BROMLEY slipped into the relegation zone on Saturday when they were beaten at Hayes Lane by Basingstoke.

The latest setback was Bromley’s 10th home defeat of the campaign and extended their winless run in all competitions to 14, an unwanted record which stretches back to the 2-1 FA Cup victory at Dartford on October 29.

In another dour performance, the hosts fell behind with the first attack of any consequence on 12 minutes when Tim Sills was set free on the right. His cross was played back to him and his second cross was converted at the far post by Matt Warner’s volley high into the net.

Sills had a 24th minute free header from a left sided cross, but the striker placed his gift just wide of the post.

From the goal kick, the visitors doubled their lead when the ball was played straight back down the left flank where it was floated in and Liam Harwood, under pressure from Bradley Bubb, turned it into his own net.

Bromley’s first shot on target came two minutes after Basingstoke’s second goal when Lewis Taylor’s free-kick for a foul on Hakeem Araba went straight at visiting keeper Chris Morris.

Araba went close to levelling the scores on 34 minutes when he beat Morris to a pass, but a defender tided up and dealt with the situation.

The home side finished strongly and Morris denied Taylor on two occasions as the half-time whistle approached, but this was a good as it got for Bromley.

Two half time substitutions for Bromley had little effect, as neither side looked likely to alter the scoreline. Bromley lacked any passion for the game, while Basingstoke were content to sit on their two-goal advantage. As a result, play became bogged down in the middle third of the pitch.

Taylor lashed a shot over the bar from 12 yards following good work by Moses Swaibu before Stuart Lake did likewise at the other end.

The crowd were not happy with Bromley’s final substitution in the 62nd minute when Bradley Goldberg came on for Araba, making their dissatisfaction clear by roundly booing the introduction of the manager’s son.

Basingstoke substitute David Pratt rolled an attempt wide of an open goal after Sills had played the ball through to him one minute later.

Freddie Warren shot wide and Aaron Rhule did well to turn his marker but then lost control in front of an open goal, which rather summed up Bromley’s afternoon.

The visitors wrapped the game up with six minutes remaining and it was former Bromley player Wes Daly who scored from the penalty spot after Rob Gillman dived in to bring Pratt down with a clumsy foul.

Bromley’s consolation goal came in the 90th minute after Danny Waldren’s free-kick had come back off the post to Gillman, who side footed home from ten yards.

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Bromley: Anderson, Waldren, Patterson, Warren, Swaibu, Harwood, Hill (Gillman 46), Taylor, Araba (Goldberg 62), Williams, Smith (Rhule 46). Subs not used: Henriques, Jones. Att: 423.