Bromley 3-1 Eastleigh

The penalty came in the third minute after Damian Scannell burst into the area and appeared to take a dive after losing control of the ball.

But the referee had other ideas and pointed to the spot, indicating a Lillywhites defender had tripped the winger.

Jai Reason stepped up to blast the spot-kick past home keeper Joe Welch to put the visitors ahead.

Eastleigh should have increased their advantage 12 minutes later as Scannell and Reason combined to set Richard Pacquette free, but the former Bromley front man could only find the side-netting with his fierce volley.

The hosts began to have more of the ball without creating any clear cut chances, but on 26 minutes the scores were level when a great run by Tony Finn ended with his cross being headed against the bar by Ali Fuseini.

Bromley’s captain was quickest to react by turning smartly on the loose ball to fire home beyond the reach of Eastleigh keeper Ross Flitney.

A half of very few chances ended with Eastleigh’s Mitchell Nelson’s header finding the side-netting after Bromley had failed to deal with a corner and Adam Everitt’s cross to the far post picked out Nelson.

The home side took the lead in the first minute of the second half.

Marlon Patterson capitalised on a poor Eastliegh clearance and crossed into the six-yard box where Flitney, under pressure from Pierre Joseph-Dubois, punched the ball onto Joseph-Dubois, who bundled it over the line.

Louie Theophanous saw a volley well saved by Flitney, while at the other end Welch did

well to keep out Pacquette’s effort from the edge of the area before Bromley increased their advantage on 56 minutes.

Finn’s right wing corner picked out Moses Swaibu, who was back in the side following suspension, and he knocked his header to the feet of Theophanous.

Theophanous turned and fired home from close range for his first goal since joining from Staines Town at the start of December.

Eastleigh tried hard to get back into contention but Bromley’s defence held firm and dealt comfortably with any threats, although on 75 minutes Liam Harwood was on hand to clear off the line after Andy Forbes’ well-placed header had beaten Welch.

Theophanous and Danny Waldren went close to adding to Bromley’s tally in the closing stages.

Joseph-Dubois was unlucky when his flicked header from Finn’s corner scraped the top of the Eastleigh bar as the three points lifted Bromley four places in the league table to 16th.

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Bromley: Welch, Ming, Patterson, Fuseini, Swaibu (Holland 90), Harwood, Joseph-Dubois, Waldren, Theophanous, Buchanan (Rhule 78), Finn. Subs not used: Jones, Chaaban, Orome. Att: 315.