BROMLEY’S points advantage at the top of the Conference South table is now in double figures after Saturday’s win at Basingstoke.

In a bad tempered and niggly game not helped by a strong swirling wind blowing the length of the pitch, the visitors went 10 points clear of the field thanks to a first half goal from Pierre Joseph-Dubois.

It was the home side who had the first chance in the fourth minute when Jordace Holder-Spooner fired over following a misplaced clearance from a corner.

Bradley Goldberg had the ball in the Basingstoke net on 16 minutes but a raised flag for offside from the assistant referee cancelled the effort out.

Basingstoke then completely lost their composure, as four home players found their names in the referee’s notebook in the space of 15 minutes, as well as having two players spoken to at length by the official. Home keeper Louis Wells required treatment after being bundled into his net under challenge from three Bromley players.

But Wells was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch after threatening remarks made towards spectators behind his goal.

Brendan Kiernan’s curling shot was just wide, while Shaun McAuley’s volley took a deflection before bouncing off target for a corner at the other end. The only goal of the game came on 38 minutes when Nicholls sprayed a pass wide for Goldberg to run onto.

His cross took an upwards deflection off a defender where Joseph-Dubois was on hand to loop a header wide of Wells and into the top left hand corner of the net.

Bromley might have had a second on the stroke of half-time, but Wells was smartly out to take the ball off Kiernan’s head from Joseph-Dubois’ cross.

The Hampshire club should have levelled the scores eight minutes into the second half. Adam Green’s shot came back off the post followed by a goalmouth scramble in which Kezie Ibe blocked Holder-Spooner’s effort and Manny Williams’ toe punt was saved by Welch.

After Jay May had sent a 40-yard wins assisted volley narrowly wide of the upright, and Goldberg’s close range effort deflected off a defender into Wells’s arms, the home side were reduced to ten men in the 66th minute. David Ray, who had been booked in the first half, was shown another for deliberate hand ball in a tangle with Goldberg.

May, Ryan Hall and May again all had efforts which just went wide of the intended target, as Bromley looked to press home their numerical advantage.

But the sending off seemed to spur Basingstoke on and Welch did well to tip over Holder-Spooner’s fierce shot.

The resultant corner flashed across the face of goal and just needed a touch to level the scores.

Joseph-Dubois came off second best in a one-on-one with the keeper, as Wells spread himself well to block the scorer’s effort.

Goldberg rounded Wells, only for Green to get back to clear his shot off the line, while May was denied by another block by the keeper seconds later.

In the final minute Jack Holland preserved the three points for Bromley as he headed Green’s shot off the line after Welch had been deceived by the flight of the ball.

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Bromley: Welch, Pooley, Anderson, Waldren (Buchanan 57), Swaine, Holland, Joseph-Dubois (Parmenter, 88), Nicholls, May, Goldberg, Kiernan (Hall 60). Subs not used: Swallow, Oyinsan. Att: 340.