Lillywhites retain Kent Senior Cup

The result means part one of a treble-winning season is complete.

Tomorrow the Lillywhites take on Tooting & Mitcham in the London Senior Cup final (at Tooting, ko: 7.30pm) and on Saturday they have the chance to win the Ryman Premier League title.

Last night, a devastating six-minute spell spanning half-time typified the Lillywhites' dominance where three quick-fire goals put the Angels to the sword with almost 40 minutes still to play.

Gareth Williams from the penalty spot in first-half injury time and goals from Nic McDonnell and Peter Adeniyi did the damage before Ray Powell grabbed a consolation.

To get to the final, Bromley put three past Dover Athletic and five past Ashford Town.

They had won their five previous games and had already completed a league double over the Angels, so it was always going to be a tough ask for the visitors.

Mark Goldberg made two changes to the side which beat Billericay at the weekend with the injured Simon Osborn making way for Williams and Junior Kadi dropping to the bench for Tutu Henriques.

Williams played in the hole behind strikers McDonnell and Tony Boot while Henriques, Adeniyi, Barry Moore and Sam Wood spread themselves across the midfield.

Bobby Bowry was part of a three-man defence which included skipper Francis Duku and Donal O'Sullivan.

For Tonbridge, former Lillywhites Fraser Logan and Matt Lovell took to the field while Jon Main, whose 34 goals this season has fuelled talk of a move to a Football League club, lined up at the front.

Both teams started nervously with possession being given away too easily.

Bromley in particular seemed to take time to settle at the back as O'Sullivan and Bowry made mistakes with attempted clearances.

They were almost made to pay when the pacy Main latched onto Powell's flick-on but Andy Walker was quick off his line to smother the danger.

It has to be added that Main's dramatic flying dive over the keeper will not impress any scouts in the crowd.

Bromley responded with Moore's 20-yard drive which was easily saved and then the midfielder was booked for a foul on Alex O'Brien.

On 19 minutes the Bromley faithful shouted for a penalty after a hefty, but fair, tackle on Moore and the Angels then went close but Powell could not reach Robbie Kember's cross at the far post.

On 34 minutes Adeniyi's cross bounced off the crossbar as Bromley began to assert their superior skill and the same man saw an angled drive brilliantly tipped over by Matt Bromby in the Angels goal.

They were getting good work on the left thanks to Wood's mazy runs and quick-feet and the midfielder released Williams but his shot was blocked.

On 46 minutes McDonnell could only direct Adeniyi's cross onto the post from six yards but the hosts were getting closer.

Then, as half-time approached, a patient Bromley move ended with Wood releasing Williams into the penalty area and when John Beales slid in to make the tackle, Williams went down and the referee pointed to the spot.

Despite his protestations, Beales was booked and Williams brushed himself down to score the penalty and register his fifth Kent Senior Cup goal in three games.

There was to be no more action although as the referee left the field he was subject to torrents of abuse from Angels fans angry at the penalty decision, although it has to be asked how they could make a call on the decision from the opposite end of the pitch.

Within six minutes of the second half the match was over as a competition - Moore and Boot combined for the latter to cross and present McDonnell with an easy knock-in for his 28th goal of the season.

Moments later it was 3-0 as Adeniyi jinked his way into the penalty area and fired across Bromby and send the Bromley fans behind the goal into delirium.

It could have been four but Bromby saved well from Boot on 54 minutes however, the Angels grabbed a meagre lifeline three minutes later.

Walker somehow misjudged Kember's deep cross and the ball sailed over him to the unmarked Powell who headed home from six yards.

Things could have been very different had the same striker not ballooned over the bar seconds later.

But from then on, the Angels did not get a sniff of goal as Bromley showed the class and skill which keeps them in line for a historic treble-winning season.

Just after the hour, Goldberg introduced Garath McCleary for Boot and the substitute injected more pace and urgency up front where McDonnell was guilty of missing two gilt-edged chances to extend the lead.

The last 15 minutes where notable solely for Kirk Watts' introduction for McDonnell and bookings for Williams for kicking the ball away and Henriques for pulling back Luke Piscina.

At the final whistle fans invaded the pitch in scenes reminiscent of the Kent Senior Cup final last year as the team celebrated their first piece of silverware under Goldberg.

By Sunday, it could be three pieces of silver and promotion.

MATCH FACTS:

BROMLEY: Walker, O'Sullivan, Duku, Bowry, Wood, Moore, Henriques, Adeniyi, Boot (McCleary, 61), McDonnell (Watts, 78), Williams.

SUBS NOT USED: Sobers, Greenway, Kadi.

ATT: 926.