BROMLEY sunk to another home league defeat against newly-promoted Billericay Town at Hayes Lane on Saturday when a single first half goal was enough to take the points back through the Dartford Tunnel.

The hosts were on the back foot from the start and were fortunate not to fall behind in the fifth minute when Rob Swaine rattled the bar with a header from a corner.

Billericay might have gone ahead in the 16th minute when the unmarked Sam Lechmere was allowed a free header which he put wide from another corner.

The visitors deservedly opened the scoring two minutes later with what was to prove to be the winning goal.

A quick left wing break gave Jay May a free header from the resultant cross to put his side ahead from close range.

Dave Collis, Glen Poole and Chris Wild all went close to increasing the lead before a shot on the turn by Charlie Taylor nearly caught Bromley keeper Joe Welch napping.

News Shopper: Marlon Patterson

It took until 41 minutes before Bromley mounted an attack.

Sanchez Ming did well to win a corner on the right, from which Danny Waldren’s glancing header went just the wrong side of the post.

As the half concluded, Billericay full-back Joe Anderson was relived to head Tony Finn’s penetrating cross behind for a corner.

Bromley improved a little after the break, but lacked any cutting edge up front where it mattered most.

The few efforts they created were from long range or off target.

Matters could have got worse, as Chris Wild’s 30-yard drive skimmed the bar following Waldron’s gifted pass, while Poole outpaced Liam Harwood but dragged his shot wide of an advancing Welch.

But Bromley’s Marlon Patterson should have done a lot better on 58 minutes when a penetrating run took him clear on goal, only for him to fire straight at Luke Bartlett when a shot a yard either side of the keeper would surely have produced a goal.

Moses Swaibu’s shot on the turn went wildly over and the out of form Pierre Joseph-Dubois’ weak header did not trouble Bartlett.

News Shopper: Ali Chaaban

Substitutes Ali Chaaban and Aaron Rhule were yellow carded in the closing stages as Bromley became more and more frustrated with Billericay’s time wasting tactics.

But in truth they did not have the guile or ability to break down a resolute defence.

This defeat leaves Bromley perilously close to the relegation battle, sitting just one place above the drop zone on goal difference.

Bromley are at home to Gillingham tomorrow night in the Kent Cup and back at Hayes Lane again on Saturday for an FA Trophy meeting with Boreham Wood.

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Bromley: Welch, Ming, Patterson, Fuseini, Swaibu, Harwood, Waldren (Malcolm 82), Harding (Rhule 46), Joseph-Dubois, Pacquette (Chaaban 46), Finn. Subs not used: Sobers, Jones. Att: 450.