Bromley were eliminated from the Kent Senior Cup at Hayes Lane last night on penalties against a Maidstone United side which contained eight reserve and academy players. 

However, they only have themselves to blame as they failed miserably in front of goal in a second half which they dominated throughout.

In a very forgettable first half, the visitors went ahead on 22 minutes when Mark Lovell, completely unmarked, headed home Bradley Jordan’s left wing cross.

Ben Greenhalgh should have made it two shortly afterwards after he collected a clearance from a Bromley corner to run 50 yards, only to fire narrowly over the bar.

Mitchell Pinnock, making his first start for Bromley, stung the  hands of Stones keeper Will Godman with a 40 yard swerving shot before Adam Birchall saw his effort deflected wide.

The second half continued in similar fashion until the introduction of Louis Dennis and Moses Ademola, prompting Bromley to suddenly come to life.

Pinnock saw another long range effort saved and Pierre Joseph-Dubois had a good penalty shout turned down after his shot appeared to be handled by a Maidstone defender.

Ademola’s header was cleared off the line and Callum McNaughton fired over from the resultant corner. 

Dennis was put clear on goal by Joseph-Dubois, but Godman did well to block the substitute’s shot with his legs.

Reece Prestedge chipped over when well placed from a Joseph-Dubois cross and Ademola did likewise from a Dennis corner before Duncan Culley was denied by another good save from Godman.

The breakthrough came with two minutes remaining. 

Ademola collected possession 30 yards from goal before playing in Dennis, who turned and placed a sweetly-struck shot through a crowd of players into the corner of the net.

Bromley could have won the game in stoppage time with Pinnock and Joseph-Dubois both having goal-bound shots blocked by defenders.

The rules, having been changed this season, meant the game went straight to penalties to decide the result.

Both sides missed their first spot-kick, but Maidstone converted their next four, while Bromley missed one to enable the visitors to win 4-2.

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Bromley: Brown, Udoji (Dennis 57), Anderson, Waldren, McNaughton, Bailey-Dennis (Joseph-Dubois 46), Rodgers, Prestedge, Culley, Birchall (Ademola 66), Pinnock. Subs not used: Agu, Robertson.