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Boro welcomed Bromley to Priory Lane for the 2nd time this season, the home side winning an FA Cup tie earlier in the season. It was obvious from the off that the conditions were to have a major influence on the game; the 1132 in attendance suffering sleet, rain and brilliant sunshine always accompanied by an icy wind.
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The home side had the cross wind slightly in their favour in the 1st 45 minutes and an Andy Ballard throw dropped in the 6 yard box after 4 minutes but no striker able to apply a finish. Bromley were lively the entire 90 minutes, competitive, quick and strong and obviously keen to upset the league leaders rhythm. Luke I’Anson tried his luck from long-range on 7 minutes and was inches past the post. Scott Ramsay was fed in by Matt Crabb on the quarter hour but his 1st time effort did not test Gareth I Williams in the away goal.
Bromley continued to work hard against the wind and Neil Jenkins was required to block Gareth A Williams’s close range strike before Pat Harding pulled a save from Gareth I Williams on the half-hour..
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Bromley continued to press as the 2nd half started, Andy Ballard and Jay Lovett clearing from the goal-line as the defence struggled in the wind. Allan Tait was just inches short of beating Gareth I Williams to a through ball before the Bromley strike-force again tested the home keeper. Skipper Paul Armstrong and Robbie Kember had half chances to open the scoring but Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood threw Matt Smart and Nathan Crabb and Darren Budd into the fray to try and wrestle the advantage from the visitors. Unfortunately for the home side Bromley continued to dominate in the atrocious conditions and as Hook tipped another shot round the post I’Anson, from the resultant corner bundled the ball home from close range.
The Boro side re-doubled their efforts to salvage something from the game but without seriously testing the Bromley keeper. Indeed Mark DeBolla broke in the closing moments to double the lead. Armstrong pulled a goal back but it was too little too late before DeBolla saw a straight red for an altercation with Ballard as the final action of the game.
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The large crowd drifted away, the decent away following joyous at the continuing play-off hunt. Nick Greenwood, Head Coach at Eastbourne Borough, reflected on the game and his sides performance. “The weather would always play a factor today. If not for a goal on the pattern of play and so it turned out. We found it hard to get into a rhythm and Bromley managed to press us into mistakes with the players unsure of the bounce and flight of the ball. That said Bromley must be credited for their win and we must re-group, look at own performances and get back to what we do best for the forthcoming fixtures.”
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