Billericay, 16th September: Essex Walking Football League over 60s.

In the end, it were the absences that told the story. Leyton Orient’s promotion hopes, so carefully built through a season of defensive solidity and collective graft, were undone by late withdrawals, illness and injuries at the decisive moment. And it was a bad day for the usual patience and craft to go walkabout.

Andrew Okocha was missing, John Woods struck down. Captain Nad Pillay, recovering from food poisoning, rallied a side patched together by the willing reinforcements of Mick Mullins and Derek Slater, both drafted in at the last possible moment. Their efforts were admirable, but cohesion proved harder to summon. Heroics can only go so far.

Against Concord Rangers Blue, the stakes were obvious: winner ascends to Division One. Paul Weston, carrying a hamstring strain, still operated neatly in midfield, linking play with Howard. Slater, up front, held possession, giving Orient moments to breathe. But possession turned hurried, passes forced, and cheap turnovers invited danger. It proved costly. A long-range strike, speculative but swirling in the wind, deceived goalkeeper Tony Weston and slalomed into the top corner. Concord, with something to protect, tightened their shape. The Reds chased. Pillay surged through late, testing Concord’s Essex County keeper with a low drive, but he stood firm. Their single goal, improbable as it was, sealed the second spot. “We’ll be hearing about that for the rest of the year!” laughed the Concord striker, at the final whistle, about the unlikely match winner guaranteeing promotion, “And I’m gonna have to listen to him on the journey home!” he added. The merriment was deserved – as was the Reds’ gloom, probably. Final score: Concord Rangers Blue 1 v 0 Leyton Orient.

By the time Orient faced a muscular Billericay Town White, the stuffing had gone – heads still in the last game, full of what ifs, and disappointment running like lead through the legs. Pillay still conjured a moment, darting towards the box to earn and convert a penalty off the post, but defensive discipline unravelled. Twice the Reds switched off, twice they were punished. Mullins briefly lifted spirits, rifling home after a neat lay-off, yet another lapse down the flank gifted Billericay a late winner. For the first time this season, the Reds conceded three. Final score: Billericay Town White 3 v 2 Leyton Orient (Pillay, Mullins).

Time to go home and nurse dented pride but for a final friendly against champions Bexley Reds who, after an earlier injury, borrowed Micky Howard to make up their numbers. The referee commended both sides for the spirit of the game as Bexley edged it. Final score: Leyton Orient 0 – 1 Bexley Reds.

Promotion hopes gone, the season ends with reflection. At their best, Orient showed control, defensive resolve and sharp movement. At the last, those qualities were absent – enforced, mainly. For a squad stretched and disrupted, the lesson was clear: opportunity, once lost, rarely comes back.

Summing up the day and the season, Pillay was philosophical:

“As Macmillan once said: events, dear boy, events. And, in the event, it proved too tough an ask. The momentum swung with the early concession of that freak goal. That ripped the wind from our sails. The rest was gravy – only the cold, congealed kind. We just left ourselves too much to do today. Special thanks to Slater and Mullins for heeding the call. Congratulations to Concord and Bexley.”

Turning to the season, he added:

“The squad performed well this season, and we’ll all be mulling the hypotheticals from previous rounds which would have made today a formality. Still, there can have been a no more solid defensive platform in the League than Tony Weston, between the sticks, and Tim Conlan. Paul Weston reliable and efficient throughout the campaign with an eye for a special goal. Howard, versatile and effective across the pitch. Mullins consistent and sensible with ball. Slater’s fine hold up play and willing work rate. John Woods whose steady improvement made him integral to the squad. David Clancy’s wonderful winner against Billericay Reds still sticks in the mind. Maurice Birnbaum always gave the opposition something to think about. And some wonderful cameos: Andrew Okocha who’s lethal class we missed; Stevie Dunn – who came a long to support today – but for his knee would have made been a mainstay; Alan Cox dropped in to add some flair. And lastly, Tony Sullivan who bravely began the season in superb form only for his knee to finally give out. Whilst his namesake provided more than adequate cover, such a lovely character would be missed by any team. We wish him the best.

“And a big thank you to the League for it’s fantastic organisation and, of course, the referees who don’t get the credit they deserve for the 99% of the time they do get it right. We still have the EWFL Cup Finals to play. But for the league, we’ll be back in March to go one better.”

Leyton Orient squad: Tony Weston (Gk), Nad Pillay (Cpt), Tim Conlan, Paul Weston , Micky Howard, Mick Mullins, Derek Slater.

Goalscorers: Pillay, Mullins.

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