On a very windy (but thankfully dry) late November afternoon Leyton Orient Walking FC hosted an inter-club tournament involving two teams from Tottenham Hotsteppers and two Orient teams.

Leyton Orient Reds opening match was against Tottenham Hotsteppers A. This was a fairly even contest with shots either going wide or being saved by the goalkeepers. Both teams were incurring running fouls and it was Hotsteppers A who committed a fourth offence mid-way through the second half leading to the Orient Reds being awarded a penalty. Zelkowicz stepped up to take the spot-kick which the Hotsteppers A keeper duly saved. With the game heading for a draw, the Reds committed their fourth running offence – captain Perry being the culprit. The Hotsteppers A player duly slammed the penalty against the crossbar – pretty much the last kick of the game – and the match finished all square. Final score: Leyton Orient Reds 0 v 0 Hotsteppers A.

Up first for Leyton Orient Golds were Tottenham Hotsteppers B. This was a close game with defences on top and few chances. Orient went one down. Orient’s goal came from a break out from defence which left Kassam one on one with the keeper. He scored. Brunt was outstanding in the Orient Gold’s goal repelling countess shots. Final score: Tottenham Hotsteppers B 1 v 1 Leyton Orient Golds (Kassam).

Next up for Orient Reds was Tottenham Hotsteppers B. The Reds struggled to impose themselves on a Hotsteppers B team which had some very skilful and quick (sometimes perhaps too quick) players. Hotsteppers B went one-up when a shot was deflected past Weston and a long-range effort saw them finish the first-half two goals to the good. The Reds toiled to get back into the game in the second half and were awarded a penalty when Hotsteppers B committed their fourth ‘not walking’ offence. Rohm slammed the penalty into the net but the match finished with Hotsteppers ahead. Final score: Tottenham Hotsteppers 2 v 1 Leyton Orient Reds (Rohm).

In Leyton Orient Gold’s game Tottenham Hotsteppers A were the stronger team and had an excellent striker. It left Orient three down at half time. Brunt again made some excellent saves while
Orient tightened up defensively in the second half, despite losing Birnbaum to a blue card for over enthusiastically kicking the Spurs striker. Final score: Leyton Orient Golds 0 v 3 Tottenham Hotsteppers A.

Orient Reds third match was against Leyton Orient Gold. The Golds were organised and hard-working from the start and made it difficult for the supposedly more skilful players of the Reds to impose themselves. Brunt, in the Golds goal, was again outstanding making three excellent saves. The Reds task was made even more difficult when Newman got his foot to a Dooley corner to open the scoring to put the Golds one-up. The Reds effort to chase the game only succeeded in them losing their shape and not moving the ball quickly enough and a second goal for the Golds made the task even harder when Kassam latched onto a Dooley shot that the keeper palm away, scoring from the rebound. Rohm hit the post late on but the match ended with the shock result of a Golds win. Final score: Leyton Orient Reds 0 v 2 Leyton Orient Golds (Newman, Kassam).

Leyton Orient Reds played Tottenham Hotsteppers B For the 3/4 place. Both teams looked a bit sorry for themselves. Perry hit the Hotsteppers post twice in the space of thirty seconds but a solitary goal saw Hotsteppers B win. Final score: Leyton Orient Reds 0 v 1 Tottenham Hotsteppers B.

The final game was be between the Tottenham Hotsteppers A and Leyton Orient Gold teams – the two teams who had achieved the best results. This was a game too far for Orient Golds as the Hotsteppers centre forward ran rampant. Orient struggled to contain him. To note, a number of the Hotsteppers players all had ‘Romero 4’ shirts. The manager said they had asked for a job lot of used shorts and been given a number of Romero shirts. Final score: Leyton Orient Golds 0 v 6 Tottenham Hotsteppers A.

Captain of the Orient Reds, Shayne Perry noted “The Reds did not really play to their potential in any of the matches. There were a lot of efforts on goal but we seemed to have left our shooting boots at home – our only goal being a penalty confirms this. A couple of the goals conceded were not too clever but it was in midfield and up-front that we let ourselves down. Full credit to the Golds for their victory which was built on shape and hard work.”

Chairman, Len Cheston, observed the games and commented that “The Golds defended well against some excellent Tottenham forwards. The Golds played throughout with only six players following late withdrawals. Tottenham are top of their division in the Middlesex over 50s League. The Golds Player of the Day was Colin Brunt.”

Big thank you to Simon Crump and Damien O’Reilly who refereed with their usual fairness. To note the Golds did not concede a penalty under the 4 non-walking rules. .

Leyton Orient Reds squad: Shayne Perry (Cpt), Tony Weston (Gk), Adam Rohm, Paul Weston, Andrew Evans, Mark Harden, Jake Zelkowicz.

Leyton Orient Golds squad: Maurice Birnbaum (Cpt), Colin Brunt (Gk), Vince Dooley, Paul Newman, Hassam Kassam, Steve Guerrini.

Goalscorers: Kassam 2, Newman, Rohm.

© Copyright 2024 Leyton Orient Walking FC
Image used © 2024 Trevor Ridley

Location

Wadham Lodge Sports Ground, Kitchener Rd, London E17 4JP, UK