Undefeated Ryman League Premier Division leaders Bromley displayed the confidence of a side in top form with a commanding performance to defeat Hayes.
Manager Kevin Hill was forced to shuffle his side with the absence through suspension of Orlando Jeffrey, so Adam Logie moved to centre back and Liam Feeney switched to right full back. Hill was able to call upon the services of Ryan Ashe once again and he partnered Kieran Knight in midfield. Bromley included former Hayes player Barry Moore in their starting line up and two former Crystal Palace regulars Simon Osborn and Bobby Bowry amongst their substitutes.

It was Moore who was in the thick of the action from the start. His corner was headed goalwards by Francis Duku, but Kevin Davies was well positioned in the Hayes goal to pluck the ball out of the air. Soon afterwards, another Moore corner was creating danger in the Hayes penalty area as Donal O'Sullivan headed his deep ball back into the middle. Duku diverted the ball towards goal but Davies made a smart save diving to his right.
Hayes began to play their way into the game and they thought they'd gone in front when Jon Dyer converted Daniel Dyer's wayward shot with a firm finish, only to be denied by the referee's assistant's offside flag.
In the 24th minute, Bromley's Lloyd Blackman was just wide when attempting to convert Kirk Watts's low centre. Moments later he was robbing Gilbert Nuako of the ball and marauding down the right. His low centre was controlled by Nic McDonnell and smartly finished low to Davies's left.
Jon Dyer thought he'd equalised for Hayes soon after, but his diving header from Daniel Dyer's free kick found a well positioned Andy Walker in the Bronley goal. From Walker's throw out, Bromley went on an immediate counter attack. Just when it seemed that Josh Scott had snuffed this out, Kirk Watts nipped in to take the ball and speed past Adam Logie before dinking the ball over the advancing Davies. McDonnell helped the ball into the goal virtually from the goal line.
Jon Dyer was again threatening the Bromley goal with a fierce shot which deflected off Duku. The spinning ball deceived Walker who was off his line, and Peter Collins looked to have turned the ball into the net, but for it to roll agonisingly all along the goal line and past the far post. When Jon Dyer tried to return the ball into the middle, a strong appeal for handball from Tutu Henriques's block was turned down by Mr Francis, the referee.
Hayes did breakthrough just three minutes into the second half. A quick throw in caught the Bromley defence out and Ryan Ashe's pinpoint cross was met at the far post with a firm header from Kieran Knight, who gave Walker no chance.
Bromley were quick to restore their two goal advantage when O'sullivan finished via a deflection from Liam Feeney following another Moore corner which created mayhem in the Hayes six yard box.
Blackman clipped the bar with a 20 yard free kick. but from the point where they scored their third goal, Bromley seemed content to play the clock down and did so without much threat from Hayes.
Substitute Tony Boot might have stretched their lead further late on. First, he shot just wide when put through by Simon Osborn. Then in injury time, when Osborn's shot was tipped onto the bar by Davies, he managed to blast his rebound onto the bar as well.
Report by Nick Bell. Photos by Ray Peploe.
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