Louie Theophanous scored a dramatic final minute winner for Staines Town to dent Bromley’s title bid as the Lillywhites went down 2-1 at Wheatsheaf Lane.

In a fast and furious game, both sides started brightly with Jerson Dos Santos testing Joe Welch in the Bromley goal before Jay May scuffed Joe Anderson’s cross wide at the other end.

Rob Swaine headed straight to Staines keeper Jack Turner and the home custodian tipped around Bradley Goldberg’s volley following good work from Danny Waldren and May.

However, the hosts opened the scoring on 14 minutes when a cross from the right deceived Swaine and Dos Santos scored from close range with a diving header.

Bromley came back strongly with Goldberg going close on 25 minutes and then May hooked over from a long throw in which had been headed on by Swaine.

The ball was in the Staines net after 38 minutes, but May’s header from Albert Jarrett’s corner had drifted out of play before reaching the Bromley striker.

But three minutes later it was all square as Ali Fuseini played a pass along the ground into the danger zone and Waldren made a late run on the blind side to slide home from ten yards.

The second half followed a similar patter with Bromley enjoying plenty of possession, although Staines always looked dangerous on the counter attack.

Goldberg’s header from Jarrett’s cross was saved by Turner after 49 minutes, but a mistake by Swaine let in Theophanous who could only find the side-netting.

Lewis Ferrell dragged an effort wide from a good position, while Bromley had two good chances around the quarter of an hour remaining. Swaine’s header from Jarrett’s corner was blocked on the line and then Goldberg’s glancing header was just wide of the post with Turner stranded on both occasions.

Another Swaine header was saved by Turner, Bajram Pashaj shot wide at the other end before Turner did well to palm away Jack Holland’s downward header.

Goldberg, with the goal at his mercy, blasted high and wide and Bromley were made to pay for their wastefulness with one minute remaining.

The defence was caught flat-footed as Theophanous broke from his own half and without a challenge, the Staines player was allowed to run at goal before planting an effort into the corner of the net past an exposed Welch.

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Bromley: Welch, Pooley (Buchanan 90), Anderson, Fuseini, Swaine, Bailey-Dennis (Holland 46), Kiernan, Waldren, May, Goldberg, Jarrett (Dennis 82). Subs not used: Nicholls, Reid. Att: 212.