Bromley’s B team took on a Sunderland U21s side on Monday night for the young Ravens’ first Premier League Cup encounter of the season. Bromley featured in the competition last season, where they faced under-21 sides from Norwich City, Bristol City and Exeter City, and they finished second in the group, only missing out on advancing to the round of 16 on goal difference. Sunderland also finished second in their group, which was enough to boost them into the round of 16, where they were beaten 1-0 by Burnley U21s, who progressed all the way to the semi-finals, where the Clarets were then beaten 2-0 by the eventual winners of the competition, Queens Park Rangers.
It didn’t take long for the Ravens to find a lead against the Black Cats – a high pressing strategy from Bromley proved to be too much for Sunderland shot-stopper Isaac Allan to handle ten minutes in, and his hurried clearance fell straight to the feet of Alex Stepien-Iwumene, who tucked the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.
Sunderland had the opportunity to level proceedings on the half hour mark when Archie Lightfoot burst down the left hand side, but the number 3’s shot was tame, and easily saved by Dillon Addai.
George Evans thought he had doubled Bromley’s lead on 35 minutes after he latched onto Nathan Paul-Lavaly’s cross from the right hand side, but the frontman couldn’t find the target with his header.
The visitors should have drawn level two minutes into the second half, when Ethan Moore used his pace to break in behind the Bromley backline – the number nine found himself one-on-one with Addai, but his attempt to slot the ball past the ‘keeper was unsuccessful, and his effort dragged wide of the post.
One became two for the hosts when a floated cross from the right landed on the head of Bromley skipper Sam German, who planted a header past Allan for 2-0.
The two goal cushion didn’t last long, however, as Jack Whittaker curled a luscious free kick into the top corner two minutes after German had netted at the other end of the pitch.
Paul-Lavaly searched for Bromley’s third on 80 minutes – substitute Jed Borders picked out the number two with a well-timed pass, and the full-back latched onto the end of it; his eventual shot was well-saved by Allan.
Sunderland searched for a late equaliser, but Bromley defended well, holding out for all three points in their first Premier League Cup game of the season.
Written by Daniel Catlin