Norton Sports eventually surrendered their unbeaten record at Green Court Road in this tense, nervy, hard fought and, at times, ill-tempered affair.

There was no doubting Norton’s credentials when they arrived for this fixture – 18 wins and two draws from twenty league games.  However, it was noticed that they had been less successful in cup competitions and today’s encounter would resemble more of a cup game.  A win for the visitors would more or less guarantee them the league title (not bad for mid-February), but a defeat would keep alive Orpington’s faint hopes of championship success.

So this “six-pointer” got under way in front of a larger than usual crowd.  The opening exchanges were merely exploratory probings with neither side able to penetrate the other’s defences.  That was until the twelfth minute when Dave Johnson’s deep cross seemed to be destined for the arms of Chris Smith in the Norton goal.  However, Norton’s number one spilled the ball allowing Perry Belchamber to finish from close range.  The referee waved away Norton’s protests that their keeper had been fouled.

Norton responded with a free-kick deep in the O’s half.  Rob Welling’s cross was headed over by Tommy Price.  A second free-kick in a similar position was again guided over the O’s cross-bar, this time by the head of Harry Goodger.  By now, the tackles were flying in from all sides and the game was not for the purist or the faint hearted.

But in all this, Orpington nearly worked a second goal.  Nicky Blue’s long clearance up field was controlled by Gary Gorman who shrugged off a defender and shot towards goal.  The ball was only half-stopped by Smith but a defender managed to scramble the ball away before it crossed the line.

Just before half-time Norton came close to squaring up the scores when Harry Goodger beat two Orpington defenders but placed his shot over the goal from twenty yards.

Norton began the second half with a flowing move down the left.  The ball was then moved across field culminating in Tony Clark firing wide of the far-post.  But Norton’s confidence was given a knock when Orpington added a second goal five minutes into the second period.  An Orpington attack down the right had seemingly fizzled out when a Norton defender prepared to clear upfield from close to his own corner flag.  However, the defender’s kick was only directed to the centre of their own half and intercepted by Perry Belchamber.  The O’s midfielder ran towards the visitor’s penalty area.  Despite Norton dispossessing Perry, the attempted clearance was charged down and fell invitingly for Gary Gorman to score from inside the penalty area.

Norton knew they had a mountain to climb but their cause wasn’t helped when Nathan Stevens was dismissed for arguing at length with the officials.  Orpington should have taken full advantage of this situation but instead lost their own cool two minutes later, resulting in Perry Belchamber being red-carded.

With both sides down to ten men, the game opened up.  Harry Goodger’s ingenious flick from a deep cross was well saved by Nicky Blue.  The same Norton player had a shot deflected wide and from the resultant corner Scott Appleton headed against a post.

With eight minutes remaining, Darren Slatter seemed destined to pull an important goal back for the visitors but placed his shot wide of the O’s goal. 

With time running out and with Norton throwing everything forward, Orpington broke free and rapped up the game.  A long ball was headed on by Mark Lewis into the path of Gary Gorman.  The O’s forward bided his time before blasting home his second and Orpington’s third of the afternoon.  Norton were denied a late consolation when a goal was disallowed for a foul on O’s keeper, Nicky Blue.

Orpington celebrated their success but Norton know the title is still within their means.

Next week, Orpington take a break from league action to travel to Barnehurst to meet Phoenix Sports in the semi-finals of the Kent Intermediate Shield.

Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Gorman, Byron Beard, George Belchamber (Danny Taylor, 70), Jamie Hughes, Rob Quick, Dave Johnson, Perry Belchamber, Gary Gorman, Billy Webb (Mark Lewis, 72), Anthony Weir (Adam Ellson, 70).

Norton Sports: Chris Smith, John Emmerson, Ben Taylor, Nathan Stevens, Scott Appleton, Tony Clark, Jack Goodger, Kerry Glover (Paul West, 71), Rob Welling, Harry Goodger, Tommy Price (Darren Slatter, 20). Subs not used: Michael Holden, James Brincat.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC