Bromley’s anticipated promotion to League One was delayed after they fell to a 2-1 defeat at MK Dons.
First-half goals from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Ben Wiles proved enough for MK Dons to snatch victory, despite Marcus Ifill’s consolatory 75th-minute strike from a cleared corner.
Jon Mellish however was red carded in the 67th minute after he started a needless fracas involving both teams, following a collision with Omar Sowunmi.
MK Dons remain second in the League Two table with their deficit to leaders, Bromley now reduced to four points.
Aware that victory would see them secure promotion with three games to spare, Bromley’s dreams were dealt a setback just 35 seconds in as Mendez-Laing intercepted a careless headed backpass and tamely rifled into the bottom-left corner past Grant Smith.
Bromley’s nightmare start nearly got worse seven minutes in as Wiles struck the right post on a breakaway attack from a Bromley corner, before Calum Paterson saw a tightly-angled shot saved four minutes later.
Smith however was left helpless to prevent MK Dons’ second goal in the 16th minute as a quick attack allowed Wiles to play an one-two move with Jones into the box, before he swept the return pass unmarked into his near-bottom left corner to leave the Ravens stunned.
MK Dons continued to pile on the pressure as Callum Paterson fired a 33rd minute shot into Smith’s arms, before he nodded over from a set-piece just minutes later, but Bromley stood firm to minimise their deficit until half time as Ashley Charles’ injury-time shot was blocked.
Woodman unsurprisingly rang the changes at half time as Idris Odutayo, Corey Whitely, Will Hondermarck and Damola Ajayi were substituted, with Zech Medley, Ben Thompson, Jude Arthurs and Ben Krauhaus brought on in their places.
Bromley subsequently spent much of the early phases of the second half on the front foot but struggled to create many clear-cut chances, as Thompson headed over just before the hour mark.
MK Dons however stood firm until Mellish was red carded in the 67th minute after he collided with Sowunmi, which saw him bizarrely decide to create an immature fracas involving both teams rather than take the incident on the chin.
Bromley subsequently pulled a goal back through a 75th-minute corner clearance, which Krauhaus left for Ifill to smash in on his right foot.
Thompson saw a 83rd-minute curled effort fly over the bar as Bromley chased a futile late equaliser, whilst referee – Will Finnie dismissed the visitors’ penalty appeals after Ben Krauhaus was clipped by Alex Gilbey inside the box in the 86th minute.
Jude Arthurs consequently was shown a yellow card by Finnie for his appeal for the penalty, but saw a shot saved by Craig MacGillivray two minutes later, whilst MacGillivray denied Sowunmi moments later.
Woodman’s Ravens now can wrap up promotion at home in their next match against Cambridge on Thursday 16 April,
What’s Next?
MK Dons visit play-off chasing Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 18 April at 3pm BST.
Bromley face another tricky test in their bid to wrap up promotion, as they host Cambridge United at Copperjax Stadium on Thursday 16 April at 8pm.
Teams
MK Dons: Craig MacGillivray, Marvin Ekpiteta, Curtis Nelson, Jack Sanders, Liam Kelly (Lemonheigh-Evans 70′), Gethin Jones (Tomlinson 83′), Ben Wiles, Alex Gilbey, Jon Mellish, Callum Paterson, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Collins 65′)
Substitutes: Aaron Collins, Daniel Crowley, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Aaron Nemane, Joe Tomlinson, Connal Trueman
Bromley: Grant Smith, Marcus Ifill, Omar Sowunmi, Kyle Cameron, Idris Odutayo (Medley 46′), Corey Whitely (Thompson 46′), Will Hondermarck (Arthurs 46′), Ashley Charles (Evans 92′), Mitch Pinnock, Damola Ajayi (Krauhaus 46′), Nicke Kabamba
Substitutes: Jude Arthurs, Ben Thompson, George Evans, Brooklyn Ilunga, Carl Jenkinson, Sam Long, Zech Medley
Referee – Will Finnie
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