Sat 12th April: Premier Division
Orpington 1
B.Webb
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Cray Valley (PM) 0
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On paper it may not have looked as if either side had anything to play for - Orpington assured of second spot and Cray Valley, after dallying with relegation fears, have now secured their Premier Division status. But the visitors had enjoyed a successful March that had led to their manager, Mark Edwards, receiving that month's manager-of-the-month award. They also owed Orpington a win, having succumbed to their hosts on the previous six outings.
Orpington, for their part, were keen to finish the season on a good run. But both sides struggled to make head-way into their opponents penalty areas - a lot of bluff and bluster, but very little creativity. Cray Valley came closest on eight minutes when Jason Dolby's free-kick from thirty yards was well saved by Nicky Blue.
Orpington had to wait until the half-hour mark to introduce themselves to Stuart Back, in the Cray goal - a far-post header was dealt with admirably by the Cray number 1. Apart from George Belchamber's rising shot from twenty-five yards that just cleared the Cray cross-bar, there were no other notable attempts on goal from either side in the first-half.
Thankfully the second period fared better. Perry Belchamber tried a long range volley that had Stuart "back-tracking" but was a shade too high. Cray Valley put together a threatening move on fifty-four minutes. Matt Knuckey received the ball half-way inside the O's half and having turned, the Cray forward played the ball out to Jason Dolby on the left. The left sided Cray player struck a shot that just eluded the O's far-post.
But Orpington got the all important breakthrough on the hour-mark, when Nicky Blue cleared the ball up field. With the ball just clearing the last defender Gary Gorman took the ball into the left side of the Cray penalty area, drew Stuart Back and squared the ball to Billy Webb who slotted the ball into an empty net.
From then on, neither side looked as if they had the real conviction to add to the scoring. The home side came the closest, when Danny Taylor ran into the box and had a shot charged down. Two follow-up efforts were also blocked and with that spurt of action over, so were the notable goal scoring attempts.
Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Gorman (Danny Taylor, 60), Byron Beard, Danny Sandford, Dave Johnson, Perry Belchamber, Rob Quick, Billy Webb, George Belchamber, Adam Ellson (Mark Lewis, 60), Gary Gorman; subs not used: Anthony Weir, Jamie Hughes.
Cray Valley (PM): Staurt Back, Tom Vale (Dean White, 85), Billy Dolby, Chris Ring (Luke Hammond, 87), Tom Martin, Marc Petters, Jason Dolby, Dean Flood, Matt Knuckey, Rob Bryant, Paul Lyons (Ola Ismael 61); subs not used: Nick Desanges, Lee Ward.
Phil Alder - Orpington FC |
