League football returned to the Danson Park arena this week with Bexley Athletic welcoming Orpington Park. Both teams had been in and around the top of the league all season, and both have strong hopes of promotion. Orpington were second before the game five points ahead of Bexley who were fifth, however the home side had three games in hand.
On a sunny March morning the game got on the way and within sixty seconds Bexley hit the bar with Mark’s chip over the goalkeeper almost giving Bexley a super start. This was not to prove costly however as Bexley soon had the lead when a Bexley attack turned into a goal mouth scramble. Matt played the ball to James who found the net for his second goal in as many games.
Bexley pushed forward but it soon emerged that Orpington had fast strikers and were threatening on the counter attack. They also had someone related to Rory Delap taking their throwing as they fired them fast, low and hard into the danger area. Despite this, Bexley scored a second with a sublime volley twenty yards out from Adam into the left corner giving the goalkeeper no chance. A while later he would try to replicate this with his left foot and it was again a sublime strike unfortunately found its way to the corner flag.
Two became three when a long ball from Steve was chased down by Laurence. He then managed to score with an improvised flick. Top drawer. Following this came a mini collapse from Bexley. Plenty of warning of their wing play and long balls had been delivered. When a ball was played in behind the defence on the Bexley right the Orpington player fired a precise shot and despite the efforts of John he could only get a stud on it as it found the bottom corner. Orpington kept up the momentum and got their second on thirty six minutes. The ball was played into the box from the wide position and Dan was beaten fair and square to the punch. The ball flicked up over the goal line leaving the scrambling defenders powerless to prevent the goal.
Orpington only had the long throw to cause problems, but it was causing serious problems for the defence, despite Dan holding on to one or two. Half time came with the score at 3-2 giving Bexley a chance to re-group.
Just before half time James had turned his ankle and was replaced by Elgin. Despite the lack luster finish to the half Bexley were in confident mood. Orpington continued to threaten from the long ball but Bexley survived and made the game more comfortable when Mark managed to hit the bar for a second time but Elgin tapped in. (Not sure missing a sitter counts as an assist but we let him off).
The fourth goal slightly knocked the stuffing out of Orpington. Bexley came forward forcing the goalkeeper into a fine save to his left. Orpington had the ball in the net again but Dennis rightly ruled it out for offside. The final goal from Steve was excellent, arguably the goal of the season. Thirty yards out, half volley outside of the boot into the top corner. The first player to be awarded “screamer!” for a goal capping a man of the match performance in defence.
A game with a strange amount of peaks and troughs. Peaks being the quality of goals and some of the defending (Lee and Kev dealing with the low balls through the middle well) and the troughs being the failure to deal with long throws and conceding two sloppy goals. Promotion for Bexley is looking a strong possibility and depending on results there is a decent chance of finishing top. The opposition next week is Woolwich 90 Reserves who we drew with 0-0 with last time.
(Rating by Peter Baulsom)
