Reserve Division One West

Westerham Reserves  1    Orpington Reserves  4

Saturday, 01 March 2008

Orpington returned to winning ways and to a convincing performance to claim all three points at second placed Westerham.

Orpington have struggled with their form since the New Year and needed not only a win but a good performance to win back their confidence.

But it didn’t look as if it was going to the be the O’s day, when after only ten minutes a long ball was played over Orpington’s defence for a Westerham forward to control.  With his next stride the forward calmly volleyed the ball over John Walker, in the O’s goal, for a stunning opener.

Fortunately for Orpington, they levelled the scores five minutes later.  John Duplock raced onto a through ball, rounded the Westerham keeper and finished from a tight angle.  From then on Orpington got their game together and applied pressure to the host’s goal.  Matt Noad was unlucky when his long range effort skimmed the top of the cross-bar.

The visitors went ahead on the half-hour mark when Mark Lewis ran down the left and slipped the ball inside to Matt Noad who unleashed a powerful shot from twenty yards for a 2-1scoreline.

Orpington could have added to their quota before the interval but poor finishing and good goalkeeping prevented any further goals.  Darren Castle ran out of defence moved the ball up to Robbie Haines.  The winger ran into the area and pulled the ball back into the path of John Duplock but his close range shot was saved.  Robbie Haines showed supreme skill when he turned two defenders out on the right and once again progressed into the visitor’s penalty area.  But the winger placed his shot wide.  Orpington’s Josh Hawkins thought he had scored a perfectly good goal but unfortunately the referee had already whistled for an earlier foul on an O’s player.

The second half once again saw the visitor’s enjoying most of the play.  They stretched their lead after five minutes of the re-start when Mark Lewis turned inside a defender, out on the right, and finished from just inside the penalty area. 

Westerham nearly got themselves back in the game a few minutes later but a shot from twenty yards was just wide.

Orpington could have secured an even more comfortable win but chances galore went begging.  Substitute Matt Paterson, pushed up front, came close when his shot was well saved by the home keeper.  Eventually, the O’s found a fourth when Westerham only half-cleared a corner and Darren Castle cleverly played in Robbie Haines who scored with a powerful shot.

A good win for the O’s with solid performances from all concerned.

Orpington Reserves: John Walker, Darren Castle, Gary Wigzell, Danny Sandford, Joe Champ, Robbie Haines, Ryan Canty, Matt Noad, Mark Lewis, Josh Hawkins, Jon Duplock (Matt Paterson, 85); subs not used: Ryan Fox, Jamie Hughes, Stephen Haines.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC