Bromley 1-0 Notts County (National League) 29.01.22

Notts County’s unbeaten run has now officially reached its conclusion, as the Magpies were defeated at Hayes Lane by promotion rivals Bromley by one goal to nil.

Notts began the game the better of the two sides utilising their possession of the ball by fashioning several openings. However, efforts from Ruben Rodrigues, Cal Roberts and Zak Brunt were all blocked well by a body in a white shirt as the Ravens dealt with an early onslaught brilliantly.

Minutes beyond the moments of brave defending, Bromley worked an opportunity of their own. A swift counterattack from the hosts saw the ball fall at the feet of the dangerous Harry Forster, whose eventual dispatch towards goal flashed wide of Sam Slocombe’s goal.

The visitors rapidly responded with a golden chance to take the lead. Another mass dose of possession resulted in the ball finding its way to Ruben Rodrigues. A glimpse of trickery saw space open for the Portuguese midfielder, which lead to a low, snapped effort towards goal cannoning back off the post. The opportunity of a follow-up was removed as the ball was then cleared to safety.

Ian Burchnall’s side squanded another huge opportunity to take the lead ten minutes beyond Rodrigues’ opportunity. The midfielder was heavily involved yet again as his flicked header turned into a perfectly weighted through pass to Cal Roberts. With just the goalkeeper to beat, Roberts’ side footed attempt was well-stopped by Cousins and once again hoofed clear of danger.

The Magpies continued to threaten as Cal Roberts and Jayden Richardson came close for Notts County but to conclude a half in which the visitors dominated every aspect of it was Bromley who took the lead a minute before the break. A succession of corners turned out to be too much to handle for the defenders in green as a goal-mouth scramble was eventually turned home by Jude Arthurs, giving the Ravens an unlikely half-time lead.

Coming into the second half, there was an expectation that Notts would come out harder in quest of an equaliser. Shortly after the restart, Ruben Rodrigues came close to levelling terms for his side. A surging run forward from the forever threatening attacking midfielder resulted in the 25-year-old firing from range. However, the effort was one in which continued to rise, evading the crossbar causing no threat upon Mark Cousins’ goal.

Kyle Wootton also came close to finding an equaliser for his side, yet his close ranged effort also evaded the crossbar and once again caused no threat to the Bromley goal despite mild panic.

Bromley then had the opportunity to put the game to bed following a well-worked counterattack from the Ravens. Yet, Sam Slocombe was on hand again to turn a close ranged effort away from danger, producing one of his many fine saves as a Magpies’ shot stopper.

The game entered stoppage time and the quest of the equaliser for Ian Burchnall’s side looked as if it was a task too big. Despite this, Notts County once again failed to convert their final opportunity at goal. A long throw-in reached the head of club captain Kyle Cameron, but his glanced header looked as if it was sailing into the back of the net, this being until Mark Cousins sprung across his line to save the effort before grasping the ball in a very grateful clutch.

The full-time whistle followed meaning it is just one point in six for Notts County in a week they could not afford to drop any points in truth.

Bromley: Cousins, Bingham, Webster, Sowunmi, Bush, Whitely, Forster (Wagstaff 24), Arthurs, Alexander (Alabi 75), Coulson, Cheek (Cawley 90).

Notts County: Slocombe, Richardson, Brindley (Mitchell 64), Cameron, Lacey, Taylor, Brunt (Vincent 64), Palmer, Rodrigues, Roberts (Sam 82), Wootton.

Venue: Hayes Lane (3,606)

*Article provided by K-Ci Rennicks (Notts County Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Alex Lacey in action for Notts at Bromley.