Sat 2nd Feb: Premier Division
Coney Hall 1
D.Tanner
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Orpington 2
G.Gorman
J.Hughes
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As the race for the US Presidential nominations is approaching "Super Tuesday", so Orpington are entering "Fabulous February". Two games versus third and first places respectively and two cup games: firstly against a side currently in fourth spot; and then with the runaway leaders of Division One West. February is make or break for the O's.
It was third versus second as the whole neighbourhood seemed to descend on the outlying suburb of Coney Hall. With an hour to kick-off, car parking was at a premium and traffic was building up in Tiepigs Lane. However, closer inspection of the situation revealed that the "crowd" were making their way to the scout hut next door in a search for bargains at a bring-and-buy sale - oh well.
The first opportunity of the game fell to the home side but Dean Davenport's control let him down with the goal at his mercy and the chance was cleared.
Orpington started to win balls in midfield and feed their forwards - Dave Johnson's cross from the right was headed down by Rob Quick at the far-post for Anthony Weir but the forward scuffed his shot on goal. John Odlam in the Coney goal made two good saves to thwart a brace of Jamie Hughes efforts.
By now the visitors' challenges were coming to the attention of the referee who was forced to take a few of their names. By half-time, three O's names were on yellow cards for over zealous tackles and/or arguing - but still no goals.
Orpington continued to apply pressure to the Coney goal. But after ten minutes of the second period, it was the home side that broke the deadlock. Kerry Davies flew down the left and crossed to the unmarked Daniel Tanner at the far-post. Tanner controlled the ball and took it round the onrushing Nicky Blue and placed his shot into the O's goal, despite Byron Beard's best efforts to keep it out.
Orpington knew that nothing less than a victory would keep alive their faint hopes of catching runaway leaders Norton Sports. So the pressure was on to turn around a possible defeat. The O's rose to the challenge and pounded the Coney goal with a combination of long balls, high balls and crosses. Within eleven minutes, Orpington found a precious equaliser - Byron Beard's long throw was nodded down by Perry Belchamber for Gary Gorman to tap in from two yards.
With the momentum firmly with the O's and following a double substitution the visitors moved into the lead - an Orpington free-kick was only half-cleared to Jamie Hughes some twenty yards from goal. The right sided player moved the ball across to his favoured foot and placed his low shot just inside the far-post.
But if Orpington thought they had done all the hard work, they were in far a nasty surprise as Coney went in search of an equaliser - and nearly found it. With eight minutes remaining defender Dean Barnard curled a long pass with the outside of his right foot straight into the path of Kerry Davies. The left-winger latched onto it and played the ball to the near-post for Daniel Tanner to strike a close range effort that seemed to be heading just inside the near-post - but Nicky Blue made a splendid reflex save to somehow keep the O's ahead.
Orpington could have added to their tally late on but both Perry Belchamber and Gary Gorman were just off target with their attempts on goal.
This Saturday, Orpington host Hollands & Blair in the Inter-Regional Cup, kick-off 2:15pm.
Coney Hall: John Odlam, Dean Barnard, Danny Cecil, Tom Howley, Mark Cecil, Sam Marshall, Kerry Davies, Dean Davenport, Julian White, Michael Cole; subs (from): Baptise Vogel, Luke Foulsam, John Doeherty, John Fowler, Imran Hamblin, Ryan Musgrove.
Orpington: Nicky Blue, George Belchamber, Danny Gorman, Byron Beard, Jamie Hughes, Dave Johnson (Danny Taylor, 70), Rob Quick, Perry Belchamber, Mark Lewis (Adam Ellson, 70), Gary Gorman, Anthony Weir; sub not used: Billy Webb.
Phil Alder - Orpington FC |
