EVESHAM United’s dreams of reaching the FA Cup first round proper for only the second time in their history were dashed.

They lost 2-1 to Vanarama Conference South title-chasers Bromley at the Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium.

Danny Waldren scored twice for big-spending Bromley in front of United’s biggest crowd of the season of 811.

Waldren struck at the start of each half to send the Ravens through but Seb Brown was the Kent side’s hero.

The ex-Wimbledon and England ‘C’ international keeper produced breathtaking saves to keep Evesham at bay as Paul Collicutt’s Southern League side outplayed their visitors for long periods.

Collicutt made one change to the starting line-up that beat Chalfont St Peter 4-1 in the previous round as Carl Brown came in for Nathan Jackson in midfield.

But Bromley silenced the home crowd when Waldren drilled in a shot from close range to give them a fifth-minute lead.

United put the disappointment behind them to go on and create decent chances.

Brown was called into action when brilliantly saving from Lance Smith and moments later he did well to block Ashley Edenborough’s goal-bound drive.

Elliott Kennedy then got round the back of the Bromley defence but saw his cross-shot well held.

Evesham’s hard work was finally rewarded on 37 minutes when the lively Edenborough steered in George Washbourne’s corner at the near post to make it 1-1.

Linden Dovey prevented Bromley from retaking the lead just before the interval when he hooked Moses Ademola’s shot off the line after the former Brentford striker looked certain to score.

Brown made an astonishing save to deny United’s Brown inside the opening minute of the second-half before Waldren struck again on 49 minutes.

He glanced in a Louis Dennis corner for the winning goal.

In the closing stages, United skipper Matt Sysum went close to forcing a replay when his header looped just over the bar with the impressive Brown beaten.

Evesham: Sawyer, Wilson, Binns, M Jackson (N Jackson 84), Sysum, Dovey, Kennedy (Watts 72), Brown, Edenborough, Smith, Washbourne (Slack 85). Subs (not used): Harding, Tambling, Drake, Wood.

Attendance: 811.