Coney Hall were the visitors to Green Court Road but found their hosts in a less than generous mood.  Orpington continued where they left off the previous week, by overcoming the former Combined Counties side by five goals to one.

Coney Hall’s badge includes a silhouette of a rabbit’s head, strangely reminiscent of the Playboy Club‘s symbol.  And certainly Orpington were made to feel very accommodating by their Surrey border opponents.  In the opening minute, Jamie Hughes raced onto a ball played over the defence and placed his shot firmly past Dean Rose in the Coney goal to open the scoring.

Both sides seemed to forget how to attack after the lively opening.  But on twenty-five minutes Coney Hall’s Tony Martin broke free of the O’s defence, following what looked like a fairly innocuous throw-in, and beat Nicky Blue in the O’s goal with a powerful shot to square things up.

The visitors were dealt a blow before half-time when Andy Cronk was forced to withdraw from the game when a he received a knock to his knee.  But Coney could have taken the lead when Daniel Tanner beat Byron Beard to a ball cleared from the Coney penalty area.  The forward raced towards the O’s goal and struck a good enough shot but Nicky Blue pushed the ball away from goal - but not completely away from danger and the ’keeper had to make sure with a follow-up clearance.  

Having escaped that drama, Orpington regained the lead on thirty-three minutes.  Byron Beard’s long-throw, deep in the Coney half, wasn’t cleared from the visitor’s penalty area and a lob back into the danger area was obligingly stabbed home by Gary Gorman.

The home side could have stretched their lead five minutes later but Anthony Weir’s shot from Danny Gorman’s free-kick was just wide of both keeper and left-hand post.  The forward was unlucky again when he exchanged passes with Gary Gorman but his shot from twenty-five yards was once again wide of the mark.

But Coney continued to cause problems at the other end - a quickly taken short corner enabled Daniel Tanner to force a good save from Nicky Blue at his near-post.  And on half-time, player-coach, John Fowler’s shot was just wide from twenty yards..

Coney made their remaining substitutions at half-time but it did not give them the impetus they were looking for.  Instead, Orpington added a third goal within five minutes of the re-start. Jamie Hughes sprinted down the right and swung over a tempting low cross that was too good for Anthony Weir not to take full advantage of - and the forward duly tucked the ball away from close range.

Jamie Hughes continued to put in inviting crosses but without anyone able to convert.  Although Orpington continued to dominate there was time for Daniel Tanner to fire over for the visitors from twenty-five yards.

Back at the other end, Coney’s Dean Rose had to be at his sharpest to deny Gary Gorman after he exchanged passes with strike partner, Anthony Weir. 

Coney’s most effective form of defence was the off-side trap - a tactic that was in danger of causing cramp in linesman Adam Bakalarz’s right-arm.  Although the tactic was working it only needed to fail once and all the good work would be undone.  Sure enough, Rob Quick’s incisive pass allowed Anthony Weir to run clear of the defence and curl his shot past Dean Rose.

In the twenty minutes remaining, Orpington enjoyed a number of chances to add to their tally - none easier (including the one they did eventually add) than the one on seventy-five minutes.  With the Coney defence in disarray, Rob Quick passed to Adam Noad inside the penalty area.  With an open goal in front of him he advisedly took a touch to steady himself but before he could roll the ball into an open net, the midfielder was tackled by team-mate Gary Gorman (first tackle this season?) allowing Dean Rose to scamper across and smother the ball at their feet.  The sort of missed opportunity that is followed by howls of laughter by your own supporters and officials - this was no exception.

Eventually a fifth goal was added when Dave Johnson’s cross was headed down by Gary Gorman for Rob Quick to volley home.  Just time for Byron Beard to try a spectacular long-range first-time effort that was narrowly wide.

Next week, a trip down the lane to Crockenhill.

Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Sandford, Danny Gorman (Gary Wigzell, 72), Byron Beard, Jamie Hughes, Rob Quick, Perry Belchamber, George Belchmaber, Billy Webb (Dave Johnson, 72), Gary Gorman, Anthony Weir (Adam Noad, 72).

Coney Hall: Dean Rose, Imran Hamblin, Sean Reynolds (Joe Smith, 46), Dean Davenport, Dean Barnard, Ryan Musgrove, Luke Foulsham, John Fowler (Kerry Davies, 46), Tony Martin, Daniel Tanner, Andy Cronk (John Hawley, 26). 

Phil Alder

Orpington FC