Bromley promoted to League One as Notts County slip to defeat against Barnet

Kabongo Tshimanga’s brace earned Barnet a 2-1 victory at Notts County and sealed Bromley’s promotion to League One for the first time in their history – without the Ravens having to kick a ball.

County’s failure to win at Meadow Lane meant leaders Bromley, who played out a goalless draw with Cambridge on Thursday, are assured of a top-three finish, while Barnet now sit three points off the play-off places.

Tshimanga, who has scored seven times in six games, was on target either side of Jodi Jones’ penalty during an action-packed fixture.

Defeat leaves Notts County outside of the automatic promotion spots, two points behind third-placed Cambridge.

With both teams grasping the game’s significance, the early skirmishes were peppered with chances. Callum Stead and Ryan Glover both went close for the visitors while Tom Iorpenda and Matt Palmer responded for Notts County.

A moment of brilliance from Glover then created Barnet’s 32nd-minute opener, with Tshimanga firing home the midfielder’s clever flick into a crowded area.

However, two minutes later, Glover’s foul on Lee Ndlovu saw County presented with a penalty which Jones converted to equalise.

Tshimanga struck a post soon after the interval as Barnet came racing out of the blocks, but he was not to be denied in the 70th minutes and, after receiving Stead’s pass, swept a clinical finish past James Belshaw.