Orpington Athletic vs Petts Wood Seahawks
3 - 7
17 November 2019 · Metropolitan Sunday Football League<br>Division One
Home league match played on 17 November 2019.
Kicked off at 10:30 AM
3-7
vs Petts Wood Seahawks
Home league match
Orpington Athletic lost ground in the title race this weekend with an uncharacteristically, lacklustre performance. After an electric display last weekend, Orpington failed to replicate their efforts and were torn inside out by a Petts Wood Seahawks team who, themselves, have been on the receiving end of some heavy defeats so far this season.
Orpington looked lost from the off, and with last week's top performers, Nick Adamou and Ben Blyghton, confined to the bench, the team lacked width and creativity. Seahawks exploited gaps on multiple occasions and the first goal was on the horizon early on. Turning the centre back inside out, Seahawks' striker made no mistake to take the lead.
Blyghton was brought on immediately to raise the attacking intensity and Orpington levelled when Haden took on 4 players to feed Kode, who finished in usual style. But, as was to be the story of the match, Orpington's defence was breach again and some lazy goalkeeping was punished. Blyghton levelled the score up just before half time with a long range strike, which the 'keeper could not deal with, but Seahawks still went into the break in the lead with their own long range effort into the top corner.
Utton changed it up at half time, with Nick Adamou taking Graham's place and Butler, returning from injury, coming in to sure up the defence. However, Seahawks doubled the advantage quickly after the restart and Butler was forced off with an injury after only 6 minutes.
Seahawks continued to exploit the backline and scored a fifth on the hour mark. Orpington picked up the pace and for a 15 minute spell were on top of the opposition with both Adamou and Kode coming close and Knott scoring his first goal since October 2017. Seahawks immediately responded with a simple tap in and the 'keeper rooted to the spot and they finished the job with only a few minutes remaining when Puttock spilled a long range effort which the Seahawks striker tapped in, following in at pace.
Orpington did not look themselves today. Speaking at the end of the match, manager Matt Utton said, "I apologise for the mistakes I made with the line up and if we have just one bad game this season, let that be it. We learn and move on."
Orpington now turn their attentions to cup football as they take on South London Doves in the first round of the Bill Braisted Memorial Trophy, next Sunday.