Lillywhites improve after break to see off Tooting challenge (From News Shopper)

Bromley 2-0 Tooting & Mitcham

3:26pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Sport

TWO second half goals eased Bromley through to the semi-final of the London Senior Cup on Tuesday evening at a bitterly cold Hayes Lane.

Fielding a mainly fringe and academy team, Bromley started slowly.

Visitors Tooting & Mitcham United had the better of the first half chances, so much so that had they shown a little more composure in front of goal, they would surely have had the game sewn up by half-time.

Ashley Elson had an effort blocked as early as the second minute before Tyrone Berry broke through on the right, only for Helge Orome to block his goal-bound shot.

Jordan Wilson, clear on goal, could only shoot straight at Bromley keeper George Howard before Lee Hall found the car park when well placed.

Then Ashley was denied by Howard with a smart save at the foot of the post.

Bromley’s first effort on goal arrived on 19 minutes with Elliott Buchanan’s free-kick being parried away by Darren Behcet.

Two minutes later, Buchanan’s 25 yard effort drifted wide.

Tooting continued to press forward with Elson firing wide before their best chance of the half fell to Carl Wilson-Denis.

The centre forward was put clear on goal but, as he took the ball around Howard towards goal, Carlos Talbot came across to clear the danger with a timely tackle.

Bromley were denied in the 43rd minute by two saves from Behcet.

Firstly, Gary Webb’s shot rebounded off a defender to Max Noble, whose volley was tipped over by the keeper.

From the resultant corner, Buchanan’s effort was smartly saved by the custodian low down on the goal line.

The second half was a complete reversal to the first as the visitors seemed to lose their way while Bromley looked much more threatening.

Ishmael Welsh blazed wide following a good run and cross from Talbot.

Gary Beckett’s backward header from Danny Waldren’s free-kick was turned over by the keeper before Welsh again shot wide from a good position.

Bromley finally opened the scoring in the 70th minute.

Substitute Felix Ogeah did well to deliver a cross and Beckett chested the ball down to Buchanan, who volleyed home from the edge of the area.

The Lillywhites increased their advantage four minutes later when the impressive Ogeah raced clear of the visiting defence to slot home past the exposed Behcet.

Waldren was denied by Tooting’s keeper shortly after the second goal, while Bromley’s custodian was not unduly troubled on two occasions by substitute Anthony Bardon in the closing minutes.

Bromley will now travel to Isthmian Premier Division outfit Wingate-Finchley in the semi final on a date yet to be arranged.

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Bromley: Howard, Talbot, Rhule, Waldren, Orome, Jones, Noble, Beckett (Hanifan 71), Webb (O’Connor 46), Buchanan, Welsh (Ogeah 63). Subs not used: Campbell, Turner