The final round of TRA over 50s League fixture were played on Sunday 1st September in Romford and Orient were looking to finish on a high having slipped down the league table in recent months. Their three opponents on the day were Clacton, Bexley, and Grays so not an easy end to the season.

The first game of the day was against a hard working Clacton and it wasn’t long before they took the lead. Orient bounced straight back with a well taken goal by Eades. Unfortunately some slack defending from the restart allowed Clacton to go straight back in front again. Orient were not giving it up though and seconds before the final whistle Eades reprised his earlier effort to bring the scores level. Clacton 2 v 2 Leyton Orient (Eades 2).

Next up were Bexley and given that they were still in with a chance of winning the league they came at Orient all guns blazing and took an early lead. Orient were not to be turned over that easily and Franklin fired home the equaliser from distance. Some lessons are only learnt the hard way and slack closing down from the restart allowed Bexley to fire in from distance to go back in front. It was now Orient’s turn to pile on the pressure and when the ball broke to Ridley on the left he slotted it home to give Orient parity at the break. Unfortunately Orient didn’t seem to come out in the second half and some good pass and move football that over loaded Orient’s defence time and again led to five more Bexley goals without reply. Final score: Bexley 7 v 2 Leyton Orient (Franklin, Ridley).

The final game of the day and the season was against Grays who Orient had always found a difficult team to get anything from but the Os were determined to finish with a win. Orient started well without getting in a blow until Zelkowicz danced past a defender, sat the keeper down and slotted into the net. Unfortunately Orient again allowed a long range shot from the kickoff that eluded Weston to bring the scores level. Orient came back strongly and Eades fired home to again put Orient in front. This was quickly followed by Orient’s third when Zelkowicz again confounded the Grays keeper to calmly slot home. Grays were not going to be turned over that easily and pulled a goal back just before half time. The second half started with Orient under increasing pressure until Wahlhaus fired in a trademark shot from distance. Grays were now in disarray and were barely hanging on conceding free-kick after free-kick around their goal area. A neatly taken free-kick by Zelkowicz allowed Ridley to slot home Orient’s fifth and final goal of the day and the season. Final score: Grays 2 v 5 Leyton Orient (Zelkowicz 2, Eades, Ridley, Wahlhaus).

Leyton Orient’s final League stats: P20 W6 D4 L10 GF45 GA65 Pts 22

This was as good a set of results as Orient had managed over a season that had more than its share of disappointments. A big thanks to all the players who turned out to represent the club over the period, sometimes on days where the league organisation appeared to be in complete disarray.

Congratulations to Colchester Phoenix who beat Romford Whites in the final game of the season which was also the league decider.

Leyton Orient squad: Bob Adams, Steve Eades, Paul Franklin (Capt), Trevor Ridley, Tony Wahlhaus, Tony Weston (Gk), Jake Zelkowicz.

Goal Scorer: Eades 3, Ridley 2, Zelkowicz 2, Franklin, Wahlhaus.

Location

Playfootball, Romford