Ethon Archer’s saved penalty saw Bromley exit the 2026-27 Carabao Cup after a 5-4 defeat on penalties against Reading, having drawn 1-1 in the first round at the CopperJax Stadium.
Both teams converted their opening four penalties before Randell Williams netted the penultimate spot-kick for Reading, which proved to be the match winner as Archer tamely fired into Joel Pereira’s arms.
Josh Stokes initially fired Reading ahead on a rebound finish from Daniel Kyerewaa’s blocked shot, before Michael Cheek equalised for the Ravens through a 33rd-minute finish from Omar Sowunmi’s through-ball pass.
Bromley finished with ten men after substitute, Richard Taylor was red carded in the 90th minute for an unintentional elbow on Udoka Godwin-Malife.
Reading now have advanced to the second round which is scheduled for midweek of 25-27 August, and will discover their opposition when the draw is made on Monday 10 August at 7:20pm BST on Sky Sports in the UK.
With this tie marking Bromley’s first competitive taste of League One opposition this season – with the teams set to meet in the third tier in November and March, the Ravens swiftly found themselves under pressure as Reading’s Lewis Wing fired over in the opening minute.
Andy Woodman’s Ravens however quickly settled after that early scare as Will Hondermarck saw a shot blocked and Mitch Pinnock fired wide twice in the space of a few minutes.
Reading’s superior experience however told in the 14th minute as Kyerewaa unleashed a powerful shot inside the box which was blocked out to Stokes, and the Reading loanee smashed a right-footed shot in on the rebound past a helpless Shamal George to put the visitors in front.
Bromley nearly fell two goals behind just four minutes later after Paudie O’Connor met Lewis Wing’s corner-kick but he headed his effort over the bar.
Ashley Charles and Cheek subsequently saw shots blocked in the 29th minute before the latter’s header from Marcus Ifill’s cross two minutes later was blocked, as Bromley began to fight back after a drinks break due to the heat in South-East London.
Reading’s resistance eventually was broken in the 33rd minute as Cheek met a through-ball pass from Sowunmi and slotted in past Pereira.
Pereira then denied Mitch Pinnock’s strike from Corey Whitely’s pass just five minutes later before Ifill blazed a shot over the bar, whilst returning loanee – Kamarl Grant saw a shot blocked in the fifth minute of first-half injury-time as neither team found a second goal into half time.
Bromley continued their momentum early in the second half as Pinnock fired over the bar then Grant saw a 59th-minute header blocked.
Reading eventually made inroads as Kyreece Lisbie attempted a 66th-minute header which was saved by George.
Lisbie then was brought down by Bromley substitute, Taylor as he burst into the box from the right flank in the 68th minute, but Wing dramatically smashed the Royals’ penalty onto the left post and it ricocheted away across the face of goal to the hosts’ relief.
Both teams subsequently attempted to chase a late winner as Bromley’s Corey Whitely saw a 76th-minute header from Archer’s cross flapped away by Pereira, before Reading’s Randell Williams and Kyerewaa saw shots blocked whilst Grant headed wide in the 84th minute for the hosts.
Bromley eventually finished a man down after Taylor was sent off in the 90th minute for a second yellow-card offence following an unintentional elbow on Godwin-Malife, having previously been booked for his foul on Lisbie.
Reading almost snatched a 92nd-minute winner as Williams struck a low shot towards the bottom-left corner, yet George crucially saved the effort then a 99th-minute header from Jack Marriott to force a shootout at full time.
In the shootout, both teams converted their opening four spot-kicks as Victor Adeboyejo, JJ McKiernan, Ifill and Kamil Conteh scored for Bromley, whilst Wing, Charlie Savage, Marriott and Liam Fraser found the net for Reading.
Williams then converted the Royals’ fifth penalty but Archer tamely fired Bromley’s fifth penalty into Pereira’s arms as the keeper dived correctly to his right side.
What’s Next?
Bromley begin their maiden League One campaign away to Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday 15 August at 3pm BST.
Reading will too be in action in the same division on the same date, as they kick off their league season at home to Luton in a 12:30pm kick-off at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Teams
Bromley: Shamal George, Marcus Ifill, Omar Sowunmi, Kamarl Grant, Jacob Mendy (Taylor 62′), Will Hondermarck, Ashley Charles (McKiernan 66′), Kamil Conteh, Corey Whitely (Headman 91′), Michael Cheek (Adeboyejo 62′), Mitch Pinnock (Archer 62′)
Substitutes: Victor Adeboyejo, Ethon Archer, Chanse Headman, Nicke Kabamba, Dillon Addai, JJ McKiernan, Nathan Patten, Richard Taylor, Ben Thompson
Reading: Joel Pereira, Udoka Godwin-Malife, Paudie O’Connor, Benn Ward, Jeriel Dorsett (Lane 60′), Andy Rinomhota (Fraser 91′), Lewis Wing, Kyreece Lisbie (Savage 76′), Josh Stokes (Williams 61′), Daniel Kyerewaa, Jacob Brown (Marriott 75′)
Substitutes: Boyd Beacroft, Liam Fraser, Paddy Lane, Jack Marriott, Haydon Roberts, Tyler Sackey, Charlie Savage, Jack Stevens, Randell Williams
Referee – Craig Hicks