On Saturday 5th October seven brave souls braved the early morning traffic to travel to Northampton for a friendly set of games before the main Northampton Town v Leyton Orient league fixture that afternoon. This friendly walking football tournament was against Northampton Town and AFC Rushden. The Orient lads arrived to find they were playing 7-a-side on very long pitches with the low wide goals. An exhausting morning followed.

First up for the Os were AFC Rushden. Orient lined up with Cheston in goal and Myers, Brooks and Bancroft in defence. Tongue and Lillington were up front with a borrowed player as Gould had not yet arrived. This was a typical Orient first game. Cheston made a mistake with a throw out against a tight Rushden press leading to Rushden’s first goal. Then Rushden passed their way easily through the defence and Orient were two down with only five minutes on the clock. Orient got back into the game with some good pass and move but the shooting boots had been left behind. Final score: AFC Rushden 2 v 0 Leyton Orient.

Next up were Northampton B. Myers went in goal with Cheston taking his place in defence. Gould had joined the team and a tactical switch was made to move Tongue into a central midfield position. Immediately Orient looked much improved. With Tongue in his new position he was able to control the play spreading passes out to the energetic Gould and the predatory Lillington and providing a link for the overlapping Cheston and Bancroft. The shots rained in, Bancroft hit the post, Lillington missed chances, Tongue had a one on one from a magnificent Cheston though ball which the keeper saved. Eventually the goal came, Bancroft broke forward, shot, the keeper fumbled and the ball dribbled to Tongue who calmly slotted the ball home. Cobblers B now tried to put the Orient defence under pressure but they found no way through as Myers reminded us that he is a fine keeper with some steady handling. Final score: Northampton B 0 v 1 Leyton Orient (Tongue)

The final game of the day was against Northampton A. Orient were now playing their best football against a Northampton team determined to avenge the earlier defeat of their B team. This was a tight game and initially Orient could not break the Cobblers pressing game. Slowly Tongue and Gould got their linkage going. From an Orient attack the Os pressed high and a Cobblers defender passed across his area straight to Lillington who needed no second chance to score. Orient were now up-lifted and the pass and move game was in full flow. A superb passing move that went up one wing and then the other left Lillington with a clear opportunity that he took with relish. Orient were now two up and the Northampton onslaught started. The defence, with Brooks at the centre of the action, supported by Tongue and Gould stood resolute and the Cobblers forwards tried to shoot from every angle. The defence stood firm blocking shots and if they got through, Myers was heroic with his tumbling saves. The Os were breached once but good game management saw Orient home to a great victory. Final score: Northampton A 1 v 2 Leyton Orient (Lillington 2).

Len Cheston picked up one of the players of the day awards for turning out in goal for Rushden soon after he arrived and then playing three full games.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable morning’s walking football played in the right spirit. The Club send their thanks to Northampton Community Trust for hosting the event and providing the match tickets. It was a pleasure to meet up with Phill Smith, our old friend from Leyton Orient Trust who is now the CEO of Northampton Town Community Trust, who was in attendance and was his usual positive self.

The club thanks all the drivers for taking us on a long journey. Tony Brooks was especially patient as he had to listen to Cheston, Myers and Bancroft unpick the Orient side in microscopic detail.

Steve Tongue needs a special award for sitting between Cheston and Lillington who bickered for 90 minutes of the league match over the merits of Matt Harrold the old fashioned Orient centre forward.

Leyton Orient squad: John Bancroft, Tony Brooks, Len Cheston (Gk) (Capt), Howard Gould, Julian Lillington, Derek Myers (Gk), Steve Tongue.

Goal Scorers: Lillington 2, Tongue.

Location

Thomas Becket Catholic School, Becket Way, Northampton NN3 6HT