Over 65s - Division Two, Matchday 1 - Tuesday 17th March - Billericay.

With the Spring Equinox approaching at the weekend, ensuring lighter mornings, longer
days and thoughts on a new walking football season; a squad of nine over 65s arrived at
Billericay on a beautifully sunny Spring afternoon. As any football fan knows, a new season
is full of hope, expectation and anticipation.
Captain Baker (in the absence of manager Clancy) gathered his squad in a Chelsea huddle,
which was rather reluctantly formed, and proceeded to set out the manager’s expectations,
namely, quick pass and move football to feet, creating shooting chances in abundance.
Baker also reminded the team of the importance of discipline i.e. no running and no
unnecessary tackling!
Our first match was against Billericay Town Red, who were placed just above us in the
league last season. With Baker expecting to take a minimal part in proceedings due to a
knee injury (hence the squad of nine), the team lined up with Spence in goal, Peter (watch
the elbows!) Rains in central defence, the seasoned professional Barrick in central midfield,
supported by Dooley and Gurman on the flanks and Slater up front. Inkpen, Conlan and
Baker waited on the sidelines ready to play if required. Clearly Baker’s comments on
discipline had fallen on deaf ears as the O’s proceeded to commit a flurry of running offences
and an early blue card for Barrick (more on this later). It took at least 5 minutes before the
team eventually settled into the game and began to play the pass and move game they had
been practising in the close season. Slater and Gurman fired off a couple of high shots as
we began to find our rhythm and dominate possession. With the match goalless at the break,
the same line up continued to pursue the opening goal until the inevitable happened when
Billericay were awarded a penalty for four running offences. Spence, who had had little to do
up to this point, set himself and sprung sharply to his left to parry the ball away towards the
grateful Rains who calmly passed it back to the heroic Spence. Further disaster was to
follow when Barrick was awarded a second green card for a somewhat innocuous
challenge and sent off the pitch with a brandished blue card. Now the team had to buckle
down, with Slater moving back into midfield to protect the defence. Billericay were now
pushing hard for a goal as Orient desperately saw out the three minutes before Barrick could
re enter the fray. With time running out, Baker decided to replace Slater with Conlan and with
Barrick back on the pitch a last ditch attempt was made to grab a winner. Barrick sent a pass
to Gurman who fired a powerful shot at the keeper who could only knock the ball away to the
lurking Conlan who duly blasted the ball into the net with such power that he pulled his calf
muscle and ruled himself out for the rest of the afternoon! The final whistle blew and Orient
were up and running with their first victory of the season.
Final Score: Leyton Orient White 1 - 0 Billericay Town Red (C. Conlan)
The team now had to walk over to the outside pitch for our next opponents, who were
Stones Athletic, a newly relegated side who were likely to provide stiff opposition. With
Conlan unable to take any further part in proceedings, Inkpen was brought in to midfield,
with Gurman up front and Slater and Baker on the bench. The O’s started brightly, keeping
good possession and creating chances for Barrick, Gurman and Dooley, all of which were
just past the post or over the bar. When Stones did threaten, Spence was solid in goal with
some routine saves. Barrick picked up another green card for a tackle and as the match
proceeded into the second half, an accidental handball was harshly ruled as an offence,
resulting in another green card and the inevitable blue card which put Barrick back on the
sidelines. With 5 minutes remaining and only 4 on the pitch, our backs were against the wall
once again. Baker brought himself on with fresh legs and the team saw out the match with a
creditable goalless draw.
Final Score: Stones Athletic 0 - 0 Leyton Orient White
There was a lengthy delay while we awaited our next opponents, Romford, who had been
involved in a sending off incident back on the main pitch, and arrived in a rather grumpy
mood. Having tested his knee out in the previous game, Baker decided to give Inkpen a
break and play the first half, bringing Slater back on for Gurman. Once again Leyton Orient
dominated possession, carving out early chances for Barrick and Dooley. Then Slater on the
left sent a pass intended for Dooley but instead the ball bounced off Baker’s knee sending
the ball forward and creating enough space for Baker to take a touch, set himself and fire a
shot hard to the keepers right and into the net. Moments later Baker was again found in
space and he blasted another shot on goal, this time tipped over the bar by the keeper.
Rains picked up a green card for constantly annoying the Romford forward with his flailing
elbows, but Orient safely saw the game out for their second victory of the afternoon
Final Score: Leyton Orient White 1 - 0 Romford (Baker)
Our final match was back on the main pitch against another demoted side, Eastwood
Falcons Blue. This proved to be another challenging encounter with a decent opponent.
However Leyton Orient were on a roll and confidently knocked the ball around creating close
chances for Dooley, Gurman and Barrick. When Eastwood threatened Spence made some
good saves to keep the O’s in the game. Slater picked up a green card for a tackle and then
soon after was adjudged to have headed the ball whilst ducking to avoid a high ball. It did in
fact hit his shoulder. The referee was having none of it resulting in another blue card and
sending off! Orient battled to stay in the game with reduced numbers. Towards the end an
Eastwood player fired a brilliant shot at the Orient goal. Surely we were heading for our first
loss of the afternoon? But no. Spence flung himself full length and tipped the ball round the
post. Great save! Game over.
Final Score:Eastwood Falcons Blue 0 - 0 Leyton Orient White
End of matchday one and Leyton Orient White top the table with eight hard fought points.
Captain Baker reflected on how well the squad all contributed to this excellent set of results.
All that pre season training certainly paid dividends on the day. The only downside was our
lack of discipline at times and the fact that the bar had run out of Guinness by the time we
got there. On St. Patrick’s Day as well!
Leyton Orient White Squad: Spence (GK), Baker (CPT), Dooley, J Barrick, C.Conlan, Inkpen,
Gurman, Rains, Slater
Scorers:Conlan, Baker