Eynsford feel backlash of Os 5-0 drubbing

British Energy Kent County League, Division 1 West

THE weather may have turned mild for much of the country but up on the moors at Swanley it was still cold, windy and wet, writes Phil Alder.

Orpington had some re-gathering to do following the mid-week 5-0 defeat at table-toppers Holmesdale.

Some changes were made including Byron Beard taking the gloves from Nicky Blue and Seth Hunt, Danny Gorman and Dave Johnson comong in.

There was also a new face on the bench - Darren Shelton.

Orpington knew they could not take their ground-sharing hosts for granted.

Eynsford have been battling against relegation for most of the season but have recently started to pick up points, hauling themselves out of the bottom two.

Orpington began brightly and a long ball through the middle was seized on by Jamie Hughes but his attempted lob over Scott Howard in the Eynsford goal was wide.

Dave Johnson had a good effort blocked from a well-worked free-kick and from the resultant corner Seth Hunt shot just over.

George Belchamber fancied his chances, direct from a free-kick, but his effort was saved and 10 minutes later Hughes ran onto another long ball but this time his shot was blocked for another corner.

Adam Noad's deadball kick was fired to the near-post where Rob Quick and Gary Gorman scrapped for the ball with defenders.

Eventually Gorman forced the ball over the line for the opening goal.

Orpington continued to press forward and create chances with Danny Taylor running into space to put Gorman through for a chance to add to his tally but the striker's shot was well held by Howard.

Orpington forced yet another corner and this time Noad decided a ball to the far-post was in order - or more precisely inside the far-post as he scored direct from the set piece.

Beard, anxious to impress in goal, was still to be tested by Eynsford.

Instead, Orpington created further chances - a good flowing move fell nicely into the path of Johnson but his effort did not match the build-up.

Gorman's persistence down the right seemed to be bearing fruit when he worked his way into the penalty area and picked out Rob Quick but the midfielder shot over the bar.

George Belchamber completed the Orpington first-half efforts with a shot Howard did well to hold.

Eynsford had the wind at their backs for the second-half but could not find their rhythm.

Orpington, on the other hand, continued to create chances and did not have long to wait before extending their lead even further.

Quick fed Hughes who sprinted through the middle and slotted the ball home for 3-0.

Barely three minutes had passed and it was 4-0 when Quick's free-kick fell to Belchamber to slide past Howard.

Finally, in the 57th minute Eynsford created their first attempt on goal - Dan Lowrey ran through Orpington's defence but his pull back pass was intercepted by Beard.

This seem to inspire the home side into making further opportunities.

A free-kick was flighted into the O's penalty area but David Kelly's header was held by Beard.

A minute later and Eynsford breached the visitors' defence but the final shot was wide.

While Orpington were asking questions about themselves at the back, the forwards continued to ask questions of Eynsford's defence.

Hughes again caused problems when he ran diagonally across field and his low cross into the penalty area was coolly finished by Hunt for number five.

A double substitution by Orpington saw the introduction of Sean Burgin and, for his Os debut, Darren Shelton.

Sadly for Darren, his maiden outing was curtailed by a fracas with Eynsford's Garry Powers which the saw the pair receive their marching orders.

However, before the little incident, Eynsford pulled a goal back.

Again the Orpington defence allowed Lowrey to burst through the middle and this time he finished neatly.

Orpington made their final substitution when Tony Hoadley replaced Gorman.

With both sides down to 10 men the game became more open and it was not long before Orpington made it six.

Sean Burgin pushed the ball forward to Adam Noad who raced down the left giving him space to cross the ball for the on-rushing Hughes to slide home.

Eynsford didn't give up and Lowrey was unlucky to see his effort go wide form a corner.

MATCH FACTS: ORPINGTON: Beard; Taylor; D Gorman (Burgin, 61); Wigzell; Belchamber; Quick; Noad; Hunt; Johnson (Shelton, 61); G Gorman (Hoadley, 68); Hughes.