Makeshift striker Dale Binns’ double strike was enough see City through to the First Round Proper of the FA Cup as the Lilywhites overcame Ryman League Bromley at Hayes Lane.

For the home side, who rested their entire first team for the Bryco Cup defeat at Hertford in midweek, Steve Potterill came in at right back in place of Romuald Boua in an otherwise unchanged side from that which lost 5-2 to tenants Cray Wanderers last Saturday.

For the visitors, top scorer Dave Sadler failed to recover from the injury picked up at Basingstoke on Tuesday and his place in attack went to left sided midfielder Dale Binns, himself sidelined since the victory at Tooting in the last round. With Jon Stevenson’s comeback aborted by a training ground relapse Robbie Simpson retained his place in the starting line-up. On a brighter note Rob Miller was sufficiently recovered from a groin strain to return in place of Josh Simpson who was consigned to the bench.

Robbie Simpson beats Colin Luckett

After a quiet opening the game sprang into life on four minutes when Bromley spurned a golden chance to grab the lead. Sam Okafor managed to get wide of Craig Pope on the right of the City area and sped towards the by-line, Duncan Roberts rather rashly chose to come from his line to gather but made his decision too late leaving himself in no-man’s land as the former Hampton left back slid the ball back across the six yard box and into the path of Leroy Huggins. With the goal at his mercy the striker fired straight at Lee Chaffey, who had got back to cover, when a shot either side of the City defender would have given the underdogs a dream start.

To rub salt into the wound, within two minutes of that incident City had taken the lead. A good move down the right saw the ball worked to Carl Williams whose low cross found Dan Talbot on the left of the box, the Rushden loanee played a first time pass into the feet of Binns who took one touch before coolly slotting home to the left of Andy Walker.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side within eight minutes when an early knock forced top scorer Solomon Taiwo out of the action, Matt Kember taking his place.

As Bromley tried to force their way back into the game Huggins won a corner off Matt Langston. Gary Drewett’s place kick was partly cleared before the same player returned the ball into the area but Huggins headed wide. Skipper Mark Watson then tried his luck from the edge of the area having collected a centre from Colin Luckett, but with his back to goal, and under the close attention of Langston the former Lewes striker fired high of the target.

City spurned a presentable chance to double their lead midway through the half when strong running from Simpson on the right flank allowed him to send a low cross back into the area where Rob Miller set up Williams but the midfielder lashed wide of the target when well placed to work Walker.

Williams was involved again in City’s next attack as the visitors exploited the space on their right, this time he turned provider to flight a centre into the path of Talbot whose first time pile-driver forced a good block from Walker at the expense of a corner.

With City very much in the ascendancy at this point Steve Potterill fouled Talbot deep on the City right. Talbot himself took the resultant free kick but Robbie Simpson was unable to get over the ball and headed high.

Craig Pope gets above Mark Watson

Simpson then came deep to good effect and fed Binns wide on the left, the former Hendon player sped clear of Potterill before cutting the ball back inside for Simpson who was denied by an excellent Colin Luckett challenge. Referee Mr Fay bizarrely chose to book the City striker for the tackle when it appeared both players had merely made a full blooded attempt to get the ball.

City successfully took the heat out of the remainder of the period but registered one further effort on goal themselves when Roberts collected Potterill’s long throw and released Dale Binns but despite twisting away from Luckett his shot lacked the power to trouble Walker unduly.

The visitors stepped up a gear at the start of the second half and should have been in the comfort zone of a two goal lead within a minute of the restart. Richard Scott played the ball into Robbie Simpson whose turn left the Bromley back line flat-footed, his low cross from the right somehow eluded Rob Miller in front of goal before finding its way to Talbot on the far post, but with time and several options available he chose to blast the ball first time and succeeded only in finding the side-netting.

Two minutes into the period Stuart McIntyre made his second change, Adolph Amoako replacing Sam Okafor. The young striker was soon in the thick of the action latching onto Drewett’s right wing centre but fired wide.

Gary Roberts countered this change with a swap of his own withdrawing Talbot and replacing him with Lee Summerscales, the defender pushed into a wide left midfield role to counter the threat posed by the home side down that flank.

City were content to soak up Bromley pressure and play on the break. As has so often been the case this season, especially away from home, the back four gave Duncan Roberts excellent protection and limited the home side’s goal threat.

More tireless running from Simpson saw him reach a ball deep on the right that looked destined to go out before crossing low for Summerscales whose first time shot struck the towering Danny Arkwright before going behind for a corner. As City maintained the pressure from the place kick Simpson produced another subliminal turn, this time leaving Arkwright in his wake, but he couldn’t find the finish to match and dragged his shot wide of goal.

Dales Binns soaks up the applause after scoring City's third

Bromley forced a number of corners of their own and from one of these, flighted in from the right by Drewett, Roberts punch fell for Huggins who fired back at goal only for the ball to cannon behind of Scott, however Mr Fay adjudged Watson to have got the final touch and awarded a goal kick.

Lee Summerscales whose height proved to be a much needed asset in the City midfield then glanced a Roberts goal kick into the path of Binns but from the edge of the box the fleet-footed wing man blazed wide when he had time to at least force Walker into a save.

City looked at their best when they managed to get the ball down and with the game well into its final fifteen minutes a decent passing move saw play move from left to right where Williams, showing good vision, spotted Rob Miller’s forward run but just as the former Bedford midfielder was about to apply the finishing touch Walker was out bravely to dive at his feet and block.

Colin McIntyre then made his last substitution introducing Ahmet Suleymanoglu to play wide in place of Scott Bennetts.

However, any hopes Bromley had of getting back into the game were dashed moments later. Robbie Simpson’s continual chasing of lost causes forced Potterill into a tackle which resulted in a free kick being conceded near to the corner flag on the City right. Richard Scott’s delivery was perfect and Matt Langston powered through a sea of bodies to plant an unstoppable header back across Walker and into the corner of the net from six yards out.

With victory secured Gary Roberts withdrew the tiring Simpson allowing Tom Pell a few minutes to taste the action. However, City weren’t finished, with the home side sacrificing their shape to chase the game Rob Miller played in Scott behind the Bromley back line, Walker again did well to parry but could only force the ball into the path of Binns who completed the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

Miller himself was then withdrawn but Josh Simpson hardly had time to register a touch before Mr Fay brought the game to a close, allowing the City players to celebrate with the travelling supporters.