CHARLTON advanced to the quarter-finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a dramatic win away at Bromley on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Ruben Bover and Michael Smith twice put the away side ahead, only for the resilient Lillywhites to twice come back through Hakeem Araba.

But the Addicks snatched a late win through substitute Tobi Sho-Silva to win their first game in the cup since returning to the competition this season after a long absence.

The Ravens only made a handful of changes to the side knocked out of the FA Cup at Leyton Orient on Saturday, and the relatively young and hungry Addicks capitalised with just four minutes on the clock.

Callum Harriott’s cross from the left was initially met by Paul Benson, but after the striker’s attempt to take a first touch was cut out, the ball fell to Bover to break the deadlock from close range.

It was almost 2-0 moments later when Benson hit the near post collecting another Harriott centre as the home side struggled to settle into the game.

Benson was denied by an excellent block from Tommy Forecast as the contest looked as if it were beginning to settle down, and the keeper had to be on top form ten minutes later to keep out Michael Smith after some near-suicidal defensive hesitation from Joe Dolan.

Bromley came close to equalising with ten minutes left before half-time, with a Lewis Taylor shot spilled by Nick Pope into the path of Araba, who whiffed a chance to tuck away the rebound.

Captain on the night Bradley Pritchard and Smith both should have done better as the first period drew to a close, with Forecast once again doing everything in his power to make life difficult for Charlton’s front line.

The Lilywhites were back on level terms within minutes of the restart, after a defensive mis-communication allowed half-time sub Aaron Rhule to tee up Araba inside the danger zone for 1-1.

The Reds had their noses back in front shortly after the hour mark when Smith timed his run from the crowded box well to head home a free-kick delivery from the right by Bover.

The game remained even, with chances at both ends for Benson, Smith and Araba, and it was the latter to find the back of the net next for his second of the game.

It came from the penalty spot after the impressive Harry Lennon was cruelly adjudged to have fouled Rhule despite appearing to win the ball, and Araba fired his second equaliser low into the left-hand corner from 12 yards.

Prolific under-18 strikers Sho-Silva and Ade Azeez came on during the second half, and it was the former who finally put Charlton ahead for good two minutes from time with a header from fellow substitute Ben Davisson’s corner.

Charlton will travel to either Ramsgate or Margate in the quarter-finals, with the two sides set to face off next week.

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Bromley: Forecast; Udoji, Dolan, Gillman, Green; Smith, Ibrahima (Rhule 46), Waldren, Taylor, Jones (Hill 60); Araba. Subs not used: Subs: Patterson, Agu, Lockett.

Charlton: Pope; Warren, Doherty, Lennon (Ajayi 82), Fox; Bover (Sho-Silva 73), Poyet, Pritchard, Harriott (Davisson 60); Benson, Smith. Subs not used: Phillips, Popo.