Bridon Ropes 2 v 1 Orpington

Inter-Regional Challenge Cup, 1st Round

ORPINGTON slid tamely out of the Inter-Regional Challenge Cup at the first hurdle in a rather scrappy affair at the Meridian Sports Ground, Charlton, writes Phil Alder.

Bridon opened the scoring on four minutes when the Os failed to clear a free-kick.

The ball was controlled by Brett Northover on the edge of the penalty box and he held off the attentions of Danny Taylor to fire home.

The home side kept up the pressure with two half-chances on the Os goal.

Orpington's first chance arrived on 13 minutes when a Byron Beard long-throw picked out Perry Belchamber, who was unlucky to his turn and shot whistle over.

The visitors began to dominate in the air - a Danny Gorman free header was just wide from a Billy Webb corner and a Rob Quick header from another Byron Beard header was well saved.

But it was a Jamie Hughes run down the left which set up Bill Webb for an equaliser from just inside the penalty box.

It was Webb's fifth goal of the season - four ahead of anyone else.

In and around the time of their goal, Orpington enjoyed a reasonable amount of pressure - particularly of the aerial kind - with headers coming in from Danny Gorman, Rob Quick and even one from Bridon's own defenders which had to be cleared off the line.

However, most of the rest of the half was end-to-end but without the flowing moves, more a case of hoof the ball up to the forwards and see what they can do.

The best of the chances during the remainder of the first half fell to Bridon when Matt Knuckey was put clean through but Nicky Blue in the Os goal came out and grabbed the ball from the striker's feet and Alan Mackle's shot from edge of the penalty area only just cleared the Os cross-bar.

For Orpington, Webb's first-time effort from Beard's deep cross from the left was narrowly wide and Adam Noad's cross caused such problems in the home-side's defence a defender's header had to be cleared off his own goal line.

Their were fewer chances for both sides in the second half but the period became a touch more physical as they struggled to find any momentum -James Doherty was booked for a late tackle, Danny Gorman was booked for being over interested in a tussle between two other players and Billy Webb was similarly carded for a late tackle.

A smattering of half chances for both sides but there was real hope when substitute Anthony Weir was cleverly put through by fellow replacement Gary Gorman but his shot found the side netting from a tight angle.

Jon Lynes in the Bridon goal had to be alert to keep out an unintended effort by one of his own defenders - backward header resulting in the keeper having to be at full stretch to turn the ball round the post for a corner.

No further goals and so it was Bridon Ropes who progress through to second round.

Orpington will need to pick up their form if they are going to be involved in the silverware at the end of the season.