Match report: Bromley FC 1-1 Arsenal U21

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WHAT HAPPENED

We came within minutes of earning an impressive victory on the road against National League side Bromley on Tuesday night, but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser.

Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper coach Andy Woodman was in the opposite dugout for Bromley and it was his side who started the brighter, George Alexander forcing Tom Smith into a smart save, before Finlay Lovatt failed to convert the rebound.

Alexander came close again with Smith forced into action once more, as the hosts continued to press our backline, but it was Mehmet Ali's side who took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half.

George Lewis' cross took a big deflection off Callum Reynolds and sailed over the trialist in the Bromley goal.

The National League side responded well and Bradley Ibrahim was called into action at the back to clear Ben Krauhaus' effort off the line, while Smith again showed great reflexes to deny Kellen Fisher from close range.

Lewis and Kido Taylor-Hart both went close before the end of the half, while Billy Vigar failed to make clean contact in the box after a dangerous ball in from Lewis.

Bromley started the second half brightly and almost drew level through Jude Arthurs, but his close-range effort just clipped the top of the bar.

Matt Smith then came close to doubling our lead as the second half turned into an end-to-end affair under the floodlights.

Adam Marriott's strike was impressively kept out by Smith, while Kellen Fisher could only find the side-netting with the rebound, much to the relief of our defence.

Just when it seemed as though we had done enough to hold on for the win, the hosts equalised in the closing stages, Corey Whitely's free-kick curled into the top corner from 20 yards beyond Smith as the referee called time on the action.