Luke O’Neill got the Fleet off to the perfect start in the opening 10 minutes of this last game of 2023 but Bromley ended up sending five goals past Mark Cousins to run out winners and earn a double in the derby over Christmas.
There were three changes for the Fleet with Rakish Bingham back in the starting lineup for the first time since March, joined by Craig Tanner and Darren McQueen.
The first corner of the match was handed to the hosts when Ben Chapman put a foot in before Josh Passley could unleash a shot from a tight angle. The Fleet earned a corner of their own moments later – Tanner’s deep corner out of reach of a fellow red shirt.
The Fleet continued to play confident football looking for the breakthrough and the opening goal came their way on eight minutes. Tanner’s second corner was whipped into the area and picked out O’Neill, whose diving header rippled the back of the net sending the away section into raptures.
The attacking display from the reds continued, with darting runs from Dominic Poleon causing the Bromley back line some problems, while McQueen linked up well with Hayden White behind him.
The first change of the match came as assistant referee Graham Swanton pulled up and fourth official Robert Claussen had to take the flag.
Play began to settle as Bromley found their feet in the middle and they created a couple of half chances but the Fleet backline stood strong to halt any real threats.
An equaliser came for Bromley just before the half-hour mark, with a former Fleet man on the scoresheet once again. Josh Passley battled to win the ball on the right where he delivered a cross to pick out Michael Cheek at the far post to head past his former teammate Mark Cousins.
Bromley almost grabbed the lead when pressure was piled on to the Fleet across the back line. A shot from Cheek flew past Cousins but a foot from Myles Kenlock cleared the ball off the line. Cousins was called into action soon after, a shot from the edge of the area was superbly kept out and Alex Kirk fired another over.
The lead switched to Bromley minutes before half-time, this time the goal coming from the left. Corey Whitley carried on a strong run to link up with Ben Krauhaus who was through on goal. Bromley’s No.28 found himself with only Cousins to beat and made no mistake.
In additional time of the first half, the Fleet earned a free kick 30 yards out which Tanner fired off the crossbar with goalkeeper Grant Smith beaten. Another free-kick and series of corners kept the pressure on the home side but Fleet couldn’t force an equaliser.
Despite a strong end to the first-half, the Fleet couldn’t capitalise and fell further behind on 48 minutes. A free-kick wasn’t cleared and fell to Alex Kirk who fired a shot towards goal to extend the lead.
Krauhaus was next to send a shot from range but his low effort was collected by Cousins who then released Dominic Samuel for a drive forwards to tee up Poleon but that was well defended by the Bromley backline.
A fourth goal for Bromley arrived on 56 minutes, Myles Kenlock beaten by Cheek and then pushed off the ball to play in Olufela Olomola who took advantage to find the empty net.
Fleet continued to attack with substitute Billy Clifford helped by Samuel and Poleon, with Samuel managing to carry the ball around Smith but his shot was then saved by the foot of the Bromley keeper.
Smith was called into action once again when a shot from Poleon from close range forced the keeper to stretch to keep that chance out and the Bromley stopper then punched Tanner’s inswinging corner clear.
There was still time for Bromley to claim a fifth goal. With three minutes to go, Krauhaus was played through and chipped the ball over Cousins as the goalkeeper came out, for the ball to roll into the back of net for 5-1.
That ended 2023 for the Fleet who head into January with points to prove and win.
EUFC: Cousins, White, Kenlock, O’Neill, Wright (Cissé 75), Tanner, Chapman, McQueen (Fanimo 75), Bingham (Clifford 61), Samuel, Poleon. Subs: Edser, Martin
BFC: Smith, Reynolds, Leigh (Woods 77), Passley, Cheek, Kirk, Whitely (Jones 83), Topalloj, Krauhaus, Olomola, Weston. Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Dennis, Webster
Attendance: 4,031 (374 away)
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