Leaders Bromley suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat at the hands of struggling Staines Town on Saturday.

If the Ravens thought they were in for an easy afternoon against bottom of the table Staines, they were in for a rude awakening. 

Having won comfortably 6-0 a few weeks ago in Middlesex, Bromley lost a league match for the seventh time at Hayes Lane this season, going down to a single second half strike.

Changes from Tuesday evening’s side saw Callum McNaughton replace Jack Holland, who was injured in training on Thursday, and Paul Rodgers came in for Joe Anderson, who was suffering a mild illness. 

Pierre Joseph-Dubois returned to the bench following a lengthy lay off due to a car crash, along with academy player Billy Carter.

In what was by far Bromley’s worst performance of the season, they showed little enthusiasm to put pressure on their visitors, seemingly content to just go through the motions. 

Their play lacked fluidity, continually over hitting their passes or finding the opposition, as the visitors took the game to Bromley without creating many worthwhile chances. 

Louis Dennis saw his long shot sail over the bar early on, while Ashley Lodge’s fierce cross was blocked at the other end. 

Rob Swaine’s header produced a routine save from Staines keeper Jack Turner before the best chance of the first half fell to Bradley Goldberg. 

Ugo Udoji’s cross was partially cleared to the Bromley striker on the edge of the area, only to see his first-time shot blocked by Michael Freiter.

Jamie Slabber’s side-foot was off target following Paul Rodger’s left sided cross a few minutes later and the half ended with Bromley keeper Alan Julian tipping over Jamal Fenelon’s 35-yard free-kick.

Bromley commenced the second period with renewed vigour and in the opening ten minutes created a few chances. 

Moses Ademola’s header into the ground was a little too hard and bounced up and over the bar, while Goldberg was robbed by Erivaido Felix on the goal-line following Slabber’s cross.

A Goldberg delivery was taken off the head of Danny Waldren by a defender before Ademola’s shot from the edge of the area flew narrowly wide of the post.

However, to their credit Staines weathered the storm and counter attacked. 

Fenelon broke free only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle from Udoji, Darren Purse’s turn and chip evaded Julian but dropped the wrong side of the bar and then Bromley’s keeper tipped over Fenelon’s shot on the turn.

Turner palmed away Ademola’s 20 yard effort following a defensive mistake and Goldberg’s header shaved the outside of the post from Dennis’s corner.

The only goal of the game came on 77 minutes.

A cross from Freiter was only cleared back to him and the striker looped a shot past Julian into the top corner of the net.

With six minutes remaining, Bromley thought they had equalised as Slabber’s shot from Goldberg’s cross was cleared off the line by Purse, who looked to be at least 18 inches over the line.

But Bromley’s afternoon was summed up in the 90th minute when Dennis, after a disagreement with Goldberg as to who would take the kick, blasted a penalty high over the bar after substitute Adam Birchall, had been upended in the box.

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Bromley: Julian, Udoji (Pinnock 78), Rodgers, Prestedge (Birchall 71), Swaine, McNaughton, Ademola (Joseph-Dubois 74), Waldren, Slabber, Goldberg, Dennis. Subs not used: Carter, Fuseini. Att: 833.