An 18th minute own goal at Bromley condemned Horsham to their third defeat in a row and ended any lingering promotion hopes.

The Mid Sussex outfit now lie fifth in division one south, eight points off third spot having played two games more than Lewes.

The hosts' only effort on-target came after just eight minutes when Grant Watts fired a 20-yard shot straight at Ian Chatfield after his first effort had been blocked.

Horsham looked far more incisive and cut through the Bromley defence with some impressive, sweeping moves.

Barrie Westgate dinked a nice ball over the back line to the feet of Steffan Ball in the 14th minute but the striker's powerful strike was brilliantly saved by Moroccan international Chuck Martini.

Martini then denied James Grant before the only goal when Bromley skipper John Myatt was given time to power a cross into the penalty area and Hornets' defender Andy Salako managed to head the ball over his stranded goalkeeper.

Ball sent a 35-yard lob inches over the bar as Horsham continued to press, but after the interval it was a different story with neither side managing a single effort on target.

Horsham came closest in injury time when Gary Charman won posession on the left and worked the ball to Dave Flemming who beat one defender before firing the ball over from a tight angle.

Horsham boss John Maggs was disappointed. He said: "We've had 75 per cent of the game and all the possession, but our final ball wasn't good enough."