On Tuesday 11th June Leyton Orient Walking FC over 65 Reds arrived at Billericay with Mullins, Ridley and Schneider returning to provide a boost to the squad ahead of three games that would determine the direction of the remainder of the season.

Orient’s first opponents of the day were League leaders Chelmsford City Claret and Orient went toe to toe with them in a competitive first half. Orient started with Cooper in goal, Mullins returning as captain at the back, Wahlhaus, Cox and Stevenson in midfield and Ridley up front. Orient initially had the better of the exchanges pushing Chelmsford back, but the O’s failed get a single shot on target in the first half. Cox collected two green cards and was replaced by Schneider with less than a minute remaining of the goalless first half. Chelmsford knew they were in a game and brought on their star striker in the second half. Orient went behind to a deflected Chelmsford free kick. With Orient chasing the game, they were undone by long balls out from the Claret’s defender and keeper who played the ball accurately up to their striker who twice found himself on the right hand side of the area one on one with Orient’s last defender before smashing the ball in to the goal in near identical manner both times to complete his hattrick. Wahlhaus collected a second green card so Tongue replaced him for the last four minutes. The Chelmsford defence stood solid and Orient came off without a single attempt on target. Final score: Chelmsford City Clarets 3 v 0 Leyton Orient Reds.

There were no changes to the Orient starting line up for their game against Eastwood Falcons Yellow. Orient started brightly with Ridley setting up Wahlhaus for a shot that trickled just wide. Again Orient were undone by a long ball, this time from the Eastwood keeper, which found the Falcons striker one on one with Mullins, managed to evade him and open the scoring. To compound matters Stevenson was given a straight blue card for a fairly pull on one of the Eastwood attackers on the right of the area. Eastwood placed the ball expecting a penalty, but the referee correctly gave a free kick. Three minutes of resolute defence followed. Stevenson returned just before half time with Orient a goal down. Schneider replaced Stevenson for the second half which started with Cox earning a free kick with some neat control on the edge of the area, but this did not result in the much needed equaliser. Unfortunately for Orient the Eastwood striker used his own neat control to score his second. Orient rallied and won a late penalty when a defender went into the area to block a goal bound shot by Ridley. Cox blasted the penalty to the keeper’s right to pull a goal back. There was barely time for a restart never mind the chance of equalising. Final score: Eastwood Falcons Yellow 2 v 1 Leyton Orient Reds (Cox).

To stand any chance of staying clear of the relegation zone, regardless of results elsewhere, Orient now needed to not lose to Southend. Tongue replaced Stevenson in the starting line up in a more attacking line up. Cox unleashed a shot within the first minute, followed by Ridley forcing a good save from the keeper and at the end of the half Wahlhaus had his shot from a free kick saved. Orient had found their shooting boots, but it was goalless at the interval. Stevenson replaced Tongue as the teams turned around. The breakthrough came early in the second half when an excellent piece of team play, with Orient passing and moving saw the ball eventually find a closely marked Ridley just in front of the area. Ridley swivelled to his left and slotted the ball past the keeper. All Orient needed to do was retain possession and play the game out. Mullins frustrated the Southend striker with his diligent defensive work. With a couple of minutes to go a mix up on the right hand side of the Orient midfield presented the ball back to Southend who retained possession to made the last couple of minutes somewhat nervy, but Orient’s rearguard held firm and obtained a well earned victory. Final score: Southend 0 v Leyton Orient Reds (Ridley).

After play manager, David Clancy reflected that, “Having been beaten in the first two games Orient rallied in the final game to take the three points that keep the spectre of relegation at bay. Chelmsford and Eastwood were set up with two defenders which blunted the Orient attack; their respective target men made the most of being one on one with the Orient defence on four separate occasions. Orient dug deep to take a deserved three points from the final game. This was essential, keeping Orient three points clear of the bottom two. With Chelmsford winning all ten of their games so far and Orient being twentytwo points behind with just twentyone points to play for, the league title has gone. Orient will look to guarantee their place in Division One for next season in the four games in the next round of matches in July.”

Following on from the Orient Reds exploits in the morning it was Leyton Orient over 65s Whites who arrived in the afternoon at Billericay looking to build on their seven match unbeaten start to the season by scoring the goals that would propel them into title contention.

Orient over 65 Whites started with Spence in goal, Rains at the back, Conlan, Barrick and Baker in the middle with Kassam up front. Orient’s first opponents were Chelmsford City Blue. The Os dominated the early exchanges, but Chelmsford hit the post with four minutes gone to show how dangerous they could be. Undeterred Orient continued to press Chelmsford back into their own half and just before the break a Conlan pass found Baker in front of goal, but unfortunately a poor connection let Chelmsford off the hook so the teams were level at half time. Baker was replaced by McBride at half time. Within a minute of the restart, Rains received a second green card and was replaced by Cheston. Orient continued to trouble Chelmsford. Conlan’s powerful shot was pushed out by the keeper and Kassam’s follow up from the rebound was straight at a very grateful goalie. Cheston then provided a lay off for Conlan that went close. Orient didn’t get another card nor did they get the goal that would have given them their second win of the season. Final score: Leyton Orient Whites 0 v 0 Chelmsford City Blue.

In the second match of the day Orient faced Stones with McBride replacing Baker in the starting line up. McBride made an early impression with a swivel and a shot that the keeper smothered and followed that up with a shot that resulted in the keeper making a save that went for in a corner. Kassam was also getting in on the action also forcing a corner from a shot. Stones were stung by this and responded in kind with Spence having to push a goal bound effort around for a Stones corner. As half time approached, Barrick received a second green card, but before he could be replaced the half time whistle blew. Cheston substituted Barrick. In the second half Kassam looked to open the scoring with a powerful shot and Stones responded by testing Spence for the second time, again the shot was pushed out for a corner. With four minutes left, Orient conjured up a magnificent move with McBride switching the ball from the left hand side of the pitch to Conlan on the right hand side who then hit a precise pass to the edge of the Stones area to find McBride beyond the defence. A quickly taken shot meant the keeper had no chance, but it agonisingly went to the left of the goal. Orient had again created chances but for the eighth consecutive game had failed to score. Final score: Leyton Orient Whites 0 v 0 Stones Athletic.

Orient had a half hour break and were able to watch their next opponents, Little Oakley Red. Having noted the opposition strengths and weaknesses, Orient started well with Kassam having a shot on goal after two minutes and Orient winning a succession of free kicks on the edge of the Little Oakley area. However, having gone nine successive games without conceding from the start of the season, Little Oakley took advantage with a player not being tracked by the midfield evading the defence with just Spence to beat. Orient’s defence was finally breached. Baker came on for McBride just ahead of half time to bolster the midfield. For the first time this season Orient were behind at the half time interval. Little Oakley played the game out offering Orient very little in the second half. Cheston replaced Rains with less than five minutes to go. The final act was Little Oakley scoring a second goal right at the death. The final whistle blew and the nine match unbeaten run had come to an end. Final score: Leyton Orient Whites 0 v 2 Little Oakley Red.

Manager David Clancy was sanguine, “Orient once again dominated games, held firm at the back and created numerous chances, but unfortunately goals remain elusive. A single lapse in the third game ended up being very costly with the opposition taking the lead and then being effective at keeping the Os at arm’s length by maintaining possession and pushing Orient back. It is beyond the halfway point in the league, Orient are isolated in the middle of the table with a gap above and below. To get back in terms with the teams directly above them, Orient need to win, win and win again in the next round of games and see what’s possible in the final round. A top two place is still achievable but having drawn 8 out of 10 so far, there is no wriggle room in the remaining fixtures.”

Leyton Orient over 65s Reds squad: Chris Cooper (Gk), Mick Mullins (Cpt), Gerry Schneider, Tony Wahlhaus, Trevor Ridley, Alan Cox, Phil Stevenson, Steve Tongue,

Leyton Orient over 65s Whites squad: Aidan Spence (Gk), Jon Barrick (Cpt), Len Cheston, Peter Rains, Tim Conlan, John McBride, Simon Baker, Hassan Kassam.

Goalscorers: Cox, Ridley.

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Image used © 2024 David Clancy

Location

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