SWASHBUCKLING PORT MAKE A MOCKERY OF LEAGUE POSITION // BROMLEY 2, NEWPORT COUNTY 1

report

County boss Christian Fuchs rightly hoisted a potent argument the best side had lost at Hayes Lane - the Austrian's love of intricate possession football deserving to prevail over the Ravens' direct approach.

The League Two table will show 23rd-placed Port now two points from safety in the section dungeon and Bromley pulling away at the summit after the New Year's Day results, but never, surely, was a score line more misleading than this one.

In truth, the result centred around an odd Courtney Baker-Richardson own goal on the stroke of half-time and Ravens' substitute Nicke Kabamba's killer second late on - the Exiles' 88th minute consolation from Nathan Opoku could have been so much more.

The young striker, who has extended his loan from Championship Leicester City until the campaign end, had been set up by substitute Kai Whitmore and Lee Jenkins for the close-range finish - but had muffed a guilt-edge chance just before the hour, having left the bench to replace the unfortunate Baker-Richardson at the break.

Throughout  this crazy encounter the the performance of anchor midfielder Ciaran Brennan, the magical feet of quick silver Bobby Kamwa and Michael Spellman's silky skill deserved suitable acclaim - a viewpoint shared by many nervous home supporters who saw Bromley cling on for this latest win.

County keeper Jordan Wright was vigilance personified behind his a triple centre-back strategy where skipper James Clarke reigned supreme using all his vast experience to totally supress any threat from Bromley's Michael Cheek who sought his 200th career league strike.  

The Port showed a trio of alteration to the side that grounded Crewe at Rodney Parade three days previously. Versatile Cameron Evans came into the right wing-back spot, ex-Cardiff schemer Cameron Antwi and industrious Brennan bolstering midfield, the later protecting County's defensive shield.

Section top-dogs, who had rattled up five consecutive maximums coming into the clash, made a tweak in their rear guard ex-Notts County destroyer Kyle Cameron paired with towering Omar Sowunmi at centre-half, Deji Elerewe rested on the Bromley bench. 

The Kinks' Sixties hit Waterloo Sunset, London Calling by The Clash, The Enemy's  We'll Live and Die in these Towns, and Blind Faith by Chase & Status boomed out across the stadium before kick off - upping the mood of a home gate that had not seen the Ravens lose a league skirmish in their nest for over nine months.

A couple of Bromley corners caused some consternation for gritty County and Wright moved smartly to deal with Sowunmi's downward header after Idris Odutayo had profited on the left.

Jude Arthurs then pulled a left-shot wide, the pressure increasing on 22 minutes, Bromley's lynchpin frustrated again, his menacing flick pawed to safety by the sprawling Wright.

Bromley have the second-best success rate from set plays in the Football League, and they so nearly broke the deadlock on 28 minutes, Sowunmi powering a header inches wide after rising between Lee Jenkins and Matt Baker from Marcus Ifill's in-swinging corner.

Yet County were piecing together some slick soccer in a contest that belied league position. Antwi, and Brennan were breaking Bromley assaults up at source and Anthony Glennon's advances up the left were unsettling the swaggering Ravens.

Kamwa's clever feet bamboozled Ifill a couple of times - a prelude to a sensational burst through the middle by Spellman, who burnt off Arthurs and Ben Krauhaus before extending Ravens gloveman Grant Smith.

Yet Bromley were barnstorming forward again as the interval loomed. Baker and Matt Clarke cleared more bedlam from another corner before plucky County finally cracked in the third minute of first-half added time via rank bad luck.

A Mitch Pinnock free kick found Sowunmi, the defender's initial effort parried by Wright, Arthurs thumping a follow up against a post, the ball eventually going into the net off a horrified Baker-Richardson with Barnet's Cheek in close proximity.

Opoku should have levelled for Port near the hour, spurning a golden opportunity, as he pulled his right-footer across a gaping net.

Port were seizing midfield control and jittery Bromley made three changes, hauling off Arthurs, Corey Whitley and Krauhaus for Will Hondermarck, Ben Thompson and Brooklyn Ilunga - Kabamba replacing top-scorer Cheek.

The surgery certainly worked and the Ravens landed a fatal blow on 75 minutes, Sub Hondermarck worked the oracle on the right side of the area, Kabamba crashing the cross in at the far post, it was the Congo attacker's eight goal of the season.  

Bromley had shown the importance of squad depth, no doubt underpinning their lofty position. Yet, this was a new-look County, a side who continued to display a willingness to play attractive football - and Fuch's warriors deservedly struck back on 87 minutes.

Whitmore's deep and accurate delivery was nodded back by a leaping Jenkins for the lurking Opoku to jab past a stranded Smith. 

Bromley [4-1-4-1]

Grant Smith

Marcus Ifill 

Omar Sowunmi

Kyle Cameron

Idris Odutayo

Ashley Charles

Cory Whitely

Ben Krauhaus

Jude Arthurs [C]

Mitch Pinnock

Michael Cheek

 

Subs

Deji Elerewe

Will Hondermarck for Arthurs 67 mins

Brooklyn Ilunga for Krauhaus 67 mins

Nicke Kabamba for Cheek 46 mins

Sam Long [GK]

Lakyle Samuel

Ben Thompson for Whitely 67 mins

 

Newport County [3-5-2]

Jordan Wright

Lee Jenkins

James Clarke [C[

Matt Baker

Cameron Evans

Anthony Glennon

Ciaran Brennan

Michael Spellman

Cameron Antwi

Bobby Kamwa

Courtney Baker-Richardson

 

Subs

Nik Tzanev [GK]

Kai Whitmore for Clarke 75 mins

Liam Shephard

Ben Lloyd for Antwi 75 mins

Nathan Opoku for Baker-Richardson 46 mins

Moses Alexander-Walker

Jaden Warner

 

Referee:  Kirsty Dowie

Assistants :Peter Lowe & Alex Mathieson

Fourth Official : Don Blades

 

Attendance Not declared