Orpington were rampant against a Milton Athletic side that had, earlier in the season, beaten the O’s at their ground.

But after five minutes, the Milton curse seemed to be holding true, when Lee Bravery cut inside from the right and struck his cross-shot goalwards.  As O’s keeper, Nicky Blue stretched to his right to push the ball round the post it took a not-to-inconsiderable bobble over his arm and into the net.

But Orpington fought back but not before losing the services of Jamie Hughes to an ankle injury - Mark Lewis, making his home debut, was the winger’s replacement.  Despite these set-backs, Orpington eventually found the equaliser when Perry Belchamber played the ball forward to Billy Webb and his tempting low cross was converted by Anthony Weir.

The goal gave the O’s the confidence to look for more and they found another couple before the interval.  First, Weir completed an impressive O’s move down the left involving Lewis, Webb and Perry Belchamber to push Orpington into the lead.  Then Billy Webb ran onto Gary Gorman’s cross-field pass over the Milton defence to stretch the O’s into a two-goal advantage.

The goals continued to flow in the second-half - Anthony Weir completed his hat-trick on fifty-six minutes from the penalty spot after Mark Lewis was fouled.  Less than a minute later and Nicky Blue’s long kick invited Billy Webb to lob Daren Nokes in the Milton goal for the fifth.

Milton went in search of a goal of their own but Emanuel Merot’s header from Matt Turner’s cross was saved by Nicky Blue.  Ten minutes later, and Ricky Baverstock headed over Ben Miller’s cross.  Jamie Baverstock also came close with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

However, Orpington always looked like adding to their tally and on sixty-six minutes, Dave Johnson crossed for Anthony Weir to add his fourth and the O’s sixth.  Nine minutes later, and “DJ” again provided the cross this time for Gary Gorman to head home.

Milton continued to try for another consolation goal and Matt Turner was unlucky to see his near-post flick just allude the goal.  

Orpington were given numerous chances to add further goals but Daren Nokes made several close range saves.  However, eventually Billy Webb completed his hat-trick when he fired home a parried save from a Mark Lewis shot.

Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Sandford, Byron Beard, George Belchamber, Jamie Hughes (Mark Lewis, 20), Rob Quick (Adam Noad, 67), Perry Belchamber (Darren Shelton, 67), Dave Johnson, Anthony Weir, Gary Gorman, Billy Webb.

Milton Athletic: Daren Nokes, John Tarling (Paul Turner, 73), Matt Turner, Steve Collar (Ben Miller, 68), Jamie Sait, Lee Bravery, Ryan Davis, Ricky Baverstock, Jamie Baverstock, Emanuel Merot, Dwaine Prince.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC