Tuesday 27th May saw Leyton Orient Walking FC over 65s Reds and Whites travel to Billericay for a wet afternoon’s football.

Leyton Orient Reds Reds went into this third round of Essex League matches unbeaten and top of the table while Orient Whites had yet to get their ‘A’ game going.

First up for Orient Reds was second placed Chelmsford Blue. This was a cagey affair with Chelmsford having the better of a first half where Orient quickly ran up three non walking offences. The second half saw this stat turned around as the Reds came into the game and Chelmsford conceded a penalty for four not-walking offences. This was expertly dispatched by Cox. With the second half running down it looked as if the Reds would take the three points but Chelmsford equalised with the Reds defence claiming backing in from the scorer. Final score: Chelmsford Blue 1 v 1 Leyton Orient Reds (Cox).

Leyton Orient Whites kicked off against Romford. Starting with James in goal, Rains at the back, Watson, Armour and Baker in midfield and Slater up front. Orient White dominated the early exchanges and got shots away albeit from too much of a distance to trouble the static Romford defence. Romford showed discipline to not run whilst Orient White quickly gave away four not walking offences which resulted in a Romford penalty just before the break. The Romford striker slotted away the penalty but fortunately for Orient White he was deemed to have taken more than one step and the goal did not stand. There were wholesale changes in the midfield at half time with Brennan, Gurman and Inkpen coming on. The second half continued in the same vein with Orient dominating and totting up running offences, though fortunately not enough to result in a second penalty. A Slater shot across the goal almost gave Orient White the three points, but the game ended goalless. Final score: Leyton Orient White 0 v 0 Romford.

Orient Reds second game was against Concord Yellow. The Reds totally dominated this game peppering the opposition keeper with shots. The breakthrough came when Concord conceded a not walking offence penalty which again was put away by Cox. Orient doubled their lead when the ball was knocked back by Ridley and Howard met it with a fine shot with the outside of his boot to send the ball nestling into the far corner. Concord Yellow 0 v 2 Leyton Orient Reds (Cox, Howard).

Next up for Orient Whites was second in the table Chelmsford Blue. Anticipating tougher opposition, Orient White lined up with Rains and Inkpen at the back, Armour and Gurman in midfield with Slater up front. Once again Orient White dominated the early exchanges with Chelmsford struggling to get the ball or launch attacks. Slater and Gurman carved out the best opportunity of the first half late on with the latter screwing the ball just wide. All level at half time. No substitutions were made and Orient continued to go toe to toe with Chelmsford. Slater came off for Watson with Gurman sent forward for last five minutes. Chelmsford then scored within a minute. Brennan replaced Inkpen for the last four minutes, but Chelmsford played ‘keep ball’ and the O’s never got back into the game. Leyton Orient White 0 v 1 Chelmsford Blue.

Looking to close out the day with a second win Leyton Orient Reds took on Billericay Reds. Though Orient had the majority of the play, they could not find a winner against a well organised opponents. Final score: Billericay Reds 0 v 0 Leyton Orient Reds.

Meanwhile last up for Leyton Orient White was Billericay White who had started the day on six points like Orient White. Starting with James, Rains, Brennan, Baker, Armour and Gurman up front, Orient White again were on the front foot without creating goal scoring opportunities. Brennan quickly obtained two warnings and was replaced by Watson who did similar and was replaced by Slater. Once again, it was goalless at half time. Inkpen replaced Rains in the second half. The second half had Orient White outnumbering Billericay at the back, but taking speculative shots rather than playing in the striker in space. Brennan came on for Baker with four minutes remaining looking for the goal. With both teams on three running offences, Billericay committed a fourth run and Orient White got a penalty. Gurman stepped up and hit the ball low to the right but alas it hit the post and went out. Within a minute Orient White committed their fourth running offence and Billericay duly scored. The final whistle blew soon immediately afterwards. Leyton Orient White 0 v 1 Billericay White.

Following play the Orient Reds captain Mick Mullins commented: “Though we finished the day unbeaten and still top of the division, missing out on a win in the last game was disappointing. However, we can take positives from the first game and the win in the second. It was pleasing that we showed discipline and did not concede any penalties for not walking.”

On the Orient Whites play manager David Clancy noted, “Disappointing results, however there was a very strong performance against Chelmsford which augurs well for the future. Gurman and Armour coming into the White squad provided more attacking options with both looking threatening. The main issue today which cost three points and could have cost five were penalties. There were seven not walking offences in the first game and four in the final game. With so few goals scored from open play, penalties are deciding games. Orient White should have scored the one they got and not given away two. Restraint is required in not chasing lost causes. Also the team need to look to get closer in to score from open play. There were some speculative efforts taken rather than passes made to a striker on the edge of the area. Only four points separate Romford in third to Orient White in seventh and there are five games remaining to make up that gap.”

Leyton Orient over 65s Red squad: Tony Weston (Gk), Tim Conlan, Mick Mullins (Cpt), Phil Jacobs, Alan Cox, Micky Howard, Trevor Ridley,
Phil Stevenson.

Leyton Orient over 65s White squad: David James (Gk), Simon Baker (Cpt), Peter Rains, Derek Slater, Barry Watson, Micky Brennan, Steve Inkpen, Tom Armour, Ian Gurman.

Goal Scorers: Cox 2, Howard.

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Image used © 2025 Trevor Ridley