Bromley defeat Ipswich on penalties in the Carabao cup

Bromley manager Andy Woodman made seven changes ahead of Ipswich with only Omar Sowunmi , Ben Thompson, Mitch Pinnock and Marcus Ifill remained in the starting 11 after their 2-0 victory over Barnet on the weekend.

Bromley started the game well, as in the opening few minutes Ifill sent a cross into the box, Deji Elerewe got a head to the ball, however it went over the bar.

Ipswich Town reacted to that Bromley chance a minute later, through a Leif Davis cross which found Chiedozie Ogbene who completely missed the ball.

Bromley did well in the opening 20 minutes of the game. Ipswich dominated possession and posed greater threat going forward, however The Ravens defended well despite the pressure. 

However, that great defensive display was almost undone in the 26th minute by Sowunmi when he was dispossessed by Ali Al-Hamadi a couple of yards outside the box, then ran towards the goal, however Bromley managed to get players back and the Ipswich attempt at goal was blocked.

In the 34th minute, Jack Clarke picked up the ball from the right side, drifted towards the edge of the box and took a shot which was hit low and saved by Sam Long.

Eight minutes later, Clarke picked the ball up from the centre of the pitch, he drove forward and put a pass into Davis who made an overlapping, the left back sent a cross into Conor Chaplin who’s effort from the penalty area went over the bar.

Bromley dealt with the Ipswich attack and their efforts were rewarded a couple minutes later. 

Just before half time, Bromley were awarded a corner. The cross reached the head of Sowunmi at the far right post, the centre back then headed the ball towards the centre of the box, which found the head of Elerewe and put past the Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton for 1-0 Bromley.

Both sides made changes for the second half. The home side made 2 with Michael Cheek replaced by Nicke Kabamba and Will Hondermarck came on the field for Ben Thompson.

Ipswich made a singular change that saw Leif Davis replaced by Ben Johnson.

Ipswich came out for the second half with a point to prove and so they did when Ogbene in the 53rd minute broke down right hand side, he found Chaplin on the right side of the Bromley box, he then took a shot that rattled the crossbar, the ball bounced back into the penalty spot and substitute Johnson was there to put the ball past Long to level the game at 1-1.

In the 59th minute, a ball was sent up to Cheek on the half way line, the Englishman took the ball down and turned into space, he found Marcus Dinanga running into the box, he took a shot on with his left foot from the centre of the box, however was saved by Walton.

In the 65th minute Ipswich had another great attempt by Johnson however his shot that he took on from the edge of the box was saved by Long.

Bromley responded a minute later with a fantastic chance when Dinanga found himself with the ball, he got himself into the box and took a shot from the penalty area which was magnificently saved by Walton.

Ipswich continued their search for a winner, as in the 76th minute, two substitutes for The Tractor Boys combined, as Jack Taylor found George Hirst in the box with a simple pass in the box, however Hirst's attempt at goal was saved once again.

Ipswich came close again in the 88th when Ashley Young's long range pass found Taylor, he attempted a shot from the edge of the box however, Long made a save again to deny the away team.

The Tractor Boys came close again in added time as Ben Johnson sent a cross from the left side to Al-Hamadi at the back post and missed his shot at close range.

With that, the whistle blew, which concluded the full 90 minutes of play 1-1, which meant penalties would decide the win of this game.

In the shootout, Bromley was victorious. Ipswich missed their first penalty, which Cheek responded with a goal to go 1-0 up in the shootout.

However, Ipswich scored their second penalty while Bromley missed theirs. 

The next three sets of penalties for both sides were scored meaning the score was 4-4. Until Al-Hamadi stepped up and took Ipswich’s sixth penalty which got saved again by Long.

Mitchell stepped and took Bromley’s sixth penalty and slotted the ball past Walton for 5-4 win for Bromley on penalties.

The victory for The Ravens means they advance through to the second stage of the Carabao Cup.

Bromley now turn their heads to Saturday where they face Fleetwood Town at the Hayes Lane Stadium in a League Two clash.