Bromley Beat Newport County 2-1 to Stay Top of League Two

Courtney Baker-Richardson’s own-goal and Nicke Kabamba’s strike saw Bromley beat Newport County 2-1 to stay top of Sky Bet League Two.

Baker-Richardson deflected Michael Cheek’s shot into his own goal in the third minute of first-half injury time to put Bromley in front.

Andy Woodman’s Ravens subsequently wrapped up victory through a combination of two substitutes in the 74th minute, as Will Hondermarck’s cross was smashed in at the left post by Kabamba.

Newport however denied the hosts a clean sheet after Nathan Opoku put away Lee Jenkins’ 87th-minute cross from a tight angle at the right post.

Bromley remain top of League Two and two points clear of Swindon who leapfrogged Walsall into second after they defeated Gillingham 2-0 at the County Ground, whilst Walsall suffered a 2-0 defeat at Cambridge United to drop to third and five points behind the Ravens.

Newport remained second-bottom in the table and two points from safety.

Sat top of League Two for the first time as 2026 was rung in by the chimes of Big Ben just 12.7 miles away, Bromley enjoyed a positive start but couldn’t beat Newport’s goalkeeper, Jordan Wright as he saved Omar Sowunmi’s sixth-minute header.

Wright denied further headers from Sowunmi, Jude Arthurs and Mitch Pinnock in the opening 30 minutes, whilst Ben Krauhaus rifled a 15th-minute shot wide of the right corner from Arthurs’ lay-off pass.

Newport however did get a rare chance to test Bromley’s Grant Smith as a 17th-minute counter-attack from Michael Spellman was curled towards the right corner by Bobby Kamwa, before Spellman himself saw a shot saved a further 15 minutes later.

The remainder of the first half soon fizzled out aside from a Newport clearance of Sowunmi’s header off the line in the first minute of additional time.

Newport’s resilient defence eventually was beaten two minutes later as Pinnock’s long diagonal set-piece was nodded on by Sowunmi towards Arthurs, only for the latter’s header to ricochet off the left post.

Cheek however was alert to put away the ball via a deflection from Baker-Richardson into his own net, which saw officials subsequently declare the goal as Baker-Richardson’s own-goal despite Cheek running away in celebration under assumption it was his goal.

Cheek and Baker-Richardson however were substituted at half-time by their respective teams, which resulted in a slow start to the second half as Newport substitute, Opoku dragged a shot wide across goal in the 58th minute after he latched onto a long ball up the right.

Much like the first half, both teams were split by a clinical moment of play which came in the 74th minute as Bromley substitute, Hondermarck managed to get possession up the right and teed up fellow sub – Kabamba to poke in the Ravens’ second goal from close range at the left post unmarked.

Newport however set up a tense finish after Jenkins found space on the left to cross across the box to the far-right post, where Opoku rifled in from a tight angle to half the Exiles’ deficit in the 87th minute.

Bromley ultimately saw the game out to start 2026 where they ended 2025 at the summit of the fourth tier and now unbeaten in their last 15 league matches at home.

 

What’s Next?

Bromley are back in action at home on Sunday 4 January as they host Oldham at the Copperjax Community Stadium in a 3pm GMT kick-off.

Newport are too at home as they host Tranmere at Rodney Parade on the above date in a simultaneous 3pm kick-off.

 

Teams 

Bromley: Grant Smith, Marcus Ifill, Omar Sowunmi, Kyle Cameron, Idris Odutayo, Ashley Charles, Corey Whitely (Thompson 64′), Ben Krauhaus (Ilunga 64′), Jude Arthurs (Hondermarck 65′), Mitch Pinnock, Michael Cheek (Kabamba 46′)

Substitutes: Sam Long, Deji Elerewe, Ben Thompson, Nicke Kabamba, Will Hondermarck, Lakyle Samuel, Brooklyn Ilunga

Newport: Jordan Wright, Lee Jenkins, James Clarke (Whitmore 75′), Matt Baker, Anthony Glennon, Cameron Antwi (Lloyd 75′), Cameron Evans, Ciaran Brennan, Courtney Baker-Richardson (Opoku 46′), Bobby Kamwa, Michael Spellman

Substitutes: Nik Tzanev, Kai Whitmore, Liam Shephard, Ben Lloyd, Nathan Opoku, Moses Alexander-Walker, Jaden Warner

Referee – Kirsty Dowle