Bromley secured their place in League Two for the first time in their history with a stunning penalty shootout victory over Solihull Moors at Wembley Stadium.
In an eagerly anticipated fixture which saw both teams in their traditional home strip battle it out for a place in League Two for the first time in their history, it was Bromley who started the better in front of two very loud sets of support. Former Leyton Orient man Louis Dennis had the first chance of the game, smashing a left-footed effort wide of the mark after just 90 seconds.
They threatened again soon after, with semi-final hero Myles Weston finding space on the right-hand side before squaring to the other wing-back, Idris Odutayo, but his shot fizzed behind for a goal kick.
It wasn’t until the 20th minute that Bromley pressed again, with Weston going to ground in the penalty area after a challenge from Moors captain Jamey Osborne, but referee James Durkin did not point to the spot despite the protest from the 36-year-old.
On 24 minutes Solihull generated their first promising attack of the afternoon. It was midfield maestro Joe Sbarra’s shot that deflected off teammate Tyrese Shade and into the arms of Bromley shot-stopper Grant Smith.
Following the next cagey 15 minutes, Bromley deservedly took the lead on 40 minutes. It was Corey Whitely who slid the ball through perfectly to top scorer Michael Cheek, and he outmuscled defender Alex Whitmore and left him on the deck, before calmly rolling the ball beyond Moros goalkeeper Nick Hayes. Strong appeals for a free kick on Whitmore were waved away by the referee and Cheek’s 22nd goal of a prolific season was allowed to stand, giving Andy Woodman’s side the advantage at the half-time interval.
Half-time – Bromley 1-0 Solihull Moors
No changes for either side at the break but whatever Andy Whing said to his players must have worked at the break, as Solihull levelled three minutes after the restart. Striker Tyrese Campbell’s low drive could only be parried by Bromley keeper Smith, and it was Sbarra who was on hand to tap home from close range. The traveling support were delighted with their instant response, still feeling aggrieved at how Bromley went in front in the first half.
That equaliser seemed to bring the tie to life as challenges started to fly in with both teams on the scoresheet and battling for a huge prize. Sbarra and Odutayo were both lucky to escape yellow cards in the minutes that followed the leveller.
Three minutes before the hour, The Moors made a huge mistake as central defender Kyle Morrison played an under-hit pass to his keeper Hayes, who came out and clattered the onrushing Cheek, leaving referee Durkin with no choice but to point to the spot. Cheek coolly dispatched the spot-kick for his second of the afternoon, and sparked jubilant scenes among the the Bromley supporters inside Wembley.
Today’s attendance at Wembley is 23,374. Great effort 👏👏#WeAreBromley #SMFC pic.twitter.com/ty4xJt5XOA
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) May 5, 2024
However similar to the first Cheek goal, it only gave Bromley the lead for a matter of minutes, as captain-fantastic Osborne, who has been at the club since 2017, took matters into his own hands. The Moors number four picked the ball up on halfway and drove towards The Ravens’ penalty area before unleashing a measured drive into the bottom left corner of Smith’s goal to level the game at 2-2 with a quarter of the second half to play – his sixth goal of the season and a really important captain contribution when his team needed him most.
Substitute Jon Benton was next to try his luck for Solihull, but couldn’t keep his half-volley from the edge of the box down and it eventually went sailing over the crossbar. He replaced Jack Stevens who was struggling with injury, and the change saw him go to the right-hand side whilst Shade moved to the left. Andy Woodman’s first change saw youngster Alex Kirk replace veteran Weston, who had a quiet game.
Bromley were putting bodies on the line to stop Solihull from going ahead, with Jude Arthurs and Ashley Charles making vital last-ditch interventions before Byron Webster critically turned Sbarra’s low cross behind for a corner rather than any other danger. From the resulting corner Benton dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box but with ten minutes to play at Wembley Stadium it was one-way traffic.
That was in fact before The Ravens missed their best chance since Solihull drew level. Dennis played a measured ball to Corey Whitely in the penalty area but he could not direct his shot on target and he agonisingly saw his left-footed effort hit the side netting. That was the last contribution for Dennis, who was replaced on 83 minutes by forward Olufela Olomola.
It was Olomola who had a huge chance to win the tie as the board went up for seven additional minutes, but he saw his powerful effort bravely blocked by James Clarke the Solihull right-back.
The last chance of the 90 minutes was inches away from securing Solihull Moors promotion in some style, Clarke’s curling effort from the edge of the penalty area had Smith scrambling but missed the top right corner by a matter of inches. That concluded a breathtaking second half at the Home of Football, and it was time to buckle up for another 30 minutes as extra time beckoned.
SCORE AFTER 90 MINUTES: Bromley 2-2 Solihull Moors
Onto extra time we go. Nerves are starting to show. Who secures promotion?#WeAreBromley #SMFC pic.twitter.com/qQzrN0HxSb
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) May 5, 2024
No changes for either side as extra time commenced, The Ravens were the first side to threaten in extra time. Substitute Kirk did very well to create the room in the box for a strike at goal, but got his weak-footed effort horribly wrong from a promising position. He then had another huge chance from a Jude Arthurs corner, however he saw his header come crashing back off the crossbar.
Osborne did make way five minutes into the half to a standing ovation from the Solihull fans and rightly so, with experienced former Newport County man Joss Labadie trusted to play the final 25 minutes
As Woodman’s side were on top, five minutes before the break Solihull were forced into a defensive change. Morrison could not continue due to injury so a huge final 20 minutes beckoned for on-loan Rochdale defender Max Taylor, on for just his fourth appearance in a yellow shirt.
Tahvon Campbell’s strike after the short half time interval was charged down by Webster at the back for Bromley again – a sign of how important the final period of extra time was at the end of both these two teams’ exhausting seasons.
With 10 minutes of extra time to play, Whing through on Millwall loanee Nana Boateng to try and add fresh legs to the attack, replacing the lively Sbarra who had another very impressive performance pulling the strings from midfield.
It was Bromley who came within inches of taking the lead for a third time, with a vicious strike by Kirk which stayed out via the inside of the post – the second time the man on loan from Arsenal struck the woodwork during extra time.
That was the last action of the 30-minute extra time period, meaning a penalty shootout would be required to determine the winner of this play-off final.
SCORE AFTER EXTRA TIME: Bromley 2-2 Solihull Moors
Up first from the spot it was Tyrese Shade of Solihull against Grant Smith, and he saw his penalty brilliantly palmed away by the goalkeeper, diving to his left and celebrating triumphantly.
Cheek went next having already scored in the regular match from the spot, this time he blasted it down the middle despite Hayes’s best efforts to keep it out – 0-1.
Experienced Joss Labadie could not do better than Shade, his penalty a similar height but to the opposite corner, and Smith was there again to keep it out.
Ashley Charles had a huge chance to capitalise but saw his spot kick crucially saved by Nick Hayes to his right, to just about keep The Moors alive. 0-1 after two each
Campbell made sure Solihull were off-the-mark in the shootout after rolling the ball to Smith’s right.
Olomola crucially scored Bromley’s third penalty by calmly sending Hayes the wrong way 1-2 after three each.
Nana Boateng really needed to score for The Moors to keep them in the final and so he did, almost a carbon copy of the earlier penalty struck by Campbell.
Jude Arthurs was then on hand to convert, meaning Jon Benton had to score or Bromley were promoted, 2-3 after four each.
And so Barton did, in off the post – meaning captain Byron Webster had the chance to seal it once and for all…
Webster made no mistake from the spot to secure The Ravens their first taste of EFL football next season to end an unbelievable football match at Wembley- where it was Grant Smith the Bromley goalkeeper who will ultimately go down as the hero of the shootout.
Bromley are promoted to League Two for the first time in their history. 👏👏#WeAreBromley https://t.co/SFN3RsNBfE
— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) May 5, 2024
Solihull gave it their all and will be gutted to not have got over the line in the end, bringing back past memories of when they lost to Grimsby Town at the same stage two years ago. It won’t be all doom and gloom for them though, as they will return back to Wembley in six days time for the FA Trophy final against Gateshead for another shot at silverware in what has been a very positive season despite the cruel end.
For Andy Woodman and Bromley, you get the feeling that something special is brewing in South London, with League Two stability surely now the aim for a side who have always had the Football League on their mind.
Full-time Bromley 2-2 Solihull Moors – Bromley win 4-3 on penalties
