13^th Jan 2008 GroundHoppers 3 – AFC Orpington 0

Hoppers returned to action after a four week Christmas break. AFC Orpington would be the opposition, a mini local derby for some of the players.

The swirling wind and wet heavy conditions would play a big part in the game; Orpington had their first run last week, and struggled after their break, but got that all important game after the break under their belt. Hoppers lined up with their standard four, four two; with instructions to keep it simple, so that we got through the full ninety minutes. AFC Orpington, promoted from the senior division from last year, is doing reasonably well this season.

The game was played at a high tempo, the ball moving from end to end, with chances created both ends. AFC Orpington were a little more organised in the early stages of the game, carving out the first two good chances of the game. These unfortunately weren’t taken and Hoppers would punish their misses by converting one of their own. Oluka Takan who had earlier narrowly missed the target was at hand at the far post to nod home Paul Hooley’s perfectly weighted cross.

Orpington kept taking their game to Hoppers, but found the Hoppers defence difficult to get behind, on the occasions that they did, they found Richard Greig on top of his game. Hoppers would extend their lead, before half time Vinny Kenneth playing the ball into centre forward Stephen Wright; he found his strike partner, Oluka, who turned his man, before driving the ball home, through the legs of the advancing Orpington goalkeepers.

The second half, was a difficult half for Hoppers, finding it difficult to get any time on the ball, as Orpington pressed the ball all over the park very quickly. Orpington continued to cause problems for the Hoppers back line. But their missed chances would cost them the game. Richard Greig and Paul Hooley had outstanding games in their relative positions. The game was beyond Orpington, when Elliott Parmenter, who was making his debut, threw a long throw into the box, Orpington goalkeeper, Jamie Tulloch misjudged the flight of the ball as it carried over him and the ball fell nicely for Stephen Wright, to nod home.

TEAM: Greig, Eames, Canfield, Patten, Burgess, Huggins, Hooley, Bateman, Kenneth(Parmenter), Takan(2, Allen), Wright(1). Unused Sub: Hinchion.