Over 70s friendly - Romford, Sunday 22 March

Sunday morning was brightening up nicely as two Leyton Orient WFC Over 70s teams made their way along Eastern Avenue to the Powerleague centre for a series of final pre-season friendlies against Romford.

Our Reds and then Whites teams each played Romford, then met each other; all to a strict Essex League format - and even stricter refereeing - before the three games were repeated as 10-minute sessions.
The Reds in particular were given a sharp reminder of how strict that reffing can be, when pulled up for three running offences in the first five minutes of the opening game and conceding a penalty, which was missed, soon after Cox had opened the scoring. Slowing down and sharpening up, they finished comfortable winners.
Romford 0 Leyton Orient Reds 4 (Cox 3, Ridley)

The Whites, boosted by late call-ups for youngsters T.Conlan, Jacobs and McBride, overcame an unfortunate deflected goal and took the game to Romford. This time it was the home team who fell foul of referee Crump for not walking, Rehal neatly converting the penalty. Orient then hit the post and the bar without managing to force the win they deserved.
Romford 1 Leyton Orient Whites 1 (Rehal pen)

The Orient derby was all square at half-time, after which the Whites continued to build on their previous performance and the Reds inexplicably collapsed. Some shocking marking and poor passing allowed three goals in quick succession to fly past a helpless Weston.
Leyton Orient Whites 3 (og, McBride, Kassam) Leyton Orient Reds 0

Determined to make amends in the first of the shorter games, the Reds tightened up and pressed more effectively in dominating Romford, winning with two more good finishes from Cox, as well as having a penalty saved.
Romford 0 Leyton Orient Reds 2 (Cox 2)

The Whites then continued to make good use of the wide pitch and goals, plus a perfect passing surface, as Rehal and McBride earned a solid win over a tiring Romford.
Romford 0 Leyton Orient Whites 2 (Rehal, McBride)

As Barrick headed off to Tottenham (something he may have regretted), the remaining six Reds players made partial amends for their earlier performance against the Whites. Lucky to take the lead when a Whites player receiving the ball from keeper James passed it back to him and into the net, they added a second goal through Ridley before Rehal scored possibly the best goal of the day.
Leyton Orient Reds 2 (og, Ridley) Leyton Orient Whites 1 (Rehal)

Reds captain Steve Tongue said: "This was a useful exercise ahead of the first Essex League games next week, not least for reminders about non-walking and some non-marking. The opposition will be tough in the First Division but adding Cox to the squad should certainly improve the potential for goals."

Whites captain Chris Conlan, injured on the day, added: "I thought we dominated possession in all our games, which bodes very well for the new season."

Leyton Orient Reds
Tony Weston (gkr), Steve Tongue (capt), Mick Mullins, Alan Cox, Phil Stevenson, John Barrick,
Trevor Ridley
Scorers: Cox 5, Ridley 2, og 1

Leyton Orient Whites
David James (gkr), Alan Lester, Tim Conlan (capt), Ajit Rehal, Phil Jacobs, John McBride, Hassan Kassam.
Scorers: Rehal 3, McBride 2, Kassam, og