Orpington’s second string had their eleven match winning run brought to an end by a one-all draw with defending champions, Stansfeld Reserves.

The weather was the only winner on the day as steady rain, a soft pitch and a driving southerly wind affected the quality of the play.

With the wind behind them, Stansfeld applied early pressure to the O’s defence.  Indeed the wind was so strong Orpington found it difficult to get the ball out of their own half - a kick into the wind tended to produce a boomerang effect. 

But it was the home side that had the best opportunity to break the deadlock. Josh Hawkins beat one defender, rounded Stansfeld keeper, David Phipps, but with an open goal, the ball stuck in the mud, and his eventual shot was deflected wide for a corner.

With that brief foray into the visitor’s half penalty area over, Stansfeld resumed their occupation of the O’s half.  On eighteen minutes, a wind assisted Stansfeld free-kick, out on the right, drifted narrowly wide of the O’s goal.  Two minutes later and Stansfeld got even closer when Ben Young hit the O’s cross-bar from a shot just inside the penalty area.  John Walker, in the O’s goal, gratefully received the re-bound.

Eventually the Stansfeld pressure paid off.  With the ball not cleared properly from the O’s penalty area, Archie Johnson turned and struck a firm shot past John Walker to give Stansfeld the lead.  Orpington came close to an equaliser with one of the best moves of the game - John Duplock moved the ball out to Robbie Haines on the right who found Adam Noad beyond the far-post - the midfielder’s cross back into the area found the head of Robbie Haines but his effort was pushed wide for a corner.

With Stansfeld leading one-nil at the interval Orpington could at least look forward to having a bit of wind assistance in the second-half - but no.  When the players returned to the field of play, the wind had noticeably died down.  However, Orpington benefited from the calmer conditions and had the better of the exchanges in the second-half. 

After two minutes of the re-start John Duplock was just wide of the Stansfeld goal after he ran onto a through ball.  Bill Scamp received a pass from Adam Noad but his shot was well saved by David Phipps.

Stansfeld responded with a run and shot by James Munroe which just cleared the O’s cross-bar.

The game then entered a period of few chances before waking up again in the last few minutes.  First, Stansfeld came close to a decisive second but John Walker did well to push a free-kick round the post.  Then with seven minutes remaining, Orpington won a free-kick of their own - a twenty-five yard effort struck the underside of the Stansfeld cross-bar and after two follow-up efforts were blocked, eventually the ball was stabbed home by Mark Lewis.

One final moment of drama came when Matt Noad was shown a second red card for a trip on a Stansfeld player.

Eventually the final whistle was blown on a very damp one-all draw - a fair result for two sides who showed a lot of commitment in appalling conditions.

Orpington Reserves: John Walker, Joe Champ, Matt Paterson, Ryan Fox, Gary Wigzell, Robbie Haines (Mark Lewis, 60), Matt Noad, Bill Scamp (Darren Castle, 85), Adam Noad, John Duplock, Josh Hawkins (George Belchamber, 46).

Stansfeld O&BC Reserves: David Phipps, Archie Johnson (Robert Moss, 65), Dan Munroe, Jamie Phipps, Jack Pinall, Ben Young, James Munroe (Richard Lonquet, 70), Tony Saunders, Dan McCarthy, Scott Terry (Brett Phipps, 80), Russ Pacey.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC