the Copperjax Stadium – with the winner advancing to the knockout stage.
That clash is the first of three consecutive home matches for Andy Woodman’s Ravens as they then return to league action on 15 November against Barrow followed by Salford City on 22 November, with the latter matches both scheduled for 3pm.
Teams
Colchester: Matt Macey, Kane Vincent-Young, Jack Tucker, Harvey Araujo, Ellis Iandolo, Kyreece Lisbie (Edwards 74′), Arthur Read, Teddy Bishop, Harry Anderson, Micah Mbick, Samson Tovide (Williams 69′)
Substitutes: Owura Edwards, Tom Flanagan, Will Goodwin, Rob Hunt, Josh Powell, Tom Smith, Jaden Williams
Bromley: Grant Smith, Deji Elerewe, Omar Sowunmi, Idris Odutayo, Mitch Pinnock, Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs (Krauhaus 69′), Marcus Ifill, Will Hondermarck, Corey Whitely, Michael Cheek (Kabamba 85′)
Substitutes: Kyle Cameron, Brooklyn Ilunga, Nicke Kabamba, Ben Krauhaus, Sam Long, Alex Stepien-Iwumene, Jemiah Umolu
Referee – Andrew Humphries
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