Lillies miss out again (From News Shopper)

Bromley 2-3 Thurrock

10:45am Wednesday 31st March 2010 in Bromley

BROMLEY slumped to yet another defeat at a wet Hayes Lane on Tuesday evening against Thurrock before their lowest league gate of the season of 201.

Going down to play-off hopeful’s Thurrock by the odd goal in five, Bromley have now taken only 16 points out of a possible 48 in their games since their 3-0 home victory against Eastleigh on December 28.

Although it was an improved performance from their last game against Bishop’s Stortford, their Essex rivals proved too good for their Kentish counterparts and Bromley were well beaten in the end.

Bromley got off to the perfect start by opening the scoring in the fourth minute when Richard Butler slipped a pass inside to Steve Ferguson, who calmly stroked a shot past Thurrock keeper Joe Woolley.

But the lead only lasted eight minutes. The dangerous Fola Orilonishe got clear to send a rasping cross-shot, which Wesley Foderingham just managed to fingertip around for a corner. From the corner, Kenny Clark came in to out jump Tutu Henriques and plant a firm header past he Bromley keeper.

Foderingham denied Matt Bodkin three minutes later with a good save from the winger’s header.

Bromley should have regained their lead on 23 minutes when good work by Butler saw him square a pass to Ryan Hall, but the midfielder shot straight at Woolley.

As the half wore on, Thurrock began to dominate and David Bryant and Orilonishe both went close as the interval approached.

There was more of the same after the break as Reiss Gilbey saw a dipping shot just clear the crossbar before a Bodkin free-kick was tipped over by Foderingham.

It came as no surprise when Thurrock took the lead on 57 minutes. Bodkin broke from the halfway line and outpaced Harrison Dunk before crossing low to the far post where Bryant converted from close range.

Bromley were thrown a lifeline four minutes later when Ferguson gained a corner on the left, from which Butler made no mistake with a low drive into the corner of the net to level the scores.

Thurrock continued to have the better of the exchanges and secured the points on 71 minutes when they took advantage of some poor defending for Leon McKenzie to score from close range.

Ferguson saw his shot fumbled by Woolley and Ashley Carew’s centre was diverted towards goal by a defender, but the keeper got down well to tip away from the oncoming Butler.

Bromley were reduced to 10 men on 89 minutes when Hall was penalised for a clumsy tackle on Bodkin.

As the players rose from the ground, Hall picked up the ball and threw it at Bodkin in an in an act of childish petulance and after the referee consulted his assistant, a red card was produced.

Bromley: Foderingham, Fray, Dunk (Greene 82), Daly, Henriques, Gillman, Carew, Smith (Cassius 65), Butler (Farrar 77), Hall, Ferguson. Subs not used: Stephen, Udoji. Att: 201.