Billericay, Saturday 11 October:

There are mornings when football feels less a contest and more a quiet reaffirmation of belief. For Leyton Orient Walking FC’s over 50s Reds, this was one of them. Against the second- and third-placed sides in the league, a rejigged Orient rediscovered not just their rhythm but their swagger – the kind that turns passing triangles into poetry. Two points on paper; a statement on grass.

The day began with Stanway, familiar foes and fine opponents. The rivalry had been seasoned by recent league and cup duels, the margins tight, the respect mutual. Missing Zelkowicz through injury, the Reds reshuffled, but there was no sense of imbalance. Discipline was inked into every movement; communication flowed like second nature. Freeman, vocal as ever between the sticks, set the tempo. Weston and Coyle like granite against the Stanway attackers, precise in their positioning and unruffled under pressure.

In midfield, Pillay conducted with quiet authority – intercepting, linking, releasing – allowing Freeman and Weston to smartly feed Woods up front. Woods and Cox combined like old sparring partners: one with guile, the other with graft. Cox struck the post; Woods twisted, turned, and was buffeted more than once, yet refused to wilt.

Stanway’s physicality grew as Orient’s control deepened. “It’s not a game for sissies,” snapped a player in yellow. Life on Mars, anyone? The second half mirrored the first: Orient confident, compact, composed. When Stanway finally overstepped the line with a fourth walking offence, Cox coolly converted from the spot, slotting low and left as the keeper guessed right. One up.

But football, ever cruel in its timing – as the last 90 seconds went on for minutes – found late drama. Moments after Cox hit the upright, Pillay’s interception was harshly judged too brisk, the whistle slicing through Orient’s rhythm. The injustice was clear, but the Captain should have known better. The penalty was buried with the final kick. All square. A cruel finale to a half of authority. Final score: Stanway 1 v 1 Leyton Orient (Cox).

If disappointment lingered, it was washed away by the performance that followed. Against Concord Rangers Blue, Orient continued in the same vein – patient, organised, expansive. Woods again went close, his movement clever and constant. Weston marshalled with authority. Freeman, immense, denied Concord’s best openings with sure hands and sharper reflexes. And excellent distribution. The goalless draw felt fair, but it was Orient who looked the likelier. Final score: Concord Rangers Blue 0 v 0 Leyton Orient.

Then came the friendly – a bonus bout against local hosts Billericay Town Blue. It was football as it should be played: spirited, sporting, and studded with smiles. Orient dominated possession, orchestrating moves with calm assurance. Woods was denied by fingertips; Pillay burst through only to be barged unfairly, the referee unmoved.

The breakthrough came through debutant Nwofor, whose enthusiasm was as infectious as his energy. When Coyle’s shot was spilled, Nwofor pounced from the tightest of angles, ignoring calls to recycle and instead trusting his instinct – a finish wriggled beneath the keeper. Later, he nearly doubled his tally, dragging a fine chance inches wide after a sharp-eyed pass from Coyle. The Reds saw it out with ease. Final score: Billericay Town Blue 0 v 1 Leyton Orient (Nwofor).

Captain Nad Pillay was philosophical and proud in equal measure.

“After the travails of the last outing, these performances were a breath of fresh air – even if the results don’t quite show it. We were patient, efficient, effective. A sparkling debut from Nwofor, who adapted well to the demands of the league. Let’s carry this into next month’s final fixtures.”

The smiles said as much. Orient’s old skool cool – ball to feet, head up, heart steady – was back. And with it, belief that this side, on its day, will not be beaten.

Leyton Orient 50s Reds squad: Mike Freeman (Gk), Paul Weston, Andrew Coyle, Alan Cox, Nad Pillay (Cpt), Andrew Woods, Ben Nwofor.

Goalscorers: Cox, Nwofor

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Image used © 2025 Trevor Ridley