Ambitious Ravens denied place at the summit at the very last but Kent derby shows upbeat mood is well founded

Cloudless skies over Bromley right now: Picture by @YTJourno

League Two

Bromley (2) 2 Kabamba 7, Cheek 12

Gillingham (0) 2 Andrews 56, Clark pen 90+8

This was the game that is so big, they were happy to put it up in the same time slot as an England World Cup qualifier.

They are clearly doing something right.

In a game of unexpected quality and drama, the Ravens blew a 2-0 lead that would have taken them to the top of the table but even the disappointment of conceding an equalising penalty deep into injury time should not detract from the upbeat nature of their progress.

After a season of bedding down in League Two - their first ever at this level - the Ravens have shown they are ready to spread those wings.

Promotion is the goal and they make no bones about it. Those packing the Broomfields and Bear Island bars before kick off - not to mention the Dave Roberts Tea Bar - demand nothing else.

They went into this early season table-topper unbeaten (three wins and three draws from six) with only Chesterfield and Gareth Ainsworth's Gillingham above them in the table at the start of the day.

What better way to measure the strides Andy Woodman's ambitious side are taking than against a side unbeaten in 18 league games - without a loss in the league since March - and floating on air since the former QPR Wild Thing (making hearts sing) took over as boss.

Throw in the fact this was something of a derby and the ingredients were perfect for an international weekend offering only England v Andorra as a poor alternative.

Only 33 miles separate the clubs and last season's first ever geographically close league encounters brought two wins for Bromley. It did not take long for the Ravens to believe they would be inflicting more pain on their Kent rivals.

All it needed was a swift turn and despatch into the bottom corner from Nicke Kabamba after a knock down from Michael Cheek to get the ball rolling seven minutes in.

Bromley wasted no time in doubling their lead with another clinical finish moments later - this time from that man Cheek himself - the skipper timing a header beautifully after being picked out with a searching cross from the left by Idris Odutayo.

The Gills had had plenty of the ball - ex Charlton and Wales stalwart Jonny Williams seeing plenty of the action - but they had nothing to show for it, whereas Bromley's razor sharp strikers looked in the mood to run amok. Cheek had another header cleared off the line as the hosts threatened to make it a one-sided contest.

But the Gills were far from done. Josh Andrews almost got them back into it when he got the better of Omar Sowunmi and struck a low shot into the legs of Grant Smith and the striker should have beaten the keeper with a header at the start of the second half which flashed wide. Elliot Nevitt also went close, with Smith's reflexes tested once more.

A goal was coming and it was no surprise when Andrews glanced home a header from a corner to halve the deficit.

In a game flowing with energy and chances, Cheek struck a post and Mitch Pinnock forced keeper Glenn Morris into a flying save after a fine move as Bromley sought to seal the deal. It was not quite to be.

Ainsworth sent on ex Wales striker Sam Vokes and he almost paved the way for fellow sub Johnny Smith to equalise in stoppage time, but Smith's legs were again put to good use with a fine block.

That looked like being that, but there was one more twist to come when Smith upended Gareth McCleary's charge through the inside left position. That led to a huge delay before the spot-kick could be taken as medics came on to attend to the keeoer following his collision with McCleary.

It seemed like Vokes would take the kick but at the last second he handed the ball to defender Max Clark, who nervlessly drilled home to make it 2-2. A breathless game got the finale it always looked capable of delivering.

Ravens: (3-4-1-2) Smith - Sowunmi, Cameron (Webster 52), Odutayo - Ifill (Krauhaus 56), Charles, Hondermarck, Pinnock - Whitely (Arthurs 56) - Cheek, Kabamba (Dinanga 87)

Gills: (3-4-1-2) Morris - Gale, McKenzie, Smith - Hutton (Jonny Smith 63), Little (McCleary 64), Coleman (Khumbeni 57), Clark - Jonny Williams - Nevitt (Vokes 64), Andrews (Rowe 70)