Bromley returned to winning ways after four straight defeats with a hard-fought victory over Eastbourne Borough at Hayes Lane.

In a game where goalmouth incident was at a premium, it was the Lillywhites who just edged through with a strike in each half before Eastbourne reduced the arrears late on.

The first attack went Bromley’s way when Ali Fuseini dragged his effort wide from the edge of the area before Elvis Hammond did likewise at the other end from a similar position minutes later.

Bromley opened the scoring on 22 minutes.

Bradley Goldberg forced Eastbourne keeper Craig Ross into a poor clearance, which went straight to Brendan Kiernan. The winger’s cross picked out Jay May, who brought the ball under control, side-stepped his marker and volleyed home from ten yards.

Joe Anderson fired a free-kick just wide of the post after May had been fouled on the edge of the area.

As the half drew to a close, Kiernan broke free to shoot across the visiting keeper but just wide of the upright.

Eastbourne had the better of the exchanges following the break but were unable to make the breakthrough against a defence which had a more solid look about them than in recent games.

However, Charlie Gorman did flash a header narrowly over the bar from a right-hand corner around the hour mark.

Bromley might have increased their lead on 68 minutes when May was put clear on goal, only for Ross to move smartly to parry his shot which ricocheted upwards for Ian Simpemba to head off the line.

Goldberg should have done better two minutes later as Kiernan’s cross was knocked out to the league’s leading scorer, who shot wildly wide.

The hosts doubled their lead on 72 minutes.

Anderson’s free-kick hit the base of the post and Pierre Joseph-Dubois reacted quickly with Rob Swaine following up to make sure, although the ball was already over the line when the centre half connected.

The visitors halved the deficit with six minutes remaining to set up a tense finish.

Following a series of corners, Welch did well to save from point blank range Hammond’s header.

However, the Eastbourne player recovered well to hook the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Bromley remain second in the table one point behind Eastleigh, but the Hampshire club have two games in hand.

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Bromley: Welch, McKain, Anderson, Fuseini, Swaine, Pooley, Joseph-Dubois, Waldren, May, Goldberg (Nicholls 79), Kiernan. Subs not used: Buchanan, Jarrett, Reid, Dennis. Att: 378.