BROMLEY go into Monday’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw after gaining a hard-fought victory against Ryman Premier Division side Tonbridge Angels on Saturday at the Longmead Stadium.

Play was halted after nine minutes play when the referee sustained a back injury which prevented him from carrying on.

A replacement official was found from the crowd and, after a 20 minute delay, the match resumed.

Prior to the stoppage, the only real chance fell to the home side on six minutes when Jamie Cade had two attempts charged down by the visiting defence.

After the stoppage both sides took time to settle down and Luke I’ Anson should have done better on 15 minutes when Warren McBean and Donal O’Sullivan combined to put I’Anson clear on goal, but a poor finish let the midfielder down.

Tonbridge replied with a telling cross from ex-Bromley favourite Kirk Watts, which Rob Gillman did well to head behind for a corner.

The home side nearly opened the scoring on 26 minutes when Carl Rook chased a long ball into the area, just hooking it over the outcoming Bromley goalkeeper, but Jerrome Sobers tidied up the situation much to the goalkeepers relieve.

Tutu Henriques headed away four minutes later after Rook had headed on Anthony Storey’s free-kick.

Watts and Steve Ferguson combined on 31 minutes to set up Lee Minshull, but the tall defender blasted wildly over from 12 yards.

Having weathered the pressure, Bromley saw I’ Anson’s goalbound shot deflected for a corner before they took the lead on 38 minutes.

A long throw in was headed out by defender Gavyn Dayes straight to Ryan Hall on the edge of the D, who promptly fired a left footed volley back into the corner of the net.

McBean was unlucky in the 44th minute when he turned in the area to fire just beyond the post, following a long throw which was headed into his path by the impressive O’Sullivan.

One minute later, he twisted and turned two defenders before being denied by a full length save from Tonbridge’s goalkeeper Lee Wogan.

McBean was taken out on the edge of the area in time added on, but Wogan again dived to his right to deny Hall’s well directed free-kick.

Tonbridge had plenty of possession in the second half, but found it difficult to turn it into goal chances and for the most part Bromley’s goalkeeper and defence dealt very adequately with anything they put to them.

Sobers did well in the 54th minute when he made a saving block tackle on the edge of the six yard box.

But it was Bromley who nearly increased the lead six minutes later when I’Anson’s in-swinging corner was flapped away from underneath the crossbar by Wogan.

Wogan rescued his side again on 61 minutes when he beat away McBean’s rasping shot after the Bromley striker had been put in on goal by O’Sullivan’s headed knock on.

As Tonbridge looked for an equaliser, Watts’s cross was well saved at the foot of the near post by G. I. Williams under pressure from two forwards, before Gillman cleared off the line after G. I.

Williams had fumbled a deep cross from the left – again under pressure from two forwards.

Substitute Paul Booth missed a golden opportunity on 84 minutes for the home side when he hooked a long centre from Watts over the bar from five yards out.

Ashley Carew started a flowing movement which ended with O’Sullivan’s firm downward header from Hall’s cross, giving Wogan no chance to complete a satisfactory victory for Bromley and earn them another £7,500 in the progress.

Bromley: G. I. Williams, Henriques, Dolby, Corneille, Sobers, Gillman (Carew 85), Dalhouse, I’Anson, McBean, Hall, O’Sullivan (Cassius 90). Subs not used: Ibrahima, Greene, G. A. Williams, Dayton.

Att: 944.