A cold, damp, grey autumnal afternoon in Barnehurst was the setting for this Inter-Regional Challenge Cup second round tie between the leaders of Division One West and the side occupying second spot in the Premier Division.

Its not often that there is a shortage of goals when these two sides meet and today’s game was no exception.  Both sides were quickly into their stride but Orpington suffered another injury when defender Byron Beard suffered a knock to his ankle after only ten minutes and had to withdraw from proceedings. 

Orpington didn’t let the set-back knock them off their game and on the half-hour mark took the lead when Jamie Hughes volleyed home Perry Belchamber’s through header. 

Although Orpington looked to be in command, they let their concentration slip early in the second-half by allowing Phoenix space in the penalty area to line up a shot.  However, before the Phoenix player could take a strike on goal, he was held back by an Orpington defender.  Gary Saunders tucked away his spot kick to square things up.  Soon after, an excellent chance for Phoenix to move into the lead was not taken - with the goal at his mercy, the Phoenix striker fired wide.

Orpington responded positively and seemed to have the game won when they raced into a two goal lead: first, when Billy Webb cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot inside the far-post; and then when Anthony Weir lobbed the advancing keeper.  A 3-1 lead with seventeen minutes remaining seemed to deflate the home side.  But the Phoenix management team threw on their ace card in the form of a triple substitution that included the introduction of Ben Whittington.  After only three minutes, the tall forward rose unchallenged at a corner to give Phoenix hope.  He didn’t have to wait long to secure the equaliser, this time heading home a cross from the left. 

A lot of sides may have been knocked side-ways by their opponents re-emerging from the ashes (?) but Orpington dug deep and applied early pressure at the start of extra-time.  And it was one of their own expert headers of the ball, Anthony Weir, who put the visitors back into the lead when he converted a cross from the right.

The game then became an end-to-end affair with Orpington creating numerous chances from breakaways to finish off the tie - cross-bar hit twice, post hit once and a disallowed goal, instead meant that Orpington had to defend their one goal lead to the end.

Phoenix Sports: Dean Martin, Simon Cuthbert, Scott Saunders, Adam Cuthbert, Luke Cuthbert, Jim Britton, Tom Dennington, Gary Saunders, James Howarth, Dan Frost, Barry Sweeting.  Subs: Alf Harris, Ben Whittington, Ryan Smart.

Orpington: Nick Blue, Danny Taylor, Danny Gorman, Byron Beard (Dave Johnson, 10; Anthony Weir, 63), Adam Ellson, Perry Belchmaber, George Belchamber, Rob Quick, Mark Lewis, Billy Webb (Jack Lynch, 77), Jamie Hughes.   

Phil Alder

Orpington FC