Bromley missed out on the chance to go top of the Conference South after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Chelmsford City in front of a bumper crowd of 1,485.

Despite dominating possession throughout, the Lillywhites were unable to create any direct shots on goal and even blazed a 47th minute penalty high over the bar.

Chelmsford, third from bottom in the league table going into the match, took full advantage of some sloppy defending to score with their only shot on target in the entire 90 minutes.

The hosts had an early let off when Jack Holland completely mis-kicked on the edge of the area, allowing the ball to run through to Christian Smith, but fortunately for him the assistant referee’s flag was raised for offside. 

Bromley’s first chance came on 16 minutes as Danny Waldren blazed high and wide from 20 yards, before Moses Ademola did likewise a few minutes later. 

Ademola tried his luck from 25 yards but the attempt rolled through to visiting keeper Nicky Eyre.

Ali Fuseini ended an intricate passing movement with a poor shot that trickled through to Eyre, while Birchall stabbed across goal after Waldren’s volley had been blocked. 

A quickly taken free-kick by Fuseini saw Birchall’s effort blocked back to him to fire the second attempt wide from six yards.

Chelmsford’s first crack at goal came in the 42nd minute when, against the run of play, poor defending allowed the unmarked Smith to volley home following a long throw in from the right. 

Bromley had the perfect chance to level two minutes into the second period after Pierre Joseph-Dubois was bundled over in the box by former Charlton defender Yado Mambo. 

Having already missed two penalties this season, Waldren stepped up to resume spot-kick duties, only to blast his effort high over the bar.

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Waldren hits the ground in frustration after his miss

Birchall was denied by Eyre, Joseph-Dubois saw his effort blocked and then Fuseini was off target from 20 yards as Bromley kept pushing for an equaliser. 

The pressure continued to build and Damian Scannell saw two reasonable chances easily saved by Eyre before Leon Redwood headed Scannell’s chip off the line.

Lee Sawyer shot wide for the visitors following good approach work from Mark Hughes, and substitute Luke Callender shot wide after he had been allowed to run across the eighteen yard box.

Bromley lost their discipline in the closing stages as Scannell kicked the ball at the assistant referee when he gave a decision against him which he disagreed with.

Substitute Louis Dennis was lucky to stay on the pitch after a wild kick at Eyre. 

Both were yellow carded when both could quite easily have been red.

The home side’s afternoon of woe ended with Mambo heading a Scannell cross against the outside of his own post, and from the resulting corner Jack Holland headed over.

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Bromley: Brown, Holland, Anderson, Fuseini, Swaine (Udoji 43), Bailey-Dennis, Joseph-Dubois (Slabber 63), Waldren, Scannell, Birchall (Dennis 65), Ademola, Subs not used: Agu, Grant. Att: 1,485.