Bromley made it four wins from four games in the Blue Square Bet South after Tuesday` win over Havant & Waterlooville at Hayes Lane.
A goal on the hour-mark from Warren McBean was enough to give them victory against a battling Hawks side.
Braintree Town maintained their unbeaten status with a 3-2 win against newly-promoted Boreham Wood at Cressing Road.
The Iron were 2-0 up at half time, thanks to a brace from Mark Jones on 18 and 33 minutes, but Elliott Godfrey pulled one back for Wood in the 65th minute.
Braintree restored their two-goal advantage, courtesy of Jamie Guy's 88th minute penalty, meaning Mario Noto's 90th minute penalty for the visitors was only a consolation.
Late drama at Park View Road saw two Chelmsford City leads against Welling United disintegrate before Glenn Pennyfather’s eyes as goals from Sam Higgins and a Dave Rainford penalty weren’t enough to keep up the Clarets’ excellent opening to the campaign, City’s disappointed Head Coach relaying: “We just can’t concede goals like that.”
Luis Cumbers completed a personal brace in second half injury-time to seal the points for the unbeaten Kent outfit, who showed character to fight back from two deficits.
Andy Pugh netted in-between the former AFC Wimbledon striker’s double but Pennyfather knows the concession of sloppy goals is something the team have to prevent. “We didn’t organise ourselves quickly enough, gave the ball away too much and lacked concentration at key times,” he recalled after the dramatic finale.
“It highlighted one or two things to me about our team and I let the players know a thing or two straight after the game. After three wins we can’t just think we’re good, we have to prove it.”
Ben Nunn was missing at right-back due to a foot injury, meaning Anthony Cook dropped back from his wide midfield position into defence and Ricky Modeste filled-in. Centre half Adam Tann passed a pre-match fitness test but needed to replaced by Mark Haines early in the game while young former Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic player Liam Bellamy signed in time to make his first appearance on the substitutes’ bench.
The hosts were in control during the opening exchanges and City ‘keeper James Pullen had to keep out a chipped effort from the edge of the area before Cumbers robbed a defender of the ball, cut inside and warmed Pullen’s palms again. At the other end, Modeste headed wide of the target following an accurate Marlon Patterson centre.
Chelmsford then moved in front on 20 minutes when Modeste was again a threat on the right, this time receiving a deep corner from the other side of the pitch and placing the ball back into the danger zone. His delivery fell perfectly for Higgins in close proximity to the goal which enabled the youthful striker to head high into the net.
One could have become two as the half progressed, Modeste providing the ammunition again while, in a separate attack, skipper Rainford crafted an opportunity out of nothing when receiving possession on the edge of the box. He turned a defender and sent his shot towards custodian Charlie Mitten, who dealt with the strike comfortably.
A clearer chance fell to Modeste towards the end of the period. A deep ball from the left deceived his marker and floated over them into a perfect striking position though he couldn’t connect properly inside the box. Haines then showed his own prowess with a right-wing touchline foray prior to switching play towards an offside Takumi Ake.
Ten minutes after half time City paid for not converting as United equalised. A full-back sent him through on goal and, although Pullen came out to meet him, Cumbers got a decisive touch to poke into the net. Yet parity lasted just 8 minutes as Jamie Coyle’s handball in the box after a Higgins cross enabled Rainford to convert from the spot.
Marking a frenetic sequence of scoring, the home side paid little attention to City’s tight defensive record of late with a second of their own. Chelmsford’s defence dwelled on the ball in the 65th minute, leading to a corner which was delivered into the goalmouth where Pugh applied the crucial final connection with his head and levelled the scores again.
The remainder of the match was incredibly tense as both teams knew a slip either way could decide the destination of the points. Unfortunately for City, Pullen was unable to fully claim a late cross 2 minutes into injury-time which meant the grateful Cumbers beneath him picked up the pieces to seal a dramatic last-ditch victory.
Pennyfather concluded: “I feel sorry for James and he was distraught in the dressing room. Some of our outfield players were making mistakes all over the pitch tonight but errors from goalkeepers are highlighted. Although we’re very disappointed there were still some good performances out there, especially from John Martin and Dave Rainford. At times we moved the ball around well and, despite giving three points away, we’ll be back.”
Dover Athletic moved up to fifth position in the table after a 2-0 win against Kent neighours Ebbsfleet United at Stonebridge Road.
Adam Birchall gave the visiting Whites a 43rd minute lead and Nicky Nicolau wrapped up the points when he scored the second for Martin Hayes` side in the 81st minute.
Newly-promoted Farnborough beat Weston-super-Mare 2-0 at Woodspring Stadium with Kezie Ibe giving Boro the lead 5 minutes into the second half.
And with 15 minutes to go, Bradley Bubb made sure for Steve King`s men with a second.
Woking saw off the challenge of Lewes 2-1 at Kingfield.
Dave Gilroy once more proved to be the Cards` hero, netting a brace in the 2nd and 31st minutes, with the Rooks replying on 57 minutes through Jordan Lang.
A late goal from Lee Roache gave Thurrock a point after a hard-fought game with Hampton & Richmond Borough at Ship Lane.
Thurrock started with a great purpose but it was the visitors who took the lead after 12 minutes after Dean Wells was left free in the penalty area to head past Andre Charles-Foster in the Thurrock goal.
Thurrock then started to get in the game and Leon Lalite’s excellent pull back saw Lee Flynn shoot a yard wide from 25 yards.
As the home side continued to dominate Reiss Gilbey crossed for Paul Olima but the forward headed against the post from six yards. The ball came back into the box and Gilbey hit the back of the net from 6 yards out but was correctly flagged offside.
Gilbey was not to be denied though and he scored a close range header after 25 minutes after Barnet loanee Danny Hart’s pinpoint cross.
The visitors then grabbed the lead when Dave Tarpey headed in from close range after beating Craig Pope in the air. The lead was nearly doubled moments later but Charles-Foster did well to deny Wells from a 25 yard free kick.
Thurrock continued to dominate in the second half and when Cliff Akurang’s shot was well saved by Matt Lovett, Matt Bodkin’s shot was cleared off of the line by Wells.
The game then swung against Thurrock on the hour when centre half Rob Swaine took two yellow cards in 2 minutes to get a red card for the second consecutive game.
Thurrock brought on Roache and his performance turned the game back towards the hosts. Flynn’s excellent was cross was headed towards goal by Roache only for Lovett to pull off an excellent save at full stretch. Roache did equalise shortly afterwards when he spun in the area and placed an expert finish into the corner leaving Lovett no chance.
Hampton then pushed for a winner and only an excellent save from Charles-Foster denied Shane Lucien after a 20 yard shot. Flynn had a long range free kick go just over as the teams had to settle for a point each.
Newcomers Dartford picked up their first win of the new campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bishop`s Stortford at Princes Park.
Danny Harris opened Dart's account in the 19th minute and Charlie Sheringham doubled their tally 3 minutes before half time.
The result was put beyond any doubt when Carl Rook found the back of the net with an 80th minute strike.
Staines Town came back from two goals down to earn a share of the spoils with St Albans City at Wheatsheaf Park.
The Saints went into the half time break with a two-goal lead thanks to James Fisher on 16 minutes and Inih Effiong on 28.
However, Marc Charles-Smith pulled one back for Staines a minute after the restart and Leroy Griffiths equalised in the 69th minute.
