I wonder how many Kent County League grounds are based on farms?  Seems a good a place as any - benefits include being away from houses, ready access to groundsman’s machinery, and usually plenty of space.  Jocky Farm is the home of Rusthall FC and is turning into quite a ground.  With further development in the pipeline, Rusthall have their aim set high. 

Orpington had lost the previous four meetings with their opponents so were pleased to get one over against their “bogey side”.  But the O’s didn’t start very brightly and could have easily fallen behind three or four times in the opening twenty minutes. 

First, Alan Chapman’s cross in the third minute was headed against the far-post by Lewis Howard; then two minutes later Chapman’s throw-in led to a shot that once again struck an O’s post - and Shaun Hunter‘s follow-up effort flew just over the bar.  Still the Rustics applied pressure to the Orpington goal - a quickly taken corner fell to Ian Balmer and his shot deflected off the right-hand upright. 

With safety tests carried out on the Orpington goal-frame by the Health and Safety Executive, play resumed and Orpington began to patch up the holes in their own defence.  The visitors even began to venture into their opponents half - Adam Ellson’s cross was met by the head of Billy Webb but saved by Phil Hawkins in the Rustics’ goal.  Anthony Weir robbed a defender just inside the penalty area but his shot was again saved by Hawkins.

Half-time was reached with the game goalless. 

Orpington looked a changed side after the interval and passed the ball around with considerable expertise - from defence through midfield and up to the forwards - quite refreshing!  However, the O’s had to wait until the hour-mark before really testing Hawkins - a run and shot by Mark Lewis forcing the Rusthall keeper into a save.  Two minutes later and Jamie Hughes found space down the right and crossed for Billy Webb to head over. 

On seventy minutes, Orpington broke the deadlock when a deep free-kick out on the right picked out Billy Webb whose flicked header passed just inside the far-post.  Five minutes later, and Webbie struck again, this time launching himself to volley home Mark Lewis’s cross from the left.

Rusthall couldn’t respond and instead Orpington could have added further goals - Gary Gorman’s incisive run through the middle ended with his shot clearing the cross-bar; and Billy Webb‘s hat-trick attempt was well saved low down by Hawkins.

This Saturday Orpington travel to Ashford based side Bromley Green in the third round of the Kent Intermediate Shield (kick-off 1:30pm).

Rusthall: Phil Hawkins, Andy Mills, Shaun Hunter, Wayne Balmer, Jamie McKenna, Ian Balmer, Martin Millins (Dave Forster, 57), Alan Chapman (Owen Myles, 71), John Penny, Lewis Howard, Gary Stock (Andy Myles, 82); subs not used: James Larkin, John Ronaldson.

Orpington: Nick Blue, Danny Taylor, Danny Gorman, George Belchamber, Jamie Hughes (Dave Johnson, 81), Rob Quick, Perry Belchamber, Adam Ellson, Mark Lewis (Jack Lynch, 81), Billy Webb, Anthony Weir (Gary Gorman, 76).

Phil Alder

Orpington FC