Sat 18th Aug: Premier Division
Orpington 3
G.Gorman (2)
R.Quick
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Snodland 0
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Good news for visiting sides to Orpington FC - the post-match food just got better!
The first home game of the season bore few changes - save for some much welcome repairs to the ground - same team, same kit (new one hasn't arrived yet) but the quality of the food was a huge improvement on past seasons. Rumour was that we had picked up the spoils from a cancelled wedding reception, but no - this is how it is from now on. Much more of the previous standard and we could have ended up with facing disciplinary proceedings.
As for the match, visitors Snodland looked the sharper of the two sides as they moved the ball around and complemented this with good movement off the ball. Orpington looked stretched and none more so than in the opening minute when Dave Jeal narrowly failed to get on the end of Steve Sharp's cross-field shot. Snodland also failed to capitalise on a breakaway on fifteen minutes in which they had a three-to-one advantage. But Lee Dawes's hurried shot was wide.
Orpington's cause wasn't helped when midfielder Perry Belchamber had to limp off after twenty-minutes after suffering a recurrence of an ankle injury. But five minutes later Orpington found their feet and the opposition's goal when Gary Gorman turned and volleyed home from twenty-yards.
Snodland responded with a flowing move to the edge of the O's penalty area but Sam Cormack's shot missed its target. And Lee Deangate forced his way into the penalty area but as he pulled the trigger, O's defender Byron Beard made an important block.
Orpington had a chance to double their lead just before half-time when George Belchamber spread the ball out wide for Billy Webb to race onto. The winger moved into the penalty area but fired over the Snodland bar.
A tentative lead at half-time but Orpington grew in confidence in the second period. Billy Webb again raced into the opposition's penalty area and struck the ball across goal, but Anthony Weir just failed to turn it in.
But just before the hour mark, Rob Quick pounced on some indecision in the Snodland defence to fire Oprington into a two-nil lead, from just inside the penalty area.
Snodland made a double substitution and thought they had pulled one back but it was ruled out for offside.
Orpington continued to look dangerous when they attacked and with seven minutes remaining Billy Webb rounded a defender on the left moved into the penalty area but struck his shot against the near-post. However, Gary Gorman was on hand to slot home his second of the afternoon and Orpington's third for a final score of three-nil.
Next week, Orpington travel to Norton Sports in the league.
Orpington: Nick Blue; Danny Gorman, Byron Beard, George Belchamber; Dave Johnson (Jamie Hughes, 78), Adam Noad (Jack Lynch, 82), Perry Belchamber (Danny Taylor, 20), Billy Webb; Gary Gorman, Anthony Weir; sub not used: Peter Callaghan.
Snodland: Daryl Broadmore, Luke Pain, Ben Scudder, Sam Cormack, Dave English (Nathan Sims, 65), Ashley Russell, Steve Sharp, Lee Deangate, Dave Jeal, Lee Dawes (Lee Pickett, 65), Mark Chiverton; subs not used: Marc Reeves, Rob Wade, Nick Young.
Phil Alder - Orpington FC |
