Michael Cheek’s first EFL hat-trick saw Bromley win 3-1 away at Crawley to move to the summit of 2025-26 Sky Bet League Two.
Cheek headed Bromley into a 14th-minute lead from Idris Odutayo’s cross, but Charlie Barker equalised for Crawley through a 42nd minute header from Dion Pereira’s corner-kick.
Bromley’s lead was restored in the 56th minute after Cheek rifled in from close range once he latched onto a deflection of Odutayo’s shot.
Cheek eventually wrapped up Bromley’s fifth consecutive victory with a 61st-minute strike into the left corner to claim his first hat-trick in the EFL.
Bromley’s win moved them top of the table for the first time in the fourth tier after Walsall suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat to Oldham, whilst Crawley remained in 20th position on goal difference above Shrewsbury.
Aside from a false kick-off due to Cheek having allegedly been inside Crawley’s half at the initial start, there was little to split both teams until Mitch Pinnock pulled a 14th-minute pass to Odutayo, whose cross was thumped into the top-left corner by Cheek.
Walsall meanwhile conceded moments later at home against Oldham which meant that Cheek’s opener moved Bromley top of the table.
Crawley however weren’t too shaken at having fallen behind but struggled to create many clinical chances aside from a long-range shot by Barker in the 23rd-minute, after Dion Pereira’s header was cleared by Ashley Charles.
Bromley however experienced frustration during their first-half corner-kicks as Crawley relentlessly drew fouls to end the set-piece deliveries prematurely.
Crawley though found their equaliser from a corner-kick of their own after Barker converted their first shot on target into the top-left corner to restore parity.
Whilst the hosts happily went into half-time level, Andy Woodman’s Ravens almost retook the lead in the 44th minute after Pinnock’s cross was fumbled by Cheek towards Corey Whitely, yet Harvey Davies made a crucial block to deflect the ball behind.
At the break, Bromley provisionally sat top of the table on goal difference from Walsall, whilst Crawley remained 20th and three points clear of the drop.
Just two minutes into the second half, Bromley almost retook the lead as Cheek nodded wide from Whitely’s cross, before Pinnock’s shot was blocked a minute later as the Ravens enjoyed the better chances despite Crawley’s electric restart.
Crawley’s lack of a cutting-edge finisher soon resurfaced in the 56th-minute as Pinnock’s throw-in was played on by Marcus Ifill to Odutayo, whose shot was blocked into the path of Cheek and the 34-year-old calmly rifled in from close range to restore the visitors’ lead.
Bromley further punished the hosts just five minutes later as Ben Krauhaus teed up Charles to play the ball forward for Cheek to sweep into the left corner, which marked Cheek’s first EFL hat-trick.
Pinnock almost added a fourth goal for Woodman’s Ravens with a long-range 72nd-minute shot from just inside Bromley’s own half, yet the attempt flew just wide of the far-right corner as Davies tracked back from just outside of the box.
Bromley eventually saw the match out amidst more lacklustre finishing from Crawley as Grant Smith saved Pereira’s shot, with the result enough to put them top after Walsall briefly moved back top early in the second half.
What’s Next?
Crawley begin their 2026 with a trip to Barnet on New Year’s Day at 3pm GMT, before they visit Cheltenham on Sunday 4 January at 12pm.
Bromley begin 2026 with a home double-header at the Copperjax Stadium as they host relegation-battling Newport County on New Year’s Day, followed by mid-table Oldham on Sunday 4 January in a pair of 3pm kick-offs.
Teams
Crawley: Harvey Davies, Charlie Barker, Dion Conroy, Josh Flint, Dion Pereira, Jay Williams, Geraldo Bajrami (Tshimanga 68′), Ryan Loft, Reece Brown (McKirdy 57′), Gavin Holohan (Roles 68′), Ade Adeyemo (Forster 68′)
Substitutes: Kaheim Dixon, Harry Forster, Harry McKirdy, Jack Roles, Kabongo Tshimanga, Louie Watson
Bromley: Grant Smith, Marcus Ifill, Deji Elerewe, Omar Sowunmi, Idris Odutayo, Ashley Charles, Corey Whitely (Ilunga 70′), Ben Krauhaus (Thompson 75′), Jude Arthurs, Mitch Pinnock, Michael Cheek (Kabamba 74′)
Substitutes: Sam Long, Kyle Cameron, Ben Thompson, Nicke Kabamba, Will Hondermarck, Lakyle Samuel, Brooklyn Ilunga
Referee – Ben Toner
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