Sat 29th Sept: Premier Division
Cray Valley (PM) 0
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Orpington 4
G.Gorman (3)
R.Quick
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The O's kick-started their season after two successive reverses. Cray Valley, who were a few regulars down, were the side to feel the wrath of a full-strength Orpington side.
Orpington attacked down the slope in the first-half and on fifteen minutes could have taken the lead when Jamie Hughes played in Anthony Weir but the forward's snap-shot, from twenty yards, struck the outside of far upright.
Five minutes later and Cray could have broken the deadlock when the ball ran loose in the O's penalty area following a free-kick and Nicky Blue was called on to make a point-blank save.
Orpington began to dominate the half but found that the final ball was going astray. However, five minutes before the interval Anthony Weir looped a ball into the path of Jamie Hughes who ran down the right wing and crossed the ball into the middle for Gary Gorman to head home for the opener.
In the second-half Orpington continued to have most of the possession and this time they were creating chances. So it was no surprise when on fifty-eight minutes Gary Gorman doubled his tally for the game when he turned on a sixpence, on the edge of the Cray penalty area, and fired the O's into a two-goal lead via the under-side of the cross-bar.
The goal-scorer nearly turned goal provider three minutes later when he played the ball into the path of strike partner, Anthony Weir, but his lob was just wide of the Cray goal. However, three minutes later and Gary Gorman completed his hat-trick with the pick of the bunch - picking up a loose ball on the edge of the Cray penalty area, he beat one defender, cut inside the next and curled the ball with his left foot round the keeper and just inside the far-post.
Rob Quick nearly added to Cray's woes shortly afterwards but his twenty yard effort was just off-target. But Rob was to get on the score sheet with fifteen minutes left when he climbed above everyone else to head home from a corner.
Cray didn't give up the game and in the dying minutes could have grabbed a couple - first, Rob Bryant ran down the left, moved inside onto his right foot and shot just over from twenty-five yards; and then Phil McBean found himself one-on-one with Nicky Blue but the O's keeper again made a good save to maintain a blank score-sheet.
Next week, Orpington are at home to Coney Hall.
Cray Valley (PM): Carl O'Neil, Kane Jefferies, Chris Ring (Carlo Adovono, 47), Tom Martin, Dean White, Essien In Nkanga, Dave Panetta (Paul McBean, 70), Scott Clark, Dean Flood (Paul Lyons, 70), Dean Bryant, Alex McGookin; subs not used: Tom Vale, Billy McAvoy.
Orpington: Nicky Blue, Byron Beard, Danny Gorman (Gary Wigzell, 72), Danny Sandford, Jamie Hughes, Rob Quick, George Belchamber, Billy Webb (Adam Noad, 75), Gary Gorman, Perry Belchamber, Anthony Weir (Dave Johnson, 75).
Phil Alder - Orpington FC |
