Bromley were given a serious lesson in the reality of Conference football on Saturday when they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by promotion hopefuls Grimsby Town.

On their first ever visit to Blundell Park, the Ravens had no answer to the fast fluent passing of their hosts and were two goals down inside seven minutes.

Without the services of the injured Rob Swaine and Lee Minshull, with Alex Wall and Moses Emmanuel relegated to the bench, Reece Prestedge, Ben May and Jack Holland were drafted in for their first starts of the season.

There was also a place in the XI for Gillingham loanee Callum Davies.

 But the changes had little effect as Bromley fell behind after just three minutes as a left-wing cross was chested down by Omar Bogle and Padraig Amond was left with a simple tap in.

Things got worse for Bromley four minutes later when Bogle raced into the box twisting and turning before the burly centre forward had his heels clipped by Jack Holland. 

Bogle was quickly on his feet and converted the resultant spot-kick to leave the visitors seemingly up against it.

Bromley rallied briefly and Anthony Cook saw his shot tipped over by Grimsby keeper James McKeown following good work from Joe Anderson.

However, the home side further increased their lead on 25 minutes.

Nathan Arnold swung in a deep corner from the left and with the Bromley defence expecting it to go out for a goal-kick, Josh Gowling did well to head back from the byline where Amond volleyed home from close range.

Cook was fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a horrendous tackle on Bogle before the visitors reduced the arrears on 40 minutes. 

Arnold conceded a free-kick 40 yards from goal and Anderson eventually crossed for debutant Davies to send a diving header back across goal and into the far corner.

Julian did well with three minutes of the half remaining by denying Bogle at his feet after the striker had broke clear.

Following a mistake by Ugo Udoji, Amond blazed high over an open goal on the stroke of half-time. 

The second period was drab compared with the first, but still Grimsby looked dangerous on the break. 

Julian punched clear a dangerous looking cross under a challenge from Bogle and also made a couple of routine saves along the way.

Bromley offered very little in attack but might have had a second goal midway through the half.

Louis Dennis, who had replaced Davies at the interval, knocked down Pierre Joseph-Dubois’ cross into the path of Bradley Goldberg, who was slow to react and the danger was cleared.

The scoring was completed in the last minute by Grimsby.

Craig Clay and Jack Mackreth, burst through on goal for Bogle to thread a pass through to them. 

Mackreth looked certain to score, but as Julian advanced he squared for Clay to tap into an open goal to complete Bromley’s miserable afternoon.

Bromley: Julian, Udoji, Anderson, Fuseini, Holland, Francis, Davies (Dennis 46), Prestedge (Porter 62), May (Joseph-Dubois 62), Goldberg, Cook. Subs not used: Wall, Emmanuel. Att: 4,731.