BROMLEY 2, ALDERSHOT TN 2

ALDERSHOT, following the plaudits that came their way at the weekend, threw away two points and a two-goal lead on Tuesday night as they allowed Bromley to earn their first point of the season.

Seemingly in total control by the 21st minute, the Shots again displayed their vibrant, aggressive attacking play during a dominant first half, only to concede a goal just before the break which gave the Ravens hope and momentum.

The visitors finished the game on top and Gary Waddock was left to reflect on whether this was a point won or, more likely, two dropped.

“It’s a bit of both,” he said in the end. “If we manage the game better going into half-time, it changes the outcome. The second half was not the performance we were looking for – we didn’t play in the same way that caused them problems in the first half. We went toe-to-toe trying to physically compete with them, instead of passing the ball around, and didn’t have the composure to take the sting out of the game.

“But you’ve got to give Bromley credit for the way they took the game to us and we’ve got a point away from home, which is always pleasing. For 35 minutes, we were very good, but unfortunately a game lasts for 90 minutes, not 35.”

Former Shots loanee Alfie Pavey made his debut for Bromley after joining from Millwall just hours earlier but, initially at least, he could only watch as Aldershot seized the initiative.

On 15 minutes, Bernard Mensah clipped in an angled pass from the left flank towards Jake Gallagher as he burst into the penalty area and his cross-shot was flicked into the net by Scott Rendell.

Just six minutes later, the Shots were again rewarded for their work-rate and endeavour as Matt McClure scored his first goal for the club, one which his performances have richly deserved. He pounced on a loose ball in midfield, skipped past one defender and held off another to fire a shot past Alan Julian into the bottom corner.

Suddenly, however, Bromley added pace and quality to their physical approach and on 44 minutes got back into the game. Joe Anderson crossed from the left and Tobi Sho-Silva found space to guide a header past Mark Smith in a moment which would prove crucial.

David Martin shot just over the bar from 35 yards as Bromley restarted in the ascendancy, but had Rob Swaine’s inadvertent glancing header, from Jim Kellermann’s free-kick, gone into his own net rather than hitting the bar, the game would surely have been up.

Instead, Mensah limped off under the effects of several robust challenges and, with Iffy Allen still awaiting permission to replace him, Bromley substitute Louis Dennis struck a fine equaliser with a 15-yard shot across goal.

Both sides pushed for a winner – and Julian did well to tip McClure’s 25-yard drive over the bar as Aldershot ended the strongest – but it ended with honours even.

Waddock conceded that seven points from the first four matches of the new season did still represent a healthy start.

“It’s not a bad return, but we’re greedy, aren’t we? It should have been more. The players know the standards we set and we must learn from this.”

Bromley: Julian; Holland, Chorley, Swaine, Anderson; Martin, Porter, Goldberg (Dennis 70), Turgott; Sho-Silva (Dymond 85), Pavey. Subs (not used): Howe, Johnson, Prestedge. Booked: Swaine, Martin, Turgott.

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Straker; Kellermann (Arnold 77), Gallagher, Bellamy, Mensah (Allen 75); Rendell, McClure. Subs (not used): Saville, Wakefield. Booked:?McClure.

Referee: David Rock.

Attendance: 906 (307 away).

Aldershot travel to Braintree Town this Saturday. The Essex side have yet to win this season.