Bromley’s inevitable promotion to League One was further delayed in a 0-0 draw against Cambridge United at CopperJax Stadium.
In a competitive encounter, Omar Sowunmi put headers wide in both halves for Bromley whilst Nicke Kabamba saw an early penalty appeal snubbed.
Cambridge meanwhile endured their own frustrations as Ben Knight and Dominic Ball put shots wide, whilst Kelland Watts’ header was tipped over the bar.
Bromley remain top of the League Two table, whilst Cambridge are still sat third but could be demoted to fourth if Notts County beat Barnet on Saturday 18 April, although if Barnet do avoid defeat at County’s Meadow Lane then Andy Woodman’s Ravens will be promoted.
Following their defeat at MK Dons last weekend, Woodman made five changes to his Bromley team for a crucial game in the race for promotion.
Bromley however were denied a ninth-minute penalty after their former loanee, Adam Mayor brought down Kabamba as the latter tried to meet Byron Webster’s flicked-on header, but referee – Sam Mulhall refused to accept that the incident was a foul.
Cambridge soon found their feet as Sullay Kaikai unleashed a chipped long ball forward to Knight just three minutes later, but he fired wide of the left corner much to the visitors’ frustration.
Ball was the next Cambridge player to narrowly miss the left corner as he met Liam Bennett’s cutback pass in the 13th minute, before Knight seven minutes later struck a shot straight into Grant Smith’s palms.
Bromley eventually settled and Sowunmi nodded wide from Mitch Pinnock’s 25th-minute cross on the bounce, before the latter saw a free-kick fired over by Ben Thompson just six minutes later.
Cambridge meanwhile continued to waste their chances as Shayne Lavery nodded Mayor’s cross over the bar, before he tried to claim an unmerited penalty moments later following an accidental collision with Jude Arthurs, as neither team broke the deadlock before half time.
Aside from a right hamstring injury to Lavery early in the second half, Cambridge found themselves defending more after the break as Webster saw a 57th-minute shot blocked.
Bromley soon piled on the pressure as they looked to wrap up promotion but Thompson saw a 65th-minute shot blocked by Cambridge’s emergency loan goalkeeper, Jack Walton, whilst Jude Arthurs fired over from a subsequent block then found the side-netting just minutes later.
Sowunmi nodded a 75th-minute corner over the bar at the far-left post as Bromley continued to push for a breakthrough goal.
Smith meanwhile denied Cambridge’s Watts in the 79th minute as he tipped the defender’s header from a recycled corner-kick delivery over the bar, before Bennett saw a shot deflected three minutes later.
Cambridge eventually stood firm defensively to further delay Bromley’s inevitable promotion whilst their own promotion aspirations stayed on track, as they survived a last-gasp throw-in into the box which saw several scruffy chances blocked.
Bromley’s unbeaten home record in the division meanwhile extended to 25 matches as they now face a seven-day wait to secure promotion and potentially the title at Salford, unless Barnet manage to either win or draw at Notts County on Saturday.
What’s Next?
Bromley head to Salford on Thursday 23 April at 20:00pm BST, in a game where they can clinch the title.
Cambridge face a home double-header at Abbey Stadium to conclude their April fixtures which commences with a clash against Grimsby on Tuesday 21 April at 19:45pm, before they face Barrow at 15:00pm on Saturday 25 April
Teams
Bromley: Grant Smith, Omar Sowunmi, Byron Webster, Zech Medley, Marcus Ifill, Ashley Charles, Jude Arthurs (Ajayi 95′), Mitch Pinnock, Ben Krauhaus (Hondermarck 84′), Ben Thompson (Whitely 84′), Nicke Kabamba
Substitutes: Damola Ajayi, Kyle Cameron, George Evans, Will Hondermarck, Sam Long, Idris Odutayo, Corey Whitely
Cambridge: Jack Walton, Liam Bennett (Morrison 94′), Mamadou Jobe, Kelland Watts, James Gibbons, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Dominic Ball, Sullay Kaikai (Smith 73′), Ben Knight (Nevitt 94′), Adam Mayor (Brophy 73′), Shayne Lavery (Appere 51′)
Substitutes: Louis Appere, James Brophy, Ben Hughes, Michael Morrison, Elliott Nevitt, Ben Purrington, Korey Smith
Referee – Sam Mulhall
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