Orpington’s final away game of the season was a trip to the Isle of Sheppey – marshes, electricity pylons and a strong wind seemed to be the Island’s main features.  However, the Sheerness East Working Men’s Club provided a warm and comfortable sanctuary from the grey conditions outside.

But the game had to be watched in a swirling wind which made life difficult for the players.  Despite these challenging conditions, both sides enjoyed lively openings.  As early as the second minute, Orpington put together a sweeping move that led to the game’s opening goal.  Nicky Blue, in the O’s goals, found Bill Scamp out on the right who played the ball back to Perry Belchamber.  Perry’s first-time ball allowed Anthony Weir to race down the right and put in a cross for Billy Webb to climb high and head in at the far-post.

The home side responded immediately and nearly equalised but John Martin just failed to connect at the far-post following good work down the right.  But Sheerness did equalise on ten minutes when Craig Holland received the ball on the corner of the eighteen yard area.  The forward turned his marker and made space to strike his shot to the right of Nicky Blue, bringing the East back on level terms.

The visitors woke up again and pressed the home side’s defence.  Although Orpington once again regained the lead it was through a somewhat surprising effort.  Gary Gorman collected the ball thirty yards from goal and tried a long range effort that kept low and seemed to deceive Sean O’Hara in the East goal before hitting the back of the net.

Both sides then found the conditions were sapping their energy, and it was mainly from distance that either goal was threatened.  East’s Craig Holland tried a cheeky flick which only just cleared the O’s cross-bar; and Matt Harding tried a strike from outside the penalty area only to see his effort saved by Bluey.

On the half-hour mark, East lost keeper O’Hara to a late challenge by Adam Ellson.  O’Hara’s place was taken by Jon Baylis.  Despite this serious loss, East survived the rest of the half without conceding further goals.  Gary Gorman’s header struck a post and the forward’s exchange of passes with Anthony Weir led to a shooting opportunity going over the East goal; and Adam Ellson’s twenty-five yard effort was too high.  Sheerness could have equalised but a shot was blazed over the O’s goal from a corner.      

The second-half saw fewer chances and at 2-1, an Orpington win looked far from secure.  It was only as the game approached full-time that the visitors made sure of the points.  Gary Gorman received the ball on the half-way line from an Orpington clearance and turned and played the ball out the right to release Jamie Hughes.  The winger bore down on goal and beat Baylis to make it 3-1.  With five minutes to go, Orpington added a fourth when Baylis parried George Belchamber’s long range shot and Gary Gorman finished from close in.  The forward was denied his second hat-trick in as many weeks, when a last minute “goal” was disallowed for offside.

Orpington can look forward to their Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield final against Greenways next Saturday, at Beckenham Town FC, kick-off 3pm.

Sheerness East: Sean O’Hara (Graham Andrews, 30), Matt Harding (Ben O’Neil, 75), Darren Brown, Jon Baylis (?), Jon Baylis (?), Ciaran Aldous, Russell Jeffreys, Glean Sheather (Ben Ansell, 85), Jamie Salvidge, John Martin, Craig Holland

Orpington: Nicky Blue, Danny Taylor, Byron Beard, George Belchamber, Bill Scamp, Adam Ellson, Perry Belchamber, Billy Webb, Jamie Hughes, Gary Gorman, Anthony Weir (Mark Lewis, 46); sub not used: Danny Sandford.

Phil Alder

Orpington FC