Orpington returned to the top of the league with a goal-fest against mid-table Halls.

Orpington were anxious to put behind them their disappointing semi-final exit from the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield of two weeks’ ago.  There was no hiding the O‘s determination when the raced into an early two goal lead.  First, O’s keeper, Nicky Blue, pumped a long clearance upfield for Gary Gorman to control and steer inside the far-post.  Eight minutes later and the O’s leading goal-scorer doubled the lead when he headed in Jamie Hughes’ cross from the left.

But Halls quickly woke from their slumber - Matt Dudman forcing a good save from Nicky Blue in the O’s goal.  Four minutes later and Ben Mitchell worked his way into the penalty area only to shoot over.  At the other end Gary Gorman, on a hat-trick, crashed his shot against the visitor’s cross-bar.  But it was Halls who were the next to find the net - Ben Mitchell weaved his way down the left and laid his pass into the danger area - but the resulting shot came back off the cross-bar only for Matt Skopila to calmly finish from ten yards.

Halls’ confidence had been restored and a minute later Skopila and Selwyn Frost combined well down the left.  The resulting cross was placed over the bar by Chris Williams..

On twenty six minutes, Halls suffered a knock-back when keeper, Dan Jacobs suffered an injury and had to be replaced between the sticks by Richard Payne.  Halls’ luck seemed to be out as, two minutes later, Jamie Hughes restored the O’s two goal advantage by heading in Dave Johnson’s corner for a 3-1 score line.

Orpington finished the half stronger - Rob Quick fired over from distance; Perry Belchamber shot wide from Danny Taylor’s free-kick; and Jamie Hughes’ shot was saved with Perry Belchamber’s follow-up effort, wide.

The O’s had no shortage of opportunities in the second-half as time and time again they got behind the Halls’ defence - but the final pass either tended to go astray or the resulting shot was wide of the mark.

And it was against the run of play that Halls broke clear through Ben Mitchell who held off two O’s defenders and placed his shot out of Nicky Blue’s reach to pull his side back into the contest.  However, before Halls could threaten for an equaliser, Jamie Hughes once again gave the Orpington a two goal advantage - this time heading Danny Gorman’s deep free-kick over the advancing Richard Payne, for 4-2.  Once again Orpington looked the more likely to score more goals - Perry Belchamber ran through the middle only to see his shot pass wide; and stand-in keeper, Payne, made a good one handed save to keep out a Jamie Hughes header..  But just as Orpington thought they had quelled any further goals from the visitors, so Halls gained a free-kick just inside the O’s half.  As the ball was floated into the O’s penalty area, substitute Jermaine Robinson was adjudged to have been fouled and so Halls had another chance to get back to within one goal of the home side.  Ben Mitchell didn’t need a second invitation and with only three minutes remaining the score line was 4-3.

As Halls pressed forward for an unlikely point, so Orpington exposed the gaps at the back - first Darren Shelton crossed for Perry Belchamber to head home.  Then the provider turned goal scorer when Darren Shelton weaved his way passed two defenders and unleashed a powerful shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.  In the closing seconds Jamie Hughes could have grabbed a hat-trick but having got round the keeper his shot was cleared off the line.

This coming Saturday Orpington are again at home, this time to Tudor Sports in the semi-finals of the West Kent Challenge Shield.

Orpington: Nicky Blue; Gary Wigzell, Danny Gorman, Danny Taylor; Dave Johnson (Darren Shelton, 78), Perry Belchamber, George Belchamber, Rob Quick, Adam Noad; Gary Gorman, Jamie Hughes; sub not used: Byron Beard.

Halls: Dan Jacobs (Riachard Payne, 26), Michael Fletcher, Aaron Smith (Jermaine Robinson, 85), Tom Fletcher, Sam Peters, Matt Dudman, Matt Skopila, Chris Williams, Vince Poile, Ben Mitchell, Selwyn Frost; sub not used: Garry Kent.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC