With Orpington’s first-team Kent Intermediate Shield game away to Bromley Green falling victim to a waterlogged pitch, a hardy few made the trip to Northfleet to watch the Rezzers take on Greenways Reserves. 

As a bonus, we were also rewarded with a glimpse now-and-again of Fleet Leisure’s Kent Intermediate Shield tie with Tonbridge Invicta, on the adjoining pitch.

The free-scoring Rezzers had been dazzling all before them in recent weeks, so it was with considerable interest that they were under the spotlight.  Sure enough Orpington passed the ball around with dexterity and confidence, weaving intricate patterns around their opponents. 

However, it was the home side who had the first meaningful effort on goal when Narinder Bains fired just over the O’s cross-bar from twenty-five yards.  But five minutes later and the O’s opened the scoring.  Joe Champ played in a deep cross and Rob Haines did well to control the ball and take it beyond the defence and fire past the advancing David Errington.

(Meanwhile, Fleet Leisure had taken an early lead against Tonbridge Invicta - a header from a corner.)

A few minutes later and Bill Scamp chipped the ball over defence for Dave Castle to run onto but his lob over the keeper was just to the left of the goal.

Orpington stretched their lead on twenty minutes with one of two impressive moves in the match - Rob Haines headed down into the path of Adam Noad who back flicked the ball for Jon Duplock to fire home from just outside the penalty area.

Greenways responded with an incisive move of their own through the centre of the O’s defence and it took a last gasp tackle from Matt Paterson to prevent the home side being back in the game.  At the other end, Dave Castle was unlucky to see his shot rise over the cross-bar from twenty yards.

The home side came more into the game and Narinder Baines had a good opportunity to reduce the arrears on thirty minutes but O’s keeper, John Walker, pushed the ball round the post.  From the resulting corner, Matt Leydon headed just wide of the far-post.

(Tonbridge were fighting their way back into their game but were finding it difficult to create any meaningful attempts on goal.) 

Orpington put the game beyond their opponents just before half-time when they scored two goals in as many minutes - first, Bill Scamp’s header found Rob Haines who from a tight angle drove towards goal and placed his shot inside the far-post; then the other impressive move of the game: Ryan Fox won the ball on the half-way line and headed to Dave Castle who passed to Rob Haines, his cross was swept in by the boot of Mark Lewis. 

A four-nil lead at the break seem to be beyond Greenways but half-time can sometimes come at the wrong time.  So it proved to be for Orpington who appeared to lose their way when they approached the Greenways’ penalty area - still the confident possession but little in the way of clear openings.

Greenways, having made a double substitution at the interval, had obviously felt that when they did get the ball, they should pass it up-front as quickly as possible - and the tactic worked.  The home side made more use of their possession to put more pressure on the O’s defence.  Instead of pressing forward, Orpington were pre-occupied defending long balls.

On seventy minutes, Greenways eventually made their persistence pay dividends - Matt Leydon was put clean through and he made no mistake from fifteen yards.  And with five minutes to go Narinder Baines made it 2-4 when he finished from a similar position.  A Greenways header from a corner nearly found the net again.

Orpington were more pleased to hear the final whistle than the half-time one.

(On the other pitch, Fleet had extended their lead, late on, to win 2-0.)

Greenways Reserves: David Errington, Jindi Banwait, Satpal Dhinsa (Gary Savage, 46), Gurpreet Bassi, Chris Smith, Connor Chapman (Nick Alp, 46), Sean Taylor, Paul Goodwin, Brian Petken, Matt Leydon, Narinder Bains;  sub not used: Ben Stunt.

Orpington Reserves: John Walker, Ryan Fox, Gary Wigzell, Matt Paterson (Darren Castle, 66), Joe Champ, Rob Haines, Adam Noad (Josh Hawkins, 80), Dave Castle, Mark Lewis, Bill Scamp, Jon Duplock.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC