AN incredible afternoon in South London handed Bashley their first win since the opening day of the campaign as previously unbeaten Bromley were left shell-shocked by the visitors. Result: Bromley 3 Bashley 5
A quite bizarre stew of events ensured the game was one that would linger long in the memory, with enough goals, controversy and incident to push even Andy Gray's pundit powers to the limit.
Quite aside from the eight goals, including two own goals and a penalty, there was an astonishing incident when a linesman pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced with a volunteer from the crowd.
Having awarded a highly contentious handball decision, from which Bromley promptly scored, Bash boss Geoff Butler approached the referee and asked for him to be replaced after Bash defender, and former Bromley player, Andrew Julius, identified the replacement official as the home side's kitman!
The rogue linesman was eventually relieved of flag duties and without the help of their 12th man, the hosts crumbled to their first reverse of the season, apparently much to their surprise.
"We shook them to the core," said Butler. "They were very confident going into the game, as you would expect if you're unbeaten, and their manager was gutted after the game, absolutely fuming.
"The lads worked hard, refused to lie down and it looks like we'll just have to outscore sides!"
Beginning in the breathless fashion that would characterise it, the game was just 24 seconds old when Adolph Amoako outpaced makeshift centre back Danny Gibbons to open the scoring.
Bash found their feet and drew level on 20 minutes when Adie Adams was tripped in the box and Dave Wakefield made no mistake from the spot.
Then came the home kitman's cameo on the line as he ruled Harper had not released the ball before taking a step outside his area and Solomon Taiwo gobbled up the gift with a curling free kick.
But the New Forest side were on terms again before the break when Mat Jones' far post header was slid past his own keeper by Danny Arkwright.
The visitors nosed in front for the first time two minutes after the break when Danny Gibbons took advantage of good work from Richard Gillespie to slam home.
But their joy was short-lived as Bromley tugged it back to 3-3 when Amoako grabbed his second of the game.
Gibbons then thumped the bar and Jones made a crucial tackle at the other end before Bash seized the initiative once again when Scott Bennetts headed Chris Ferrett's cross past his own keeper.
And five minutes into added time, the issue was finally settled when Gillespie sped clear to notch his fourth of the season.
The only downer for Butler's boys was the loss of the lively Adams to a crude tackle and he will now miss Monday's visit of Leatherhead (3pm kick-off).
Bashley: Harper, Julius, Ferrett, Head, Jones, Culliford, Gee, Adams (Totczyk 88), Gibbons, Gillespie, Wakefield. Unused subs: Elm, Gough, Grant.
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