suttonreplay201004

Bromley secure famous victory

During an emotionally charged Wednesday evening at Hayes Lane, Bromley's heroes sent Nationwide South strugglers Sutton United crashing out of the FA Cup with a famous victory.

The Ryman League Division One side are only one win away from a place in the first round proper.  

The last time the Hayes Lane outfit achieved this stage was in 1996.  They ironically defeated Sutton United 1-0 at Hayes Lane in the fourth and final qualifying round before losing 3-1 at home to league rivals Enfield in front of 2,709 fans.

Cambridge City, fourth in the Nationwide South table, are the visitors to Hayes Lane on 30th October, and if Bromley can repeat their two performances against Sutton again, then they deserve their place in the first round.

The Hayes Lane pitch, which staged Cray Wanderers Ryman League clash with Dorking 24-hours earlier, played well despite heavy rain falling in Bromley but this couldn't dampen the spirits of the emotionally charged Hayes Lane faithful who produced an electrifying cup final atmosphere as they did at Gander Green Lane in the first match on Saturday.

Was this the best night of cup football at Hayes Lane for many a year?

Yes it was!

Bromley went a goal down inside 15 minutes from former Wimbledon star Peter Fear's 20-yard free kick but two sucker punch goals at the end of the first half from Solomon Taiwo and Danny Arkwright and another brilliant goalkeeping performance from former Wingate & Finchley stopper Andy Walker makes every Bromley supporter proud of their heroes.

But John Rains' Sutton side will be pondering how they are out of the competition to a side two leagues below them.  The last time the Gander Green Lane outfit suffered defeat to lower league opposition was in 1986 when they were embarrassed by Yeading.

In Saturday's game they were 2-0 up inside 25 minutes thanks to goals from John Scarborough and Andy Martin.

The turning point in the tie came in the 44th minute when Tony Quinton sent a looping header into his own net from Gary Drewett's corner to pull Bromley back to 2-1 down at half-time.

Colin Luckett's 25-yard curling free kick found the back of the net to bring the Ryman Leaguers level and Leroy Huggins, Sam Okafor, Chris Hill and Drewett all squandered second half chances to win the game at the first attempt but a crowd of just under 500 braved the wet weather and Champions League football to witness another classic FA Cup clash, at Hayes Lane.

Sutton almost stunned the home faithful as early as the fourth minute when Martin - who was sent off at Gander Green Lane - went close with a curling 22-yard effort that flashed inches past the left post.

However, Sutton took the lead in the 15th minute.  A free kick was charged down by Huggins and he was booked by referee Salt for encroaching too early from the wall.

The former Fisher Athletic striker, however, and his team-mates were punished when Fear's 20-yard free kick from inside the D, was perfectly stroked home into the left corner of the net leaving goalkeeping hero Walker rooted to the spot.

The home side, however, responded and former Sutton striker Mark Watson sent a header over the bar from six yards, before Walker, who prevented the Surrey side racing into a 3-0 lead on Saturday saving from Craig Watkins three minutes after Sutton went 2-0 up, made a comfortable save from Glen Boosey's 25-yard shot before saving Fear's low drive.

Drewett's driving run down the left hand side caused the visitors problems with his pace and close control.  He squared the ball to Luckett and he played an intelligent pass for Okafor who made a run into the penalty area, and after evading a sliding challenge, he was unlucky when his 8-yard shot sailed narrowly over the bar.

Sutton goalkeeper Phil Wilson tipped Drewett's shot from an acute angle over the crossbar as the home side created another good chance to draw level.

Walker made another fabulous save when he tipped over Boosey's far post header over the bar following Matt Gray's perfect delivery from the right hand side.

Bromley, however, drew level in the 43rd minute before taking the lead for the very first time in the tie some three minutes and twenty seconds into stoppage time.  Incidentally all seven goals in the tie came from set-pieces.

Drewett's flag-kick found it's way to Taiwo on the edge of the penalty area and his 16-yard drive took a deflection off Bromley reject Eddie Akuamoah finding the back of the net.

The fans were going crazy deep into injury time when Taiwo's corner was met by giant Bromley defender Arkwright who headed down and into the net from the edge of the six-yard box and the home fans went wild again.

Nine minutes into the second half, Boosey's shot from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection of Arkwright and fell nicely for Watkins, ten yards out and with only Walker to beat the tall goalkeeper earnt his crust pulling off another match winning save.

Akuamoah squared the ball for impressive Boosey and his 16-yard rocket sailed narrowly over the crossbar before a speculative 40-yard cross-cum-shot from the left hand side from Boosey almost crept into the net but Walker tipped the shot against the upright.

Bromley's goal lead a very charmed life in the last ten minutes but good goalkeeping and some luck kept Sutton at bay and when the final whistle blew the passionate home fans were able to celebrate their famous victory.


Bromley: Andy Walker, Steve Potterill, Sam Okafor, Solomon Taiwo, Colin Luckett, Danny Arkwright, Gary Drewett, Gavin Rose, Leroy Huggins, Mark Watson (Capt, Ahmet Suleymanoglu 76), Scott Bennetts.  Subs: Chris Hill, Tutu Henriques, Matt Kember, Harry Hunter (GK)

Sutton United: Phil Wilson, Matt Gray, Eddie Akuamoah, Scott Corbett (Capt, Paul Honey 46), John Scarborough, Glen Boosey, Peter Fear, Tony Quinton, Craig Watkins (Nigel Brake 79), Andy Martin, Lewis Gonsalves.  Subs: Stuart Booth, Evern Arkali.

Referee: Mr C J Salt
Assistants: Mr N Wilde & Mr P Lockley

Attendance: 487