Tues 8th April: Premier Division
Orpington 4
G.Gorman (3)
P.Belchamber
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Crockenhill 0
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This fixture had a typical end-of-season feel about it. A mid-week affair with players and officials making a mad dash to the ground in time for a reasonable warm-up before kick-off.
The first twenty minutes of this local derby was uneventful as both sides tried to find a way past their opponents without a huge amount of success.
Then suddenly, a George Belchamber drive from thirty yards punctuated the boredom and propelled its way towards the top right-hand corner of the Crockenhill goal, only to be nonchalantly wafted away by Chris Scott in the visitor's goal. Shortly after this bright spot, George's brother Perry tried his luck from distance only to see Scott once again turn the ball round the post. From the resultant corner, the Crocks' keeper once again made an excellent save, this time to deny a Mark Lewis header.
But Orpington sensed a way through to goal and on the half-hour, George Belchamber played a ball over the visitor's defence to allow Gary Gorman to race through and place his shot past the on-rushing Scott.
The goal burst Crockenhill into life who attacked down the right through Leke Olowu-Okere. The resultant cross caused panic in the O's defence with Nicky Blue having to come out of goal to force John Paul McKey wide. Despite the attention of Mike Filkins, Orpington managed to clear the danger.
Orpington launched a number of assaults on the Crocks' goal in an attempt to stretch their lead before the interval - a Billy Webb (Ronaldho style) back-heel flick nearly came off; a Danny Taylor run from deep took him into the penalty area only for his shot to be blocked by the advancing Scott; but unluckiest of all was Anthony Weir's lob over the keeper which managed to bounce off a soft surface so high that it came back off the cross-bar.
The second-half only perked-up when the visitors started to tire. Orpington capitalised on this to score three more goals. A Nicky Blue kick was flicked on by Anthony Weir into the path of Gary Gorman who placed his shot past Scott. Five minutes later and the O's leading marksman had himself a hat-trick when he received Danny Gorman's free-kick, turned and fired home from just inside the penalty area.
Finally, Perry Belchamber completed the scoring eight minutes from time when he advanced into the Crock's penalty area and hit the back of the net with a crisp left-foot shot.
Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Taylor, Byron Beard, Danny Sandford , Adam Ellson (Dave Johnson, 60), Perry Belchamber, Mark Lewis (Rob Quick, 60), Billy Webb (Danny Gorman, 60), George Belchamber, Anthony Weir, Gary Gorman.
Crockenhill: Chris Scott, Chris Hackett, Matt Godward, Dave Eckersall, Junior Nzuzi (Mark Hynes,65), Joe Plant (Matt Parker, 60), Leke Olowo-Okere, Ryan Hackett, Ron Jeffrey, John Paul McKey, Mike Filkins; subs not used: John Backett, Dan Godward, Steve Turner.
Phil Alder - Orpington FC |
