Second-half goals from Idris Odutayo and Michael Cheek saw Bromley come from behind to beat Crawley 3-1 at Copperjax Stadium to go fourth in League Two.
Second-half goals from Odutayo and Cheek saw Bromley complete a comeback after Omar Sowunmi equalised with a 43rd-minute header from a corner-kick.
Ryan Loft initially gave Crawley a ninth-minute lead with a close-range header from Harry McKirdy’s cross after the latter pounced upon a loose backpass from Jude Arthurs.
Bromley now sit fourth in League Two and just two points off the summit, whilst Crawley slipped to 21st position and now one point above the relegation zone.
Unbeaten in their last 12 league matches at home since a 3-2 defeat against Salford in March, Bromley were quickly put on the back foot against an aggressive Crawley team who had won just one of their nine away games in the fourth division this season.
Crawley’s high-intensity start eventually paid dividends in the ninth minute as Arthurs played a sloppy backpass which ex Bromley player, McKirdy pounced upon with a cross towards the right post for Loft to calmly nod in unmarked to put the Red Devils ahead.
Bromley slowly began to get a footing in the game but Corey Whitely and Michael Cheek put rare shots wide as Crawley sat back and soaked up their pressure, and was able to threaten on quick counter-attacks.
Ade Adeyemo nearly set up a second goal for Crawley from a 37th-minute breakaway attack up the left as he played a low cross across the goal, which evaded various players until another ex Bromley player – Harry Forster who rifled his shot wide back across goal.
Josh Flint then forced a save from Grant Smith moments later as Bromley continued to ride their luck defensively.
Crawley however has just one clean sheet on the road all season and that stat continued to be the case after Bromley won a series of corners in the 43rd minute, from which Sowunmi nodded in from the third set-piece as he met Mitch Pinnock’s cross to restore parity at half time.
Sowunmi’s equaliser ultimately sparked life into Andy Woodman’s Ravens as they flew out of the traps in the second half as Cheek skyed a deflection of Pinnock’s cross over the bar just 36 seconds into the restart, before he then flicked a further shot wide barely a minute later.
Bromley’s electric start eventually paid dividends as a 49th-minute cross from Ifill was deflected into the path of Odutayo, who thumped his shot in via a deflection, which wrong-footed Jojo Wollacott as the ball flew past him to turn the game around for the hosts.
Bromley continued to press for a third goal but Cheek and Sowunmi both saw headers denied, although Cheek wrapped up victory with a 69th-minute tap-in from Whitely’s pass as the Ravens continued to dominate the game.
Substitute, Jack Roles and Forster subsequently fired wide as Crawley attempted to stage a comeback, whilst Ben Krauhaus saw a 84th-minute shot fly wide of the top-left corner as Bromley clung on to remain the only League Two team unbeaten at home this season.
What’s Next?
Bromley head to mid-table Accrington Stanley on Saturday 13 December at 3pm GMT as they continue their promotion challenge.
Crawley host Oldham at the same time on that date in a lower-half of League Two table clash at Broadfield Stadium.
Teams
Bromley: Grant Smith, Marcus Ifill, Omar Sowunmi, Deji Elerewe, Idris Odutayo, Will Hondermarck (Stepien-Iwumene 85′), Corey Whitely, Ben Krauhaus, Jude Arthurs, Mitch Pinnock (Ilunga 90′), Michael Cheek (Kabamba 77′)
Substitutes: Kyle Cameron, Marcus Dinanga, Brooklyn Illunga, Nicke Kabamba, Sam Long, Alex Stepien-Iwumene, Ben Thompson
Crawley: Jojo Wollacott, Charlie Barker, Geraldo Bajrami, Josh Flint, Harry Forster, Jay Williams, Reece Brown, Louie Watson (Roles 70′), Ade Adeyemo (Dixon 59′), Ryan Loft, Harry McKirdy (Tshimanga 59′)
Substitutes: Dion Conroy, Harvey Davies, Kaheim Dixon, Gavin Holohan, Jack Roles, Kabongo Tshimanga
Referee – David Rock
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