BROMLEY bounced back from a surprise midweek home defeat to Concord Rangers with a battling winning display at Bath City’s Twerton Park.

The Conference South leaders were under considerable pressure for most of the game, but were sharper where it mattered in the penalty area.

Bath started the brighter as Ross Stearn rounded three defenders before being brought down on the edge of the area. The resultant free-kick deflected off a defender and scrapped the outside of the far post.

Dave Pratt then raced clear, only to be denied by a timely tackle from Dean Pooley just as he was about to shoot.

Bromley opened the scoring in the 19th minute from the penalty spot. Following Joe Anderson’s free-kick, Rob Swaine was pulled down by Mark Preece and Bradley Goldberg stepped up to send home keeper Jason Mellor the wrong way with the spot-kick.

Joe Welch beat away Andy Watkins’s drive two minutes later following a mis-kick by Danny Waldren, and the same player was denied by the keeper a few minutes later after Goldberg and Anderson got into a mess trying to clear.

Sandwiched in between, Bromley’s Ali Fuseini saw a 20-yard volley blocked by a defender.

The home side were awarded a penalty of their own on 32 minutes when the referee rather harshly adjudged Waldren had handled Adam Connelly’s shot from point blank range. However, Stearn blazed his spot-kick high and wide.

Bath did level three minutes later when a cross from the right by Watkins was touched on by Stearn for Noah Keats to convert from close range.

The second half followed a similar pattern as the first.

Welch did well to tip over Joe Burnell’s deep free-kick and from the resultant corner, Keats’s header beat the Bromley keeper who was relieved Pooley was in the right place to clear off the line.

Bromley regained their lead just before the hour. Goldberg was brought down on the right touchline and Elliott Buchanan’s free-kick picked out Pierre Joseph-Dubois, who firmly headed home from around the penalty spot.

Joseph-Dubois had two more chances to increase Bromley’s advantage and Albert Jarrett shot wide from a good position towards the end, while in the closing minutes both teams saw chances cleared off the line. Pooley was again Bromley’s hero as he headed away Keats’ effort, again from a corner.

And then Aaron Brown was well positioned to clear as Joseph-Dubois’s shot beat Mellor.

Bromley are in action at Hayes Lane this Saturday when they host Hayes & Yeading (3pm).

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Bromley: Welch, Pooley, Anderson, Waldren, Swaine, Holland, Joseph-Dubois, Fuseini, J May (McDonnell 83), Goldberg (Nicholls 83), Buchanan (Jarrett 60). Subs not used: A May, Reid. Att: 755.