By Ben Rowley
BROMLEY missed a late chance to claim all three points at Fleetwood Town as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw that Ravens boss Andy Woodman called “progress”.
A hat-trick of smart saves from Fleetwood goalkeeper David Harrington denied Bromley early in the match, and a block from defender Rhys Bennett prevented Michael Cheek scoring at the death.
It was Bromley’s third successive draw in League Two and a first clean sheet in eight games.
Woodman said: “It’s progress, and it’s a clean sheet in a tough place.
“On another day, we would have won that, but fair play to their goalie, he’s got man of the match and that tells you the story really.”
In the first-ever league meeting between the two sides, Bromley edged the first half, but Fleetwood grew into the game after the break. Despite several key chances, neither side could capitalise in front of goal.
Bromley started the brighter team in the Highbury Stadium sunshine, with Danny Imray taking advantage of Kayden Hughes’ lax defending but the Bromley right-back couldn’t arrow the ball past a resilient Harrington.
Shortly after, Bromley’s 6ft6ins centre-back Omar Sowunmi must have been surprised to find himself unmarked in the box, but Harrington’s stunning reflex save kept the scores level.
Despite scoring six against Walsall the previous midweek, Fleetwood could only muster a few chances in the first half. Ryan Graydon fired into the side-netting from a tight angle before blasting another attempt over Grant Smith’s goal.
Fleetwood found their rhythm in the second half and should have taken the lead when Danny Mayor delivered a superb cross for team-mate Matty Virtue, who remarkably couldn’t connect with the ball to head it in from point-blank range.
Fleetwood continued to frustrate their home support, with Graydon unable to compose himself after a mazy run and Bennett heading inches wide of the post.
Bromley, unfazed, stuck to their game-plan of counter-attacking football and direct play. Their best chance came late when Cheek, scorer of six goals in nine games this season, was denied a seventh by Bennett who saved a certain goal in the six-yard box.
Strong goalkeeping and off-the-mark finishing resulted in the game ending in a stalemate.
Woodman said: “We’re looking dangerous and keeping clean sheets. I said to the guys keep churning out performances like this and the results will turn, for sure.”
