Injury hit Bromley slumped to a surprise defeat at Hayes Lane on Tuesday evening, when struggling Boreham Wood returned home with a 2-1 victory.

Bromley, already without long term injury casualties Alex Wall, Ben May, Alan Julian, Max Porter and Pierre Joseph-Dubois, were further hampered by injuries to Ben Chorley and Sean Francis who were unavailable, as well as Anthony Cook who was suspended for one match after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Lincoln City.

Bradley Goldberg limped out of the pre-match kick about and declared himself unavailable.

So it was a makeshift side that took to the field, which soon found themselves two goals down after just 11 minutes played.

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The visitors might have gone ahead in the first minute when Ricky Shakes dragged a cross shot narrowly past the far post, but it did not take long for them to open the scoring.

Clouis Kamdjo drilled a shot against the upright, and Luke Howell was quickest to react to fire home in the 4th minute.

It got worse seven minutes later, as Howell grabbed his second after some kamikaze defending.

Lee Minshull failed to cut out Joe Devera’s long ball, and Howell was left on his own to sweep the ball home.

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The visitors might have gone further ahead just before the half hour mark, but Conor Clifford’s fiercely struck 30 yard free kick was tipped onto the bar by Chris Kettings.

Bromley gradually began to get a foothold in the game, and Brendan Kiernan fired over from Ugo Udoji’s long throw in, before Moses Emmanuel was unceremoniously upended on the edge of the penalty area by David Stephens.

Joe Anderson stepped up to place the free kick over the wall towards the top corner, but goalkeeper James Russell produced a fine save to deny the Bromley defender.

The home side reduced the deficit in the 39th minute when Emmanuel fastened onto a Kettings clearance, and twisting his way towards goal to cut inside and curl a lovely right footed shot into the far corner of the net.

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Jack Holland saw his shot blocked before he glanced a header just wide, and Russell struggled to hold Anderson’s free kick before the half time whistle.

The visitors squandered a chance in the first minute of the second half when Howell’s dipping shot landed on top of the net, with Kettings off his line before Emmanuel’s curling shot was deflected at the other end.

Emmanuel had another chance moments later when he played a one-two with Paul Rodgers but his long range drive was just off target.

Rob Swaine’s flashed a header past the post following Reece Prestedge’s corner from the right as Bromley went in search of an equaliser.

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Prestedge wasted a gilt edged chance on 58 minutes when he found himself unmarked in the area, from Kiernan’s cross field pass, where he took one touch before lashing a wild shot hopelessly wide of the intended target.

Boreham Wood weathered the storm and, in fact, could have increased their lead in the closing stages.

Kettings moved smartly to save an Anderson deflection from Shakes corner, before Swaine cleared off the line after the Bromley goalkeeper had been beaten by Charlie MacDonald’s tight angle shot.

But it was not to be, and the patched up side will have to go again on Saturday in front of the live TV cameras against Altrincham. Just what sort of team will be available remains to be seen.

Bromley: Kettings, Udoji, Anderson (Tumwa, 87), Fuseini, Swaine, Minshull, Prestedge, Rodgers (Dennis, 65), Holland, Emmanuel, Kiernan, SUBs (not used):  O’Leary, Stanick-Stewart, Higgs. Attendance: 939.

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