Saturday 26 July – Billericay, EWFL Cup Finals Day: The sun stayed hidden, as did perhaps the fortune Leyton Orient’s Reds 50s might have felt they’d earned on a day when structure met spirit, but not silverware.

With summer holidays scattering availability like confetti, the squad was reshuffled from June’s effervescent qualifiers. The team welcomed new boy Andrew Woods, the latest from the Woods lineage to don the red, with elder brother John watching from the touchline.

The format was cruel in its brevity: two four-team mini-leagues, the victors alone proceeding to the final. Three matches. Fifteen minutes each. Little room for error. No room at all for sentiment.

First up: Cheshunt, Division 3 leaders and clearly ‘busy in the transfer window’. The Reds began brightly, possession purposeful and probing. Okocha – ever the magnet for markers – carved a couple of early chances, one clipping the post, another denied by a sharp save. He again jinked and twisted his way into danger. As defenders bumbled into the area and he let fly into the bottom corner, the referee’s whistle came too soon – penalty, not play-on, and the goal was disallowed. Okocha went the same way from the spot. So did the ball – but onto the post. But confidence slowly gave way to carelessness. The Reds grew impatient, perhaps lulled by their own early rhythm. A slack pass, an exposed flank, and suddenly the Orient net rippled. Weston, as so often, blameless. Cheshunt closed ranks. Final score: Cheshunt 1 v 0 Leyton Orient.

Against Little Oakley, Division 2’s form side, the match was laden with subtext – a chance to avenge April’s narrow league defeat. But tension tugs at tempo, and Orient’s shape wavered. Passes went astray. Even so, the Reds still dominated possession and had their chances – Okocha drawing several saves and then slipping Zelkowicz through with intelligent interplay, but the Little Oakley keeper again stood firm. Weston saved bravely. Paul Weston marshalled calmly. But the lapses told and eventually Oakley’s sharpest – twisting and turning – found a yard, and the Reds were behind once more. A technical infringement – Woods too eager on a substitution – reduced the Reds to five for the last few minutes. The response was spirited, not surgical. The door stayed shut. Final score: Little Oakley 1 v 0 Leyton Orient.

“I’m hearing only sad news…” the onlooking Steve Skaith might have been heard humming as any hopes of cup glory were dashed. But football is often about more than finals. The closing match, against Valley Green, offered pride, not prizes. “No room in my car for a wooden spoon,” came the only half-joking quip from Weston Sr.

Liberated from pressure, the Reds found their fluency again. Okocha opened the scoring early – his last meaningful act before resting a troublesome ankle. When Valley Green went down to five, the Reds moved the ball with renewed elegance. A second goal almost arrived via Zelkowicz after a crisp release from Woods, but a curious not-walking decision pulled play back. Justice came late – a penalty calmly dispatched into the side-netting by Zelkowicz, side-footed as if rolling a coin into a fountain. Final score: Valley Green 0 v 2 Leyton Orient (Okocha, Zelkowicz).

Captain Nad Pillay offered a candid post-match reflection: “A strange day. We started well but became a bit disjointed. Rushed, maybe rusty. There’s talent in this squad – enough to have gone further. Both goals we conceded were clean finishes. Tony [Weston] wasn’t overly worked. Paul [Weston] was composed at the back throughout. Zelkowicz was tireless, always looking to create. Coyle slotted back in quickly. Perry, responsible and efficient with the ball. A good debut from Woods – he’ll see better days in Red. And Okocha gave everything, even injured. Balancing game time across a short format is never easy. But we’ll learn. One good thing: we know we can play better. Onwards and upwards! Congratulations to the eventual winners Cheshunt.”

Leyton Orient squad: Tony Weston (Gk), Paul Weston, Andrew Coyle, Nad Pillay (Cpt), Jake Zelkowicz, Andrew Okocha, Shayne Perry, Andrew Woods.

Goalscorers: Okocha, Zelkowicz.

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Image used © 2025 Trevor Ridley

Location

New Lodge (Billericay Town FC)