Bromley suffered a third consecutive defeat in a 2-0 League One loss to AFC Wimbledon at the CopperJax Community Stadium.
Jayden Stockley headed AFC Wimbledon into an eighth-minute lead from James Tilley’s cross, before he turned playmaker for their second goal with a 67th-minute cross which was fired in by Myles Hippolyte to wrap up victory over their South London rivals.
Bromley meanwhile have suffered three consecutive league losses for the first time in the EFL, which left them sat 21st in the table whilst AFC Wimbledon climbed into 15th position.
Having conceded 12 goals in their last two matches and seen their 27-match unbeaten league run at home ended in a 5-0 defeat against Leyton Orient, Bromley made an evenly-matched start against their South London rivals as Shamal George saw a third-minute pass by Tilley.
The defensive issues plaguing Andy Woodman’s Ravens however reared its head in the eighth minute after Omar Sowunmi clipped Stockley, from which a free-kick was cleared to Tilley whose left-footed cross was nodded into the left corner by Stockley to put the Dons in front.
Bromley however managed to almost produce an immediate response two minutes later as Mitch Pinnock’s cross was knocked down to Kamil Conteh, but the summer signing blazed his shot onto the underside of the Glyn Beverley Stand to the hosts’ frustrations.
The game subsequently got quite scrappy as Bromley struggled to create a clear-cut chance during which Michael Cheek nodded a 25th-minute cross wide of the left corner.
Both teams however were hit by injury issues moments later as AFC Wimbledon’s James Tilley suffered a right hamstring injury, whilst Bromley’s Shamal George and Deon Woodman too had to be substituted due to injury fears.
AFC Wimbledon subsequently imposed their authority on the game but Owen Mason was alert to make a left-footed block to deny Dan Sweeney’s strike from a 37th-minute corner.
Bromley however wasted a chance to equalise in the 45th minute as Cheek flicked Pinnock’s short free-kick over the bar, which meant that they found themselves again a goal down at half time after five additional minutes during which Conteh was tripped by referee – Lewis Sandoe.
Johnnie Jackson’s Dons meanwhile missed a chance to double their lead before the break, as Steven Sessegnon curled a low shot wide of the bottom-right corner in the fourth additional minute.
Bromley though managed to build on their positive finish of the first half just three minutes into the restart as George Saville nodded over the bar from Omar Sowunmi’s glancing headed pass of a corner delivery.
Stockley however almost snatched a second goal for the Dons from a 56th-minute header but Owen Mason safely gathered his effort.
Bromley however refused to give up their chase of an equaliser as Conteh saw a 63rd-minute volley from a deflected headed clearance saved by Josef Bursik. as the Ravens enjoyed a superb piece of fluid passing play in the buildup from left to right.
AFC Wimbledon however delivered a 67th-minute sucker-punch on a quick breakaway attack, as Stockley was able to curl a cross over to the left side of the box where Hippolyte was alert to rifle low into the far-bottom right corner to double the visitors’ lead.
Bromley subsequently struggled to carve out clear-cut chances to try and beat Bursik, as they slumped to three consecutive league losses for the first time in the EFL, and had last recorded three consecutive league defeats back in October 2022 in the National League.
Jackson’s Dons meanwhile picked up their first away win of the season to lift morale after a 4-1 loss at Burton Albion last Wednesday (2 September).
Stockley post-match was voted Player of the Match by Sky Sports and upon receiving the award, he praised his team for their performance from digging in defensively and holding onto their lead.
“I though the grit, the foundations we laid early on and obviously getting the goal early on helps, but we did that on our last away performance and we didn’t come out with the points.
“Today, I think it was a complete performance from the boys.”
What’s Next?
Bromley face a tricky trip away to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday 12 September at 3pm BST.
AFC Wimbledon too will be action at the same time on that date as the Wombles host Doncaster Rovers at Plough Lane.
Teams
Bromley: Shamal George (Mason 29′), Marcus Ifill, Omar Sowunmi, Richard Taylor (Mickel 59′), Deon Woodman (Grant 29′), George Saville, Corey Whitely, Kamil Conteh, Will Hondermarck (McKiernan 68′), Mitch Pinnock, Michael Cheek (Adeboyejo 68′)
Substitutes: Victor Adeboyejo, Tobias Brenan, Kamarl Grant, Nicke Kabamba, Owen Mason, JJ McKiernan, Mickel Miller
AFC Wimbledon: Josef Bursik, Isaac Ogundere, Dan Sweeney, Ryan Johnson, Steve Seddon, Ollie Harrison, Alistair Smith, Myles Hippolyte (Nelson 92′), Steven Sessegnon (Yiadom 87′), James Tilley (Maycock 28′), Jayden Stockley (Sasu 87′)
Substitutes: Andy Yiadom, Callum Maycock, Joe McDonnell, Zack Nelson, Donnell McNeilly, Aron Sasu, Freddie Simmonds
Referee – Lewis Sandoe
Attendance – 5,017 (819 away)
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