BROMLEY produced an impressive late comeback to recover from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Margate in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Saturday.

However, they were very fortunate to find themselves in the hat for the fourth qualifying round because for 69 minutes there was only going to be one team who were going in the draw and it wasn't Bromley.

The home side completely outplayed their visitors from a higher league and had they not squandered several chances in the first half, the game would have been over well before the opening 45 minutes ended.

Bromley never recovered from conceding a goal after 20 seconds, as keeper Tommy Forecast came out to collect, only to completely miss the ball and leave Kwesi Appiah with a simple tap in. It might have been worse on seven minutes as Forecast saved well from Tom Bradbrook at the expense of a corner, from which Curtis Robinson’s in swinging kick was touched behind off the line by Rob Gillman.

Bromley were finding it very difficult to get out of their own half and all they could offer was a wayward Danny Waldren header from Gareth Williams’ corner.

After 19 minutes Dan Stubbs ran rings around Tutu Henriques before crossing to the unmarked Appiah who, with only Forecast to beat, screwed his effort wide of the post.

But he made no mistake one minute later as a corner from the right was not dealt with and Appiah crashed home his second goal of the afternoon.

Shortly afterwards, and much to Bromley’s relief, Appiah pulled up with an apparent pulled muscle and took no further part in the game.

The nearest Bromley came to scoring in the first half came on 31 minutes in an isolated attack when Mike Jones was unceremoniously hacked down just outside the area when in full flight.

But they were soon on the back foot again as Gillman headed behind ex-Bromley favourite Mark Corneille’s penetrating cross.

Liam Harwood and Marlon Patterson then both made telling tackles in quick succession to deny Matt Bodkin and substitute Dean Grant from getting their shots away.

As the half concluded, Bodkins’ cross was again poorly defended and Robinson put his header over an open goal when it seemed easier to find the target.

For the first 20 minutes of the second half Margate looked very comfortable with their lead and did not look in any danger as the visitors failed to mount a single attack in this time. But it all changed on 69 minutes when Bromley very fortunately reduced the arrears.

A poorly executed back header by Laurence Ball from Gillman’s long clearance out of defence left home keeper Simon Overland stranded and substitute Warren McBean nipped in to roll a shot into an empty net.

One minute later Bromley drew level as McBean was on the end of an inch perfect Patterson cross to head home from close range.

Neither side created anything of note in the remainder of the game until the 87th minute when, with no danger, Bromley were awarded a penalty. Corneille appeared to pull back Aaron Rhule on the edge of the area and the official, to much surprise, pointed to the spot. Waldren stepped up to place the spot kick beyond the reach of Overland.

Bradbrook headed over from Bodkin’s free-kick in injury time and the hosts sent up Overland in the dying seconds for a set piece, but could not find a leveller they deserved.

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Bromley: Forecast, Udoji (Hill 40), Patterson, Henriques, Harwood, Gillman, Waldren, Harding, Araba (McBean 46), Williams, Jones (Rhule 62). Subs not used: Green, Agu, McKenzie, Smith. Att: 515.