Colin Omogbehin stood alongside Mark Pembridge for the first time this season as they watched a mature performance from a young Fulham side who held Conference outfit Bromley to a stalemate.
The first clear sight of goal came to the hosts. The direct approach led to Reeco Hackett-Fairchild dragging a shot wide of Taye Ashby-Hammond’s near post.
The technical flair of the youthful Fulham side showed its first glimpses of threatening the Bromley goal shortly after. A neat interchange between Fabio Carvalho and Timmy Abraham almost handed the visitors the lead, had it not been for the excellent coverage from Sam Wood.
The polar opposite styles continued to exchange blows. The direct, physical approach versus the measured build up. The Astro turf pitch throwing up black rubber with every explosive movement.
Ashby-Hammond was called into action following a nice spin and shot from Luke Coulson. The stopper’s hands solid as ever following his contract extension earlier this week.
The Young Fulham side looked competent and controlled the game nicely. Carvalho again at the heart of the next move as he tried to place a shot in the corner that flew wide.
Good work down the right from trialist Tushaun Walters presented Abraham with his first sight of goal only for him to drag his shot straight into the arms of Mark Cousins.
Walters fed off Carvalho’s good work and whipped one towards the far corner which was deflected inches wide. The inexperienced Fulham side showing great maturity for large parts.
The screw continued to turn as the lively Carvalho rattled the post. Moments later Abraham used his own physical poise to bundle his way through on goal but lifted his chip wide of the post.
The conference side re-grouped and had their best spell of the game leading up to the interval but the hosts were fortunate to go in level at the break.
From kick off Billy Bingham had Ashby-Hammond scrambling as his shot direct from the restart nestled onto the roof of the net.
A fresh new eleven for the hosts showed. However, the same assured Fulham side came out passing again. Carvalho grew closer to his deserved goal as he bent one wide of the Bromley goal.
The ‘keeper was in action again at full stretch. Sonny Hilton advanced towards goal and struck a shot headed for the top corner if it weren’t for the left palm of Cousins.
Bromley’s fresh side showed their first glimpses of troubling the Fulham goal. Korey Henry’s powerful run ended with a 25-yard shot hitting the supporting frame behind the goal.
Substitute Terry Ablade combined well with Ryan De Havilland down the near side as a cross found Sylvester Jasper. He came back inside to force a save from the new trialist in the Bromley goal.
A fellow trialist went up the other end and jinked past Luca Murphy but from a tight angle as he grazed the crossbar.
Henry was looking to force the game in his side’s favour as he wrestled past trialist Ben Tricker and dragged a shot across the face of goal.
The last kick of the game presented Bingham with the chance to win the game from 20-yards in a dead ball situation. Ashby-Hammond got his palms to it to see Fulham come away with a draw.
Bromley: 1st half: Mark Cousins, Sam Wood, Jordan Higgs, Jack Holland, Luke Coulson, Frankie Raymond, Michael Cheek, Chris Bush, Trialist A, Adrian Clifton, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild.
2nd half: Trialist B, Marc-Anthony Okoye, Billy Bingham, Trialist C, Korey Henry, Billy Crakse, Spencer Cripps, Briggs Ojemen, Prince Ogunmekan, Trialist D, Trialist E.
Subs: Ollie Tanner, Trialist F, Alex Brefo
Fulham: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Zico Asare (Murphy 66’), Ben Tricker, Connor McAvoy ©, Vashon Neufville; Sonny Hilton (Page 66’), Ryan De Havilland, Tushaun Walters (Ablade 60’), Fabio Carvalho, Sylvester Jasper; Timmy Abraham.
Subs: Toni Stahl, Terry Ablade, Luca Murphy, Jonathon Page.