The second round of Over 65s fixtures on Tuesday 14 April, saw league leaders Orient Whites head to Billericay looking to maintain their position at the top of the table.
Over 65 Whites opened the day with an insipid performance against new boys, Hawkwell. The Os dominated possession for the whole 20 minutes yet only Gurman managed a weak shot against an untested keeper midway through the first half. Worse still, the Os unbelievably committed 4 running offences and handed Hawkwell the opportunity of an underserved victory, however Spence saved the relatively weak penalty. A missed opportunity to put 3 points on the board.
Orient 0 Hawkwell 0 - Spence, Rains, Dooley (Inkpen HT), Gurman, Brennan (Baker HT), Kassam
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Next up were Concord who were just off the pace at the top of the table. The Os suddenly came to life and the training in recent months produced a dividend in the first half with Kassam laying a ball onto Dooley who tucked the goal away from the edge of the area. A half time lead. The Os looked to capitalise on this, but again the running offences were racking up for both sides. In order to keep what had been earned the Os shifted to a 2-2-1 formation early in the second half and let Concord chalk up the fourth offence that led to a penalty in the last minute. Inkpen stepped up, smashed the ball against the post and reacted to the rebound putting the ball into the empty net. However, if disallowed as no other player touched the ball. A well deserved victory.
Orient 1 Concord 0 - Spence, Rains, Dooley, Gurman (Inkpen 12), Baker (Brennan HT), Kassam
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Now the table topping Os face bottom of the table Southend. Rains and Gurman given a break. Orient battered the Southend goal, but fell behind when their striker walked through the massed Orient defence. Orient resumed the battering only to be caught on the break and go down 0-2 before the break. Rains and Gurman were reinstated at half time. Kassam hit the post before the half time whistle blew. Orient continued to press for the goal, but a resolute Southend defence denied them time and time again. A game lost to defensive complacency but mainly poor team management.
Orient 0 Southend 2 - Spence, Dooley, Inkpen, Baker (Rains HT) Brennan (Gurman HT), Kassam
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The final game of the day was against Blackmore who were also in contention at the top of the table at the start of proceedings. Stung by the defeat to Southend, the Os took an early lead when Kassam fed Gurman who slipped the ball inside the left post to give the Os the lead. The Os dominated with Kassam again hitting the post and went into a half time lead. Once again with running offences to consider, the Os reverted to a 2-2-1 formation. As the Os played possession football somehow the Blackmore striker took the ball on the left, ran across Rains and smashed the ball into the net. Fortunately the referee was alive to this and disallowed the goal. Os then kept possession and ran out worthy winners.
Orient 1 Blackmore 0 - Spence, Rains, Dooley,Gurman, Brennan (Baker HT), Kassam (Inkpen HT)
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A puzzling set of results with the Os excelling against two very good teams, but dropping points to significantly lesser opposition. Against Hawkwell, there was a strange lethargy despite the team being instructed to go for goal, but against Southend, it was down to a strange selection from the manager that weakened the team defensively. What became very clear was teams that are well set up defensively as the Os were against Concord and Blackmore can frustrate the opposition and make it very difficult to score. The Os are just 4 points off the top, and will face league leaders Beacon Hill next time out. Still in a very good position.
Results -:
Orient 0 Hawkwell 0
Orient 1 Concord 0
Orient 0 Southend 2
Orient 1 Blackmore 0

SQUAD - Spence, Rains, Dooley,Gurman, Brennan, Baker (Captain), Kassam, Inkpen. SCORERS - Dooley, Gurman
Report by David Clancy.