Cambridge United were forced to settle for the solitary point in their opening Bristol Street Motors Trophy match at Hayes Lane as Bromley sealed victory via a penalty shoot-out following a dramatic 3-3 draw.
A memorable evening for Liam Bennett and Dan Barton saw them score their first goals for the Club either side of the break to cancel out Marcus Dinanga’s brace, before they latched onto their momentum courtesy of Emmanuel Longelo - who capped his full debut with what was likely to be the winner as they flexed their comeback credentials.
Despite that, the U’s couldn’t quite preserve their lead in the dying embers as Olufela Olomola capitalised, before scoring the decider from the spot to seal the extra point in the opening Southern Group C clash.
Deeming it the perfect opportunity to hand out minutes and rotate his XI, Garry Monk named six changes from the side that tasted defeat in Bristol three days earlier. Jack Stevens, Bennett, James Brophy, Brandon Njoku and Dan Barton were all restored, whilst Longelo made his first club start. Deadline day signing Dan Nlundulu made the bench, and was joined by youth prospects Pete Holmes, George Munday and Randy Bulakio.
The first competitive meeting between the sides started in nightmare fashion as far as the visitors were concerned, as with just 41 seconds on the clock Dinanga drew first blood after slotting home from close range after being picked out by Danny Imray.
With time on their side, the U’s looked for a quick consolation, with their likely outlet being from out wide against what was a physical backline.
However, the Ravens continued to probe and were agonisingly close to stretching their lead on the 6th minute when they rapidly progressed into the final third to allow space for Cameron Cosgrove to get a shot away. It required reactions from Stevens, which rebounded back to the shooter who slashed s half-volley inches wide of the post.
Despite a level separating the sides, Bromley’s encouraging start was rewarded on 22 as a strong set-piece helped craft their second. A free-kick from Lewis Leigh was matched by the towering Omar Sowunmi, who headed across the face of goal to an unmarked Dinanga, who made no mistake from a few yards.
Ten minutes later, Monk’s men began to gain a foothold, with Barton testing the gloves of Sam Long for the first time after twisting and turning down the right before drilling towards the opposite corner, where an important deflection forced a corner.
The consolation was secured on the 37th minute when Bennett struck home his well-earned first goal for Cambridge after a neat defence-splitting pass released Josh Stokes, who showed good vision to cut back for the wing-back and allow him to bulge the net.
Enjoying a spell of control prior to the break, Danny Andrew was next to test his luck with a speculative effort from 25 yards, which needed a diving save from Long to push it wide.
A more settled second half saw United rekindle further possession of the ball and bide their time, with a near-miss for Andrew yet again on 55 when his cross took a wicked deflection where Long did well to stand his ground, parry and kick-start a counter, where Levi Amantchi’s blistering pace skims his man, but his shot can’t pass Stevens at his opposite post.
The press for an equaliser paid off on the hour mark when Bennett and Stokes tremendously linked up on the right, with the latter producing a carbon copy assist to Academy graduate Barton, who nicked past his man from 10 yards to open his U’s account.
Out for blood, livewire Stokes picked the ball up in the middle of the park in the next attack, driving into space and pulling the trigger, but it blazed wide despite the venom.
Persistence was perhaps the key component in London, with yet another smart link-up culminating in the comeback on 67 when Korey Smith cleverly teed up Longelo at the by-line, who briefly cut inside and cracked into the far corner.
Determined to see maximum points out, captain Michael Morrison was brought onto the field to join the likes of Okedina and Nlundulu, who had to contend with a super ball into the six-yard box from Kamarl Grant at the conclusion, but it passed a sea of players and lurked to safety.
An unfortunate handling error from Stevens just prior to stoppage time saw the hosts force a penalty shoot-out after substitute Olomola capitalised to tap into an empty net.
Composed from 12 yards, it was Andy Woodman’s men who proved victorious, scoring all five penalties as they claimed the two points and provided the sucker-punch.
The U’s now have the chance to rest and regroup during the international break, with their next match coming against Mansfield Town at Field Mill next Saturday (14th September) – be sure to back the boys.
Bromley: Long, Foran, Sowunmi (Grant, 78’), Topalloj, Imray, Charles, Leigh (Arthurs, 66’), Odutayo, Congreve, Amantchi (Olomola, 66’), Dinanga (Thomas, 65’)
Subs Not Used: Smith, Woods, Paul-Lavaly
Goalscorers: Dinanga (01’, 22’), Olomola (90’)
Bookings: Sowunmi
Cambridge United: Stevens, Ibsen Rossi (Okedina, 45’), Digby, Andrew, Bennett, Smith, Brophy (Munday, 89’), Longelo, Stokes, Barton (Morrison, 78’), Njoku (Nlundulu, 62’)
Subs Not Used: Reyes, Holmes, Bulakio
Goalscorers: Bennett (37’), Barton (59’), Longelo (67’)
Bookings: Njoku
Referee: James Durkin
