Premier Division
Orpington 2 Hollands & Blair 1
Saturday, 08 September 2007
Hollands & Blair arrived at Green Court Sports Club with a record of played four, won four but left feeling mugged.
A below strength Orpington (injuries and suspensions) took to the field against their top of the table opponents from Gillingham. Both sides began in confident mood but it was the visitors who carved out the game’s first opening when a swift move down the right resulted in Ben Christy nudging the ball beyond O’s keeper, Nicky Blue. But George Belchamber was on hand to clear ball off the line.
Both sides continued to probe each other’s defence without any great success. However, on fifteen minutes Adam Noad threaded a chipped pass that invited Jamie Hughes to run onto. The pacey forward struck a sublime volley just inside the far-post to give Orpington a 1-0 lead.
Five minutes later and Hollands came close to an equaliser when Andy Taylor was played through the centre of Orpington’s defence but his shot was deflected wide by Rob Quick. Ben Christy’s header from the resultant corner was saved low down by Nicky Blue.
Hollands were beginning to build a second home in the Orpington half as further chances began to reign down on the O’s goal. Another corner and another two free headers from the visitors - Ross Brookes heading over Lee Preston’s backward flick.
Less than a minute later, and Andy Taylor’s right-wing cross picked out Lee Preston in space, inside the penalty area, but the forward couldn’t bring the ball under control before Nicky Blue snatched it away from him. Orpington had barely enough time to take a deep breath before Hollands were back again, this time Billy Johnson headed wide Marc Chapman’s free-kick from the right. Before half-time, Darren Blackburn ran down the right and cut inside only to shoot wide of Orpington’s far-post.
A pep talk and re-think was probably all that was needed in the visitor’s changing rooms at half-time but the home side were in need of more of a lift despite being in the lead.
After five minutes of the second period, Orpington had the audacity to stretch their lead through a piece of opportunistic goal-poaching. Gary Gorman managed to dispossess Hollands’ keeper, Lewis Flisher, and tap the ball into the open goal. Orpington took advantage of Hollands stunned reaction and created another chance when Jamie Hughes came close to lobbing Flisher from Nicky Blue’s long clearance but the ball also cleared the cross-bar.
Hollands eventually got their goal when an attack down the right wasn’t dealt with in the O’s penalty area and Lee Preston thumped home the loose ball.
The visitors felt that they had the breakthrough that they needed and went looking for the equaliser. Substitute Dan Poet heading over a throw-in from the right. Minutes later and the best opportunity for the visitors arrived when the ball spent what seemed like an eternity in the O’s penalty area while a succession of Hollands players managed to strike a number of shots against various parts of Orpington’s defenders. Eventually the ball was scrambled away.
As often when one team is pressing forward, so gaps opened up for Orpington to breakaway. However, the home sides attempts to rap up the game bore no more luck than the visitor’s own endeavours.
With time running out, Marc Chapman managed to work himself some space to try a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Nicky Blue’s outstretched hand pushed the ball round the post. Lee Preston had one more chance from the resultant corner but his header was wide.
The full-time whistle was greeted with a cheer of relief from Orpington and stunned disbelief from Hollands and Blair.
Orpington have a rest next week courtesy of Tyler Hill’s demise but return the following week at home to Rusthall.
Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Taylor, Gary Wigzell, George Belchamber, Dave Johnson, Rob Quick, Adam Noad (Jack Lynch, 75), Billy Webb, Dave Castle (Darren Shelton, 75), Jamie Hughes, Gary Gorman (Joe Champ, 75).
Hollands & Blair: Lewis Flisher, Ryan Plummer, Craig Harvey (Dan Poet, 75), Billy Johnson, Grant Steele, Ross Brookes, Andy Taylor, Marc Chapman, Darren Blackburn, Lee Preston, Ben Christy; subs not used: Darren Pont, Mick Moran.
Phil Alder
Orpington FC
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