Bromley must keep the champagne on ice after dogged struggle with party-poopers Cambridge United

Almost a promotion party, as expectant fans arrive at the Copperjax : Picture by @YTJourno

League Two

Bromley 0

Cambridge United 0

The frustrated voice of a young fan speaking to his mates at full time summed it up perfectly: "That was bloody annoying," he said. "I was all ready to celebrate."

That was undoubtedly the feeling among the vast majority of fans gathered at the Copperjax Community Stadium in the hope of witnessing another huge moment of glory.

They savoured promotion via a Wembley play-off a couple of years ago, but It is also the dream of any team to go up in front of their own fans on hallowed home soil.

All it needed was one little goal to seal a victory that would clinch promotion from League Two in only their second season as an EFL club. But Cambridge were in no mood to be the fall guys, having automatic promotion in their sights as well.

The in-form visitors badly wanted the points themselves and might have got them had they made the most of three great first-half chances in an opening 45 minutes in which they were the better side.

They are only six points adrift of league leaders Bromley with a game in hand and had already beaten the Ravens 2-1 on their own patch in October, so were right to fancy their chances.

In normal circumstances, in other words, this was not a bad draw against very good opposition. It's just that a packed Hayes Lane was clamouring for an extra special night to remember - one that felt different from the outset.

We had the sight of scores of extra police on duty - some accompanying Cambridge fans on the walk from South Bromley station. We had a rammed Broomfields clubhouse playing live music before kick-off. We had live TV coverage for this stand-alone Thursday night clash. We had the George Wakeling Stand drummer going full pelt.

The hospitality suite too was rammed. This felt like history in the making.

Bromley's season has been miraculous and despite the disappointment of this missed opportunity to clinch the deal, their reward is surely just around the corner. They play their final away match at Salford next Thursday before completing their programme with a home match against Walsall - where they will aim to complete an entire season unbeaten on home soil.

But the chances are, they might be celebrating at the weekend without even kicking a ball. If fourth-placed Notts County fail to beat Barnet, then promotion for the Ravens will be assured.

Boss Andy Woodman - forced the watch from the stands after being yellow carded in last week's 2-1 defeat at MK Dons - may be frustrated the job is not officially done yet, but in any case, he has his sights on winning the division as well, so might view the result as just another staging post towards that ultimate objective.

The Ravens were tantalisingly close to claiming the win they wanted during a much improved second half. Ben Thompson had the best chance when he appeared to have the goal at his mercy following a goalmouth scramble - only for Cambridge's emergency stopper Jack Walton to throw himself in the way.

But there was no denying that the U's were good value for their point. They almost scored when Kell Watts had a free header in the second half that Grant Smith had to tip over, while the keeper also had to get solidly behind a piledriver from U's Ben Knight

And in truth Cambridge might had found the net before the break. Knight should have buried a chance when put through by Sullay Kaikai. Dom Ball clipped another shot just wide and Shayne Lavery rattled the crossbar with a close range header.

The home side's best hopes lay with a succession of free-kicks, delivered by Mitch Pinnock's silky left boot. From one such wicked cross, Omar Sowunmi got forward to get a firm header on goal that bounced up off the turf and just over the bar.

"If Bromley score, we're on the pitch!" sang a section of home fans in the final 10 minutes as the Ravens exerted pressure that they sensed might yet make the evening one of the most memorable in the club's history.

It was not quite to be, but they will take comfort from the thought that they are as close as can be now to seeing that 'P' alongside the club's name in the league tables.

Ravens: (3-4-2-1) Smith - Sowunmi, Webster, Medley - Ifill, Charles, Arthurs (Ajayi 95), Pinnock - Krauhaous (Hondermarck 84), Thompson (Whitely 84) - Kabamba

U's: (3-4-2-1) Walton - Gibbons, Jobe, Watts - Bennett (Morrison 84), Mpanzu, Ball, Mayor (Brophy 73) - Knight (Nevitt 94), Kaikai (Smith 73) - Lavery (Appere 51)