Orpington made the lengthy journey to Bromley Green on a bright sunny afternoon and came away with all three points despite failing to bring their shooting boots with them.

Orpington found gaps in the home side’s defence early on but also found keeper Joe McQuillan in top form.  The Bromley Green number one made two saves from Anthony Weir - a close range effort and then an acrobatic tip-over when the shot seemed destined to sneak in under the bar.  From the resultant corner Danny Gorman conspired to put his free-header against the cross-bar.

But after surviving the O’s assaults on their goal, the Green put together a flowing move - a pass out to the right enabled Steve Harris to out-sprint the O’s defence.  As the winger drew Nicky Blue he placed his shot towards the far-post but not only was it going wide of the target, team-mate Craig Smith also failed to reach the ball in time.

Orpington were therefore reminded of the importance of converting their own chances.  But despite this salutary lesson the visitors could not find the net.  Rob Quick headed over Weir’s cross; McQuillan again saving Weir’s shot from Gary Gorman’s flick-on; and Billy Webb’s free-kick was also saved low down by McQuillan.

With half-time approaching the O’s managed to break the deadlock - Gary Gorman seizing on a ball flicked over the defence and, having moved down the left, cut inside past one defender and beat McQuillan at the near-post. 

A one-nil lead at the interval eased the team talk, but such a slender lead was not something to sit-back on - a further reminder early in the second-half when James Barham rounded Nicky Blue and slid the ball to Glenn Mackett who fired over the cross-bar. 

But Orpington once again began to create chances - Weir heading into the arms of McQuillan from Quick’s cross.  Substitute Mark Lewis was unlucky when his shot came back off the under-side of the Green cross-bar.  But he made no mistake minutes later when he emphatically headed home Rob Quick’s cross from the left.

A third was added in the dying minutes -  Perry Belchamber thumping home his shot from fifteen yards following a goal mouth scramble.

Bromley Green: Joe McQuillan, Gary Gibbs, Mark Bond, Sean Skillett, Barry Beaney, Glenn Mackett, Craig Southen, James Barham (Ben Stone, 65), Steve Harris, Craig Smith, Danny Whitehorn; subs not used: Sean Gibbs, Lee Milton, Stuart Prior.

Orpington: Nick Blue, Danny Gorman, George Belchamber, Byron Beard, Jamie Hughes (Mark Lewis, 65), Rob Quick, Dave Johnson, Adam Ellson (Perry Belchamber, 64), Billy Webb, Anthony Weir, Gary Gorman (Darren Shelton, 76); sub not used: Danny Taylor.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC