Dons spoil Bromley's home baptism but Ravens are relishing first foray into brave new world
League Cup First Round
Bromley (1) 1 Amantchi 19
AFC Wimbledon (1) 2 Kelly 24, Pigott 61
This was a night when the result at the Hayes Lane Stadium was far less relevant than the significance of the fixture.
After a lifetime rubbing along with the non-league fraternity Bromley are now, officially an EFL club. Welcome to the Pleasure Dome.
For the loyal long-termers in the stands and behind the scenes, it is a pinch-me moment that will feel similar to how it was for Brentford stepping up to the Premier League for the first time.
A quirk of the fixture list has given the Ravens a double helping of South London neighbours AFC Wimbledon in their first home games as a League Two side. Proximity does not necessarily equate to great rivalry though. This was a first competitive meeting since 2009.
Saturday's lunchtime return match may feel even more emotional than tonight's Carabao Cup appetiser. Even so, this was still their first match on home soil as an EFL club and no-one who was here tonight can have that taken away from them,
One thing boss Andy Woodman will guarantee is that feet will be firmly on the ground throughout - with the need to avoid getting carried away by both highs and lows that are bound to follow.
That said, it was hard to escape the feeling of elation that accompanied the opening day victory at Harrogate at the weekend. The 2-0 success is another of those moments that will go down in history and can never be taken away from them.
Michael Cheek was the fitting scorer of the first goal ever in the league - his goals played a major role in getting the side up from the National League via that dramatic Wembley play-off final.
He started on the bench - a reflection even at this early stage that resources will need careful husbanding.
The honour of scoring the first Bromley goal on their home patch went to Levi Amantchi, who tapped in Bes Topalloj's fine low cross from the left at the far post after just 20 minutes - the goal coming very much against the run of play.
Johnnie Jackson's Dons were keen to spoil the party and took charge early on, almost taking the lead when Joe Pigott's firm half-volley was turned aside well by keeper Sam Long.
Their season began with a handy 4-2 win over Colchester at Plough Lane and they are intent on building momentum in a push for promotion.
They soon drew level through Josh Kelly, who got the better of Lewis Leigh with a dart into the right edge of the area before smartly despatching low to Long's right.
The Dons may have bossed the ball but they often looked at sixes and sevens defensively and Cam Cosgrove almost cashed in after getting two bites at the cherry in front of floundering defenders.
As it was, Pigott had the visitors in front just before the hour mark when a long ball from deep by Isaac Ogundere was nodded back along the six yard box by James Tilley for the Wimbledon striker to bundle home. It was his first goal after returning to the club from Orient last month.
A quadruple substitution by Woodman - which included the arrival of Cheek, Idris Odutayo, Olufela Olomola and Ashley Charles - led to a spirited finale in which Kamarl Grant almost levelled - Goodman saving his close-range header.
The teams will do it all again on Saturday - this time with league points at stake. It will be another historic day for the Ravens to savour. And much like tonight, they don't have to stress too much if they don't get the result they are after. There is a much bigger picture to enjoy right now.
Ravens: (4-4-2) Long - Paul-Lavaly, Sowunmi, Grant, Reynolds - Cogreve (Olomola 76), Leigh (Charles 76), Arthurs, Topalloj (Odutayo 76) - Dinanga, Amantchi (Cheek 76)
Dons: (4-4-2) Goodman - Biler (Neufville 82), Ogundere, Lewis, Johnson - Maycock, Reeves, Hippolyte (Smith 82), Tilley (Furlong 90) - Kelly (Stevens 75), Piggott (Bugiel 75)
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