Party-poopers Bromley dashed Horsham's dreams of playing Ryman League premier division football on Saturday.

The Kent side eased through in the play-off final to put a massive dampener on the Hornets' end-of-season dinner.

Downcast boss John Maggs said: "I had better give them five pints to get started.

"I won't be able to pick them up, though. We said before the game that if we win it will be the party to end all parties but if we lose it will be a funeral."

Two players drowning their sorrows were Lee Carney, who missed a 20th-minute penalty when the game was 0-0, and goalkeeper Luke Burton, who should have done better with two of the Bromley goals.

Both sides made a nervous start but in-form Bromley, who powered into the play-offs after claiming 25 points from their final nine league games, made the early chances with Danny Carroll scuffing a shot from 18 yards after two minutes.

Burton kept out a low strike by Allan McLeod soon after before Gary Charman brought a save from Bromley keeper Andy Walker when he got his head to a Carney free-kick.

Hornets should have made the breakthrough on 20 minutes when Taylor was felled by Tutu Henriques after a clever turn but Walker dived to his right to keep out Carney's spot-kick.

Six minutes later, Carroll flicked a ball over the Horsham rearguard and Mark Tompkins squared for Wade Falana to side-foot home.

Hornets levelled on 43 minutes when John Westcott's training-ground free-kick deflected kindly for Taylor to rifle in.

The lead did not last long as McLeod's cross from the left touchline sailed over Burton into a top corner.

Bromley had the better of the chances after the break and made the game safe on 77 minutes when Colin Luckett curled a 30-yard free-kick over Burton.

Maggs, who will take over in a full-time role as general manager responsible for first team and commercial matters next season, said: "The penalty would have settled us. It was the key moment."

Horsham: Burton, Castrechino (Lopez 76), Payne, Walker (French 10), Graves, Hawthorne, Carney, Westcott, Taylor, Rummery (Mateos 68), Charman. Unused subs: Fox, Clark. Booked: Carney (dissent).

Bromley: Walker, McLeod (George 63), Luckett, Potterill, Henriques, Okafor, Carroll, Falana (Amoako 68), Tompkins, Locke (McGowan 45), Drewett. Unused sub: Stradwick. * Booked: Henriques (foul), Tompkins (dissent).

Attendance: 1,117.