Sutton United were put to the sword as they were defeated 3-0 by Wembley-bound Bromley at home on Easter Monday.

The FA Trophy finalists drew first blood early when striker Brandon Hanlan poked the ball home after seven minutes following a cross into the box by midfielder Frankie Raymond.

Neil Smith’s men frustrated the U’s with their robust defending and nullified attempts of finding ways through their back four.

Paul Doswell’s men probed for an equaliser time and again, with the best chance coming in the closing minutes of half-time when Harry Beautyman forced goalkeeper David Gregory into tipping the ball over the crossbar.

However, United’s desire to equalise turned against them when George Porter was left to race one-on-one with shot-stopper Jamie Butler, only to be brought down inside the area and forcing referee Neil Hair to point to the spot.

Butler only received a booking though, which incensed Porter who believed the goalkeeper would be given his marching orders after the challenge.

Winger Adam Mekki was on hand to deliver as he converted coolly from 12 yards out and doubled the Ravens’ lead going into the break.

Bromley didn’t rest on their laurels though – Hanlan was played clean through by Porter who put it through Butler’s legs for what looked to be the third.

After celebrating in the away fans corner of the stadium they would learn that the goal was chalked off by nearside linesman Marcus Carmichael.

His decision both perplexed and infuriated Bromley who couldn’t understand why it took the official so long to reach the decision.

The biggest incident of the half came minutes after the hour, when conversations between fourth official Jack Packman and Mr Hair led to Sutton’s captain Jamie Collins being sent off, reducing the hosts to ten men.

It is believed to have stemmed from afters with defender Luke Woolfenden after the later went down for an alleged stamp.

Bromley remained comfortable throughout, even after the introductions of Ross Stearn and Tommy Wright by Sutton after the restart, with the latter perhaps being the most productive and delivering crosses into the box that went couldn’t quite get the right connection.

Ravens substitute Josh Rees threatened to increase the lead when he got on the end of a indirect free-kick into the box, which went wide, but Butler suffered the after-effects of the collision – he would be fine eventually.

But the same man would put the final nail in the coffin ten minutes from time when he would score in a similar fashion to colleague Hanlan, by nudging it past the Sutton backline and into the net – 3-0 and the visitors sealed the win with relative ease.

Sutton are now nine points adrift of first-place Macclesfield Town, with Boreham Wood only two points behind them, as they have six games left of the league season.

For Bromley, the win doesn’t change their league position but means they are five points behind Dover who are in sixth.