MATCH VERDICT: Bromley 1-2 FC Halifax Town

Michael Cheek had put the hosts ahead with a penalty, but Summerfield's spot-kick brought Town level before Allen's winner shortly after half-time.

Only a point separated the two sides before kick-off, so a win at Hayes Lane, rather than The Shay due to a last minute rearrangement, is no mean feat.

And it was a fine response to defeat against Southport in the FA Trophy - Pete Wild wanted his side to be harder to beat, and they were.

It was a back to basics performance from Town, who worked hard, did the simple things well and played as a cohesive unit. Much more like it.

After a 7-6 penalty shoot-out defeat in midweek, Bromley must have thought they'd seen enough of penalties for a while, but two in the space of seven minutes saw a goal apiece here.

Town failed to clear the ball to the left of the box, and after possession changed hands, Cheek was adjudged to have been shoved over, and the striker sent Sam Johnson the wrong way from the spot to make it 16 games without a clean sheet for Halifax.

But after a good response from Town, pressing Bromley back and getting on the front-foot, they were awarded a penalty too for a foul on Jamie Allen by goalkeeper Mark Cousins after he spilled a cross by Jeff King, with Summerfield blasting in.

Town probably felt justice was done after Bromley's penalty, but the hosts felt Cousins had got the ball first before the Town forward.

Town needed more from front-two Allen and debutant Tahvon Campbell, especially Campbell, who didn't compete well enough physically given his size and build, and whose yellow cards emphasised how the game was passing them by a little.

But Town's back three were doing a good job of nullifying Bromley's dangerous attack of Cheek and Courtney Duffus - Cheek's goal was the hosts' only shot on target in the first-half - with midfield the main battleground of the contest.

In amongst the second balls and harum-scarum, Summerfield and Kieran Green were competing well, covering ground, plugging gaps and anticipating danger.

There was a cagey undercurrent to the match which meant it hadn't opened up by half-time, and it was in-keeping with the contest that both goals hadn't come from open play.

One nearly did just before the interval when Allen, getting more involved as half went on, set Jack Earing away down the left, but his shot from an angle was saved by Cousins before King's follow-up shot was blocked.

Town had been aggrieved a few minutes earlier when King was caught late when attempting a shot just outside the box, yet no free kick was awarded.

It was probably the topic of conversation between Pete Wild and referee Karl Evans as they headed towards the tunnel at the break.

Town were then gifted the lead when Kory Roberts' made a mess of dealing with a long pass by Tom Bradbury, letting Allen burst clear and finish coolly past Cousins.

The Shaymen had Bromley right where they wanted them now, able to sit back, soak up pressure and hit them on the break, which they did when Earing marauded over halfway and fed Danny Williams, but his cross was glanced wide by Campbell, who was growing in confidence a little.

The hosts' shoulders seemed to have slumped since Allen's goal, and they looked short of ideas, with Halifax well organised and disciplined.

But Bromley were still enough of a threat for Cheek to hit the post from just inside the box midway through the second-half.

The home side's chances of levelling were then dealt a blow when Liam Trotter was shown a straight red card for a very strong challenge on Williams.

That put The Shaymen in even more control of a contest in which they were the more controlled and composed outfit.

Substitute Ben Williamson brought a good save from Sam Johnson, but Bromley couldn't build any momentum as Halifax took the sting out of the game.

Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Webster, Roberts, Bush, Bingham, Trotter, Forster (Williamson 53), Bridge (Wakefield 65), Duffus (Raymond 70), Cheek. Subs not used: Holland, Alabi.

Scorer: Cheek (15)

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 5

Corners: 7

Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Maher, Bradbury, King, Summerfield, Green, Williams (Senior 71), Earing, Campbell (Tear 90), Allen. Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Belehouan, Benn

Scorers: Summerfield (22), Allen (48)

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 10

Corners: 5

Referee: Karl Evans

Town man of the match: Luke Summerfield. His reading of the game was outstanding, as if he was five seconds ahead of everyone else. And he took his penalty brilliantly to bring Town level.