Orient spent an enjoyable Saturday afternoon up the M11 at Paringdon Sport in Harlow making new friends with the Paringdon Pirates walking footballers. The idea behind this series of four fifteen minutes games was to give the Pirates a better understanding of playing competitive walking football. Orient used the game as an opportunity to give game time to new players aided by some old hands.

Paringdon and Orient took it in turns to referee the games.

Orient started with Everett in goal, Butterworth, Brooks and Adams across the back, Wahlhaus in midfield with Cheston up front. This first game on this swelteringly hot afternoon saw Orient fall behind in the first minute to a long range speculative shot that took everyone by surprise. Realising that this was not going to be a walk in the park against novice opposition Orient knuckled down to getting themselves back level but unfortunately Paringdon extended their lead. Orient tried playing their usual passing game but were finding it difficult to get used to the length of the astro and kept under-hitting their passes. Finally a fine pass from Adams found Cheston on the edge of the box and he fired in to pull one back for Orient. Despite upping their game to get the equaliser time ran out for the Os. Final score: Paringdon Pirates 2 v 1 Leyton Orient (Cheston).

In the second game Williams and Bradley came on for Butterworth and Cheston. This was a tight game with neither side dominating play. Both sides had chances that were either well saved by the respective keepers or were high, wide and handsome. The heat was obviously telling on both sides but the commitment and endeavour hardly let up. Final score: Leyton Orient 0 v 0 Paringdon Pirates.

The third game of the afternoon was very much a carbon copy of the second with both teams giving it their all but failing to break through the respective defences. When Orient did break through they were unusually profligate and let the Pirates off the hook. Yet again the game ended in an honourable draw. Final score: Paringdon Pirates 0 v 0 Leyton Orient.

The final game of the day saw Orient playing some good football but they were unfortunately undone by a brisk pass and snap shot which put them behind. They fought to a man to regain parity but it wasn’t to be and Paringdon scored a second just before the end. Final score: Leyton Orient 0 v 2 Paringdon Pirates.

Given that the aim of the day was to introduce the Pirates to competitive walking football, to enjoy some good, fun games and to make new friends there was unanimous agreement from both sides that this had been achieved. This was one of those occasions when independent of the results Walking Football was the resounding winner. Leyton Orient would also like to put on record their thanks to the Pirates for their hospitality including the teas, coffees and sandwiches post match.

Leyton Orient team: Bob Adams, Peter Bradley, Tony Brooks, Gary Butterworth, Len Cheston, Keith Everett, Tony Wahlhaus (Capt), Dennis Williams.

Goal scorer: Cheston.

Location

Paringdon Sports Centre, Harlow