YORK City missed out on a chance to climb out of the National League relegation zone for the first time since November following a 2-0 home defeat to Bromley.

The Minstermen had won their previous five encounters at Bootham Crescent but a goal after 69 seconds from Louis Dennis was added to in the second half by Toby Sho-Silva.

Bromley also survived a flurry of long throws after the break from home sub Sam Muggleton and finished the night worthy winners.

The visitors played with a fast tempo from the start and surged ahead from the first attack of the game when Connor Dymond dissected the City defence with a through ball that Dennis latched on to and beat Scott Loach from ten yards.

Blair Turgott went on to drive wide from 25 yards before the hosts’ first chance of the night saw Vadaine Oliver head into Ravens keeper Ross Flitney’s arms after Simon Heslop’s centre.

On 17 minutes, Oliver’s header sent Jon Parkin clear on goal, but Bromley skipper Jack Holland recovered well to divert the City top scorer’s shot off target and Sean Newton headed well wide at the far post from Asa Hall’s resulting corner.

But the Kent outfit went close when a flying Sho-Silva headed narrowly wide from Turgott’s left-wing cross.

Ex-Bradford winger Turgott also forced Loach to push a free kick around his left-hand upright and Sho-Silva drove an ambitious long-range attempt wide.

George Porter then failed to threaten Loach with a mishit 20-yard volley, whilst Hamza Bencherif headed over from a Newton corner for the Minstermen.

On 40 minutes, Gary Mills’ side needed Loach to save from sub Shane McLoughlin when he charged clear through the left channel following Jordan Higgs’ pass.

After Parkin had headed over from Hall’s ball into the box, Higgs also shot wide from distance.

Early in the second half, Alex Whittle cut in from his flank and forced Flitney to parry away with his right-footed edge-of-the-box effort.

But the visitors doubled their advantage on 57 minutes when Loach failed to collect Higgs’ curling free kick from the left and Sho-Silva headed into an inviting net from five yards.

Muggleton was subsequently sent on by Mills and, from one of his left-wing missiles, Oliver headed against the bar.

After hurling in from the opposite flank, Simon Heslop went on to miss the target from the edge of the box. Muggleton continued to raid the penalty area, providing opportunities for Oliver that he fired over and headed straight at Flitney.

But Loach needed to save with his legs after a fortunate ricochet sent Turgott clear before Heslop hit the roof of the Longhurst from 20 yards.

Loach saved another one-one-one when sub Shabazz Omofe profited from some ragged home defending, whilst one final throw from Muggleton was headed off target by Bencherif in stoppage time.

City

Scott Loach 7

Dan Parslow 6

Hamza Bencherif 6

Sean Newton 6

Simon Heslop 6

Asa Hall 6

Adriano Moke 6

Alex Whittle 6

Vadaine Oliver 6

Jon Parkin 6

Amari Morgan-Smith 6

Subs: Sam Muggleton 6 (for Whittle, 58), Danny Holmes 6 (for Moke, 58), Scott Fenwick (for Hall, 85).

Subs not used: Shaun Rooney, Yan Klukoswki.

Star man: Loach – mistake for second goal, but prevented a heavier defeat

Bromley: Ross Flitney, Alan Dunne (Jordan Wynter, 54), Jack Holland, Dan Johnson, Joe Anderson, Blair Turgott, Jordan Higgs, Connor Dymond, Louis Dennis (Shane McLoughlin, 19), Toby Sho-Silva (Shabazz Omofe, 79), George Porter. Subs not used: Ryan Hall, Bradley Goldberg.

Referee: Karl Evans rating: 6/10  

Booked: Porter 77

Attendance: 3,000 (59 from Bromley)

Shots on target: City 4, Bromley 7

Shots off target: City 9, Bromley 5

Corners: City 4, Bromley 7

Fouls conceded: City 10, Bromley 5

Offside: City 3, Bromley 1