Fans of:-
LEYTON ORIENT WOMEN FC
22 Sept 2025
- 5:1 cup win report.
- Grace G on the Outlook podcast.
- Needham up next in the Cup.
- Minute by minute game review.
- GLWFL round-up.
FA Cup, 2nd qualifying round
Dussindale 1:5 Orient
Orient's Sammy Rowland and Lucy Porter (green away kit) looking for an opportunity to find the home net.
Image: J Lillington
On Sunday, 21st September, Leyton Orient Women travelled to Norwich and achieved a significant 5:1 victory at Eastern Region league side Dussingdale & Hellesdon Rovers. This was a second qualifying round tie of the Adobe women's FA Cup where Tier Five "Dussy" would have expected to prevail over their Tier seven opponents from east London. However, as we know, the O's may play in a Tier seven league but these players are way above that in terms of ability.
Dussy are handily placed in their league, somewhere around mid-table, but found themselves a goal down after just six minutes when Lucy Porter notched her much deserved first goal of the season, a fact which did not escape the Orient players and travelling fans who celebrated with some noise. If that didn't shake the confidence of the home side, O's main striker Sammy Rowland followed up with a second strike only two minutes later to ring the alarm bells. Sammy would go on the establish her credentials as the O's number one striker by securing a hat-trick later in the game.
Just after a half an hour, which had seen Orient strongly on the front foot, Dussindale's Holly Walker hit a scorching free kick from around 30 yards out. Lola had moved forward a couple of paces to reduce the angle but the ball sailed over her and dipped into the top corner. There was a feeling among the home fans that Dussingdale would now start to assert themselves.
O's keeper Lola Duroyaiye gets beaten for the first time this season, it took a superb dipping free kick from Dussy's Holly Walker to do it.
That feeling lasted only one minute as super Sammy Rowland restored O's two-goal cushion from the re-start with her second of the match.
There was still a sense of "game on" about proceedings although it was the ladies from E10 who were doing most of the attacking. Just before the half-time whistle, Hayley West decided she can do better than a 35 yarder and produced her version of a "Donley" by blasting the ball over the stranded home keeper from 40 odd yards away! A worldy! It also stunned the home side as it now became evident that coming back from 4:1 down to this Orient side was going to take a near miracle.
The miracle never came, it was the O's who were on the front foot throughout the second half and, on the hour, it was Sammy Rowland who completed her hat-trick but slipping through the defence and skilfully converting her one-on-one opportunity to put the game to bed.
Kudos to the home side who never quit trying and remained determined to get something from the game but Lola was not really tested again in the Orient goal.
A special mention (in Larry Peterson's words) to Hayley 'Terminator' West who "smashed a rocket" which hit the post with the keeper scrambling. Poppy Binding was about to add her name to the score-sheet but was thwarted by an off-side flag and Ellie Leek saw one of her efforts clatter against the crossbar. Everyone in the green away kit did their jobs well, there were no areas of weakness in the team anywhere - they were relentless and deserved winners. A lofcwomen.com thumbs up to coaching crew Jason, Wayne and Craig for that.
The on target trio of Hayley West, Lucy Porter and 'Super' Sammy Rowland
Image: @LOFCWomen
The one cause for concern was the continued absence, due to injury, of star performers Georgia Griffin, Jade Keogh, Olivia McGregor and Wiki Fronc. They have now been joined by exciting new signing Lois Heuchan which makes five top players unavailable. The club has a small-ish squad in that it is so difficult to find players who have the ability and character to compete for a first team spot at this level. It is likely that Sunday's game included an element of the players being somewhat reserved in order to avoid making the injury situation worse.
Orient line-up
⚽ Gemma Abela Baker
⚽ Kallie Georgie Balfour
⚽ Poppy Binding
⚽ Lola Duroyaiye
⚽ Grace Gillard
⚽ Esme Lancaster
⚽ Ellie Thomas Leek
⚽ Stephanie McCaffrey
⚽ Lucy Porter
⚽ Sammy Rowland
⚽ Hayley West
SUBS:
⚽ Ruby Abela
⚽ Wiktorija Kiszkis
Dussindale and Hellesdon line-up
Locker - Tink - Larkins - Walker - Goodenough - Barnes - Baggott - Kreuz - Leyer - Gooding - Odell.
SUBS:
Baxter - Thorne - Langan - George - Kawalczyk.
Grace Gillard on the Outlook podcast
As always, our appreciation goes to Steve and Paul at the Orient Outlook Podcast for their continued interest and support of the Orient women's team. In the latest episode, Number 401, they interviewed O's skipper Grace Gillard who gave some great insights into the ladies, the team, the club... everything. The following link takes you to the start of
Grace Gillard's interview in which she faces some pointed questions and clearly puts the record straight. A lofcwomen.com "Bravo" to all concerned.
Needham Market next up in the FA Cup
The next game in the Adobe Women's FA Cup will be the third (and final) qualifying round, the winners will go on to play in the first round 'proper'. Orient have been handed a home draw against Suffolk side Needham Market WFC, the game is scheduled for October 5th. Needham play in the Eastern Region Women's Football League, Divison 1 (south) which is a Tier Six league, Needham were relegated last season from the Eastern Region premier division. They are unbeaten this season having played 5, won 3 and drawn 2. Normally Cup games take precedence over league games so it's likely our league game against high-flying Sporting Duet in the GLWFL, booked for the same day, will be postponed. More details when we get them.
LIVE-TEXT review of the match
If you enjoy seeing a blow-by-blow account of how the game unfolded then our LIVE-TEXT Page will show you everything from pre-match chatter, through the game itself and on to the post-match round up - just as lofcwomen.com's travelling correspondent Larry Peterson called it on the day.
GLWFL and FA Cup results and fixtures
Here's the list of Sundays GLWFL Premier division and FA Cup results:-
| Lge | AFC Leyton | 2 : 4 | Islington Boro |
| Lge | Luton Tn | 3 : 6 | Comets |
| Lge | Sporting Duet | 5 : 0 | London Accies |
| Cup | Dussindale | 1 : 5 | Leyton Orient |
| Cup | Eastbourne | 4 : 1 | Tooting Bec |
| Cup | South London | 8 : 0 | Tunbridge Wells |
It's a pleasure to see the people at Islington Borough get 3 points at their away match at AFC Leyton. In view of the loss of most of their first team squad just a few weeks ago, the ILBFC's patched up side of former reserves and newbies have shown there is light at the end of the tunnel. A hat-trick from Romy Fernandez Reumann certainly helped the cause. Leyton will be disappointed at scoring no points in their first two games in the premier division.
Also pointless so far, after three games, are Luton Town's Development side. Shipping six goals against an always-strong Comet's side will make next Saturday's trip to Brisbane Road to face a rampant Orient team a somewhat daunting prospect. They let in five last week against the London Academicals. McKenna Doyle grabbed a brace for Comets as she often has against us in the past.
The "Accies" lost their short-lived unbeaten record by going down to early league leaders Sporting Duet. Duet again showing they get goals from all over the pitch, two came from Jessica Amory who came off the bench. They've played three and won all three, clearly the way to start your season. Duet have taken advantage whilst the other likely big hitters are occupied by playing in the FA cup. They'll certainly be full of confidence once those showdowns eventually come around.
In the FA Cup, Tooting Bec fell at the hands of Eastbourne Borough. That just leave ourselves and South London as the remaining representatives from the Greater London Premier League, the southern side hit eight past Tunbridge Wells to move onto the next round.
The latest table standings can be seen at the
FA's website . It's also always available via the grey option on our MENU page.
Get in touch
If you have an interest in and views about the women's team then please let us hear your thoughts and suggestions. You can contact us (anonymously if you prefer) via our contact form on our home page or just simply email us at lofcwomen@yahoo.com
We look forward to hearing from you.