Leyton Orient Walking FC Over 70s took a strong squad to Billericay Town FC on Tuesday 12th March for the Essex/Kent round of the WFLA Cup – a three-team round robin with the top two to qualify for the next round. Orient’s opponents, in the two 30-minute games, were familiar rivals Billericay and the unknown quantity Canterbury Mariners.

Canterbury had managed to negotiate the chaos at the Dartford Tunnel and were on time for their opening game against the hosts Billericay, a 1-1 draw which suggested that Orient, unless they were over-confident, had little to fear.

That proved to be the case in the O’s first match which was against Canterbury. With Tongue injured in the warm up after slipping on the wet pitch, the O’s started with Everett in goal, Brooks at the back, a midfield of Schneider, Stevenson and Skaith, plus Green up front. The Mariners conceded two goals early on to the lively Green, set up by Schneider and then Skaith. Green had also hit the post and bar before half-time, although any complacency was knocked out of Orient when a slack moment in defence right after the interval allowed the Kent side back into the game. Green continued to test the strength of the goal frame, having a free-kick pushed onto a post, then hitting the same post again, before a goalkeeping error presented him with the ball and his hat-trick. Green came off in the final five minutes to allow on travelling reserve, C. Conlan, who took full advantage with two more goals in quick succession. Final score: Canterbury 1 v 5 Leyton Orient (Green 3, C.Conlan 2).

Billericay must have been impressed by Orient’s display, but they appeared mesmerised in the opening minutes of the final match, when Stevenson, claiming to have spent most his time abroad in the gym, was sharp enough to drive in two goals in as many minutes, both set up by acting captain Skaith. This time Orient added two more before half-time through Skaith and Green before Billericay pulled one back to give them the belief that they could qualify ahead of Canterbury on goal difference. For a while it seemed as though they might but near the end Skaith’s drive skipped past the goalkeeper, who was then beaten by Stevenson’s neat chip. That final goal meant that Canterbury, having cheered on Orient throughout, secured the runners-up spot. Final score: Billericay 1 v 6 Leyton Orient (Stevenson 3, Skaith 2, Green).

A hobbling Tongue, who had only managed a couple of minutes before coming off, said: “As the scorelines suggest, Orient were comfortably the best team, but still had to prove it. The passing and movement were particularly good with players always available, and with the right mix of unselfishness and shooting they were able to equal and then beat the highest scores since the Over 70s began playing three years ago. There are now 18 teams left nationwide, and the next round is likely to prove much tougher.”

Leyton Orient Over 70s squad: Keith Everett (Gk), Tony Brooks, Gary Martin, Gerry Schneider, Phil Stevenson, Steve Skaith, Steve Tongue (Cpt), Colin Green, Chris Conlan.

Goalscorers: Green 4, Stevenson 3, Skaith 2, C.Conlan 2.

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Image used © 2024 Steve Tongue

Location

New Lodge, Blunts Wall Rd, Billericay CM12 9SA, UK