There’s a whiff of change over most of Britain in this Election year, and who knows what it might be.  However this whiff is clearly absent at the moment at the Beveree as even though the team has had time to regroup and recharge its batteries, the end result was the same.  Yet there were signs that the team is willing to put its nose to the grindstone as this was a much better performance than the last time the team played, away at Staines 3 weeks ago.  In a much changed team, there was a debut for Chris Robinson at right back, while Emanuel Sackey had to be content with a place on the bench.

Bromley had the first chance as Ferguson tried to chip Matt Lovett on 5 minutes but it was weak and gave Matt no trouble.  It was the Beavers who made the first serious chance on 13 minutes as Dave Tarpey broke through after good work with Nathan Collier, his control let him down and he was forced wide. His resulting cross was aimed at Craig Dundas but the referee decreed a foul had taken place and Bromley were let off.

Despite the Beavers looking comfortable, Bromley were pressing on all fronts, and 3 minutes later, Salifou Ibrahim’s neat shot had Lovett diving to his left to hold onto through the massed ranks of players.

On 18 Bromley almost took the lead in a rather odd way. A short corner to Phil Ruggles gave him the chance of a chip-cum-shot which clipped the angle of post and bar with Lovett stranded and helpless. The Beavers immediately went down the Bromley end and Dave Tarpey forced a smart save off keeper Williams.

Hampton had further chance, on 22 mins Barrie Matthews blazed a shot over after a neat one-two with Tarpey and 2 minutes later, Nathan Collier had a long distance shot charged down.  You felt that the Beavers needed a goal to reflect their chances, but it just didn’t come.

On 35 mins, Richard Butler (whom the Beavers have now seen in 3 of their last 4 games) managed to get a header in, but it was soft and gave Lovett no trouble at all.  The half ended with Butler being taken off with what looked like a hamstring pull.

Bromley opened the second half much the brighter and Harrison Dunk made himself a chance just a minute into the half, which although the shot was well struck, was always rising and no trouble.

On 53 minutes, Hampton debutant Chris Robinson, who had not made much of an impression to this point, found space down the right and his cross was met on the volley by Tarpey, but it flew well wide.

A speculative high ball into the Beaver right looked to have been covered by Robinson, but he completely misjudged the height and pace of the ball, Bromley’s Carew latched onto it and at the second time of asking, crossed low and hard for Ruggles to neatly flick it in under Lovett.

From this point on, the Beavers looked like they felt the game was up and for 10 minutes the game descended into a stalemate of Bromley possession and Hampton defending. Saying that, Bromley didn’t really look like breaking through and the Beavers didn’t look very threatening.

Bromley then took advantage of a lapse on concentration on 64 minutes by the Beavers as Ferguson was allowed to chase what looked to be a lost cause. A first time cross was whipped in and McBean got his head to it to power it past Lovett’s left, with the Hampton defence second best and nowhere.

Dev immediately made a change, Hodges coming on for Beckford, but Bromley still held all the aces as they made a further couple of chances before Dundas made way for Lawrence Yaku on 70 minutes. 

A minute later, Dave Tarpey managed to win himself a free kick on the edge after a strong run and a clumsy challenge by Jerrome Sobers. The shot though on target, was not a problem for Williams. The Beavers managed to raise their game and Nathan Collier shot wide after a decent cross from Yaku.

Bromley were still pushing for a third goal and Ferguson, a thorn down the Hampton left hand side all day, managed to get into the box, his shot however didn’t match the run and ballooned over the bar.

On 81 minutes Matthews picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Ashley Quashie. The Beavers, although down, were not quite out, and on 84  mins Stuart Lake made one of his rare runs forward in the box, but his shot skewed wide left.

Deep into added time, Dunk slipped a pass into Ryan Carneille, but a massive air-shot reprieved the Beavers. A third goal would have flattered Bromley as they were never that much better, but then they didn’t need to be.

The Beavers looked industrious, especially so in the first half, but that industry was not taken advantage of as there looked to be little inspiration in the final third. Bromley keeper Williams was never really forced to make a hard save and nothing really happened up front.  Signs of improvement, but still a defeat, and that’s the bottom line.