Division One West

Phoenix Sports  1    Orpington  4

Saturday, 30 September 2006

An early kick-off for this fixture because the home’s sides reserves were due to play a cup fixture the same day.  The early kick-off played havoc with some people’s arrangements including the reporter and the referee, who needed a warm-up act to take care of the first twenty minutes prior to his arrival.

Orpington came into this match a little out of form, having been knocked-out of the Inter-Regional Challenge Cup the previous week and lying mid-table in the league.  However, the O’s sprang into life and took the lead as early as the fifth minute when Gary Gorman opened his account.  The visitors continued to attack and Anthony Weir narrowly failed to convert Jamie Hughes’s measured cross from the right.

But Phoenix caught Orpington out on the break and Cuthbert equalised with header from a left-wing cross.  However, with Phoenix celebrations barely subsided, Orpington regained the lead when George Belchamber was put clean through to tap the ball past the on-rushing ‘keeper.

Orpington only had to wait another seven minutes to extend their lead.  Adam Noad combining well with Anthony Weir to set-up Gary Gorman with a crisply taken volley that went in off the post.

Half-way through the first-half and the referee was substituted - Bola Anthony the scheduled official arrived to take charge from the emergency replacement.  The rest of the half mainly belonged to Orpington but they couldn’t find what would have been the killer fourth.  Jamie Hughes and Gary Gorman exchanged passes down the right resulting in the former shooting just wide of the left-hand post..

Anthony Weir turned his man on the right and crossed only for George Belchamber to head against the right-hand post.  George again came close when, having beat two players during a run through the centre of the field, he fired narrowly wide of the left upright..

Gary Gorman came close to notching a hat-trick when his shot was just off target following good work by Adam Noad and Billy Webb.  But it was George Belchamber that kept finding the woodwork - this time another header from an Adam Noad corner.

Phoenix were not without their efforts and it was noticeable how many stemmed from free-kicks needlessly given away within the last third of the pitch.  A shot from one such dead-ball situation resulted in a Nicky Blue save.  A long-range effort seemed to be saved again by Blue, but the referee awarded a goal-kick to Orpington.  An anonymous shout from the Phoenix team of “bring the other one back”, was in reference to the first referee.  The last effort of the half was from the home side - a decent thirty-five yard effort, following a good turn.

The number of chances for both sides subsided in the second-half.  However, on sixty minutes, the Phoenix ‘keeper did well to keep hold of Gary Gorman’s effort after he had cut inside a defender.

Phoenix were still able to threaten the Orpington goal, courtesy of O’s providing them with free-kicks.  However, most missed their intended target.

In the sixty-fifth minute, Adam Noad worked some space for himself and produced another save from the Phoenix ’keeper.

The last major attempt on goal was Orpington’s fourth goal.  A deep cross from a free-kick found the head of Rob Quick who nodded down for Jamie Hughes to grab his first of the season.

A more satisfying performance from Orpington who return to cup action with a home tie with Tonbridge Invicta in the West Kent Challenge Shield.

Orpington: Nicky Blue; Danny Gorman, Gary Wigzell, Byron Beard; Jamie Hughes, Rob Quick (Bradley Buck, 77), George Belchamber, Billy Webb, Adam Noad; Gary Gorman (Perry Belchamber, 75), Anthony Weir (Jon Ashby, 75).

Phil Alder

Orpington FC