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After the disappointment of their 3-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Thurrock last Tuesday, Bromley bounced back and completely destroyed Leatherhead 5-0 at Fetcham Grove.

Bromley manager Stuart McIntyre announced he had signed James Gardner from Dr Martens League Eastern Division outfit Ashford Town, but the combative midfielder was forced off the pitch after forty-one minutes into his Bromley debut for taking a knock to his knee.

He was replaced by John Wilfort, who played his first game of the season.  Wilfort had a solid game in the centre of the park, and almost scored when his twenty-five yard shot after 71 minutes, and with his side cruising at 2-0, crashed against the right upright.

Former Cray Wanderers reserve team striker, Paul Vines will be pleased with his Bromley debut.  After replacing Tony Reid, who along with Leroy Huggins, scored a brace, Vines scored nine minutes after coming on as substitute.

Bromley made a bright start and got their FA Cup exit of out of their minds, and Gary Drewett’s shot rose high over Justin Gray’s goal from nineteen yards after two minutes.

Powerfully built central defender, Joe Vines, back in the side after completing a three-match suspension, made a last ditch diving tackle on Leatherhead’s powerhouse striker, Nko Ekoku.

Bromley went close to scoring after twelve minutes when Jason McKoy delivered a cross for Huggins who tried to head into the right corner of the net, but Gray made a fine save above his head.

Danny Smith, who is playing well in the holding role in midfield, dragged a shot wide before the home side suffered the same fate when Wes Harrison was off target.

Bromley took the lead after eighteen minutes when Reid made a run with the ball towards the right by-line before slipping the ball to Smith who was in support.  His low cross found Huggins, unmarked at the far post, and the former Gravesend & Northfleet striker slotted home from close range.

The home side’s vocal supporters were irate with the match officials during the game for the many offside flags against their forward line, and even more so after 24 minutes.  Player-manager Alex Ingleththorpe, who kept his side in the dressing room for at least 45 minutes after the game, stumbled over Vines inside the penalty area and no spot kick was awarded.

Poor finishing let the home side down and this was the case after half an hour when Jamie Beer drilled a low shot wide of the left post from twenty-yards.

Gardner was forced off the pitch four minutes before the break and Bromley went back into the dressing room with a well maintained 1-0 lead.

Leatherhead, who ended Bromley’s FA Cup run last season, came out of their dressing room early and within three minutes, Smith had to clear a shot off the line following Paul Harford’s flag kick.

Wilfort played a superb low through ball from midfield for Huggins and Reid, who both beat the offside flag, ran towards goal but Huggins lifted the shot over the bar after 50 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Huggins header was headed off the line following McKoy’s flag kick, before Bromley goalkeeper, Danny Harwood, made a low save from Inglethorpe just before the hour.

But Bromley’s South African defender, Steve Potterill almost gifted the home side a goal a minute later.  His free kick on the right wing was powerfully hit beyond Harwood towards the penalty spot and Colin Luckett was alert to clear the ball away.  Harwood made his feelings known to Potterill to the delight of the vocal home support behind the goal.

Leatherhead’s fans were very passionate, but they soon were stunned to silence when Bromley went 2-0 up after 63 minutes.  Wilfort’s pass was missed by a defender and Huggins pulled the trigger, drilling a low shot into the right hand corner of the Leatherhead goal.

Wilfort was unlucky not to cap a wonderful return by hitting a powerful shot against the right upright from twenty-five yards after 71 minutes.

Reid lifted a shot over the crossbar before Huggins was denied a well-deserved hat-trick when Gray blocked his low shot with his legs and got up to deny Wilfort a goal, saving his header. 

What followed was either clinical finishing or very poor defending, but that view depends on whether you come from Surrey or Kent, as the Ravens scored three goals in a devastating nine minute spell and all three goals were one-on-one situations.

Reid scored Bromley’s third after 74 minutes.  Luckett on the edge of his own penalty area swept the ball out to Huggins on the right flank.   He slipped the ball to his strike partner Reid who ran towards goal before sliding the ball under Gray and into an empty net from eight yards.

Reid added to the tally two minutes later when he collected the ball in the centre circle, ran towards goal with the ball before the powerful target man rounded Gray and slotted home.

Paul Vines wrapped up Bromley’s five star show after 85 minutes to make a dream debut for Bromley.  After playing for Cray Wanderers’ second string last season, he has definitely made the step up into the Ryman League with a pinch of salt.   Huggins’ flicked the ball forward and Vines beat the offside flag and a poor back line before slipping the ball home from sixteen yards with a well-taken goal to send the Bromley faithful home with smiles on their faces.

Bromley return to the Clive Christian Stadium in Hayes Lane with two matches this week.  Banstead Athletic are the visitors on Tuesday (7.45pm) before the Ravens host Hampton & Richmond Borough next Saturday (3pm).

Leatherhead:  Justin Gray, Jeremy Jones, Jamie Beer, Nko Ekoku (Jody Yee 80), Adam Gray, Ian Hendry (Capt), Paul Harford, Michael Webb (Phil Ruggles 32), Wes Harrison (Mark Charles- Smith 59), Alex Inglethorpe, Vitor Tavares.  Subs:  Dean Carpenter, Kevin Terry

Bromley: Danny Harwood, Steve Potterill, Mark Willy, Joe Vines (John Butler 85), Colin Luckett (Capt), Danny Smith, Gary Drewett, Jason McKoy, Tony Reid (Paul Vines 77), Leroy Huggins, James Gardner (John Wilfort 41).  Subs: Adolph Amoako, Grant Watts

 Attendance: 201

Referee:  Gavin Hoare

Assistants:  Martin Prior and Darren Eaton