Romford Over-60s Walking Football Club produced an impressive display as they began their defence of the Essex Walking Football League Cup title, having lifted the trophy last season.
The side of Neil Clements, Sean Mallett, Dave Snook, Mick Harris, Paul Browne, Dave King and Peter Henley dominated throughout the group stage, opening with a 1-0 win over Beacon Hill courtesy of a Henley strike.
Henley proved decisive again in the next match, netting the only goal in another 1-0 victory against Billericay.
Goalless draws followed against Chelmsford City and Harlow Town Pirates, before Romford rounded off the day in style with a 2-0 win over Stones Athletic.
Henley grabbed his third goal of the campaign while Dave King added the second, sealing top spot in the group and a place on finals day.
The Over-65s, featuring Paul Poole, Paul Downes (captain), Sean Mallett, Bob Driscoll, Mick Tillet, Liam Flanagan, Tom Lemon and Charlie Waters, marked their debut in the Walking Football Association National Cup with a dramatic 4-3 victory over local rivals Leyton Orient at Romford Powerleague.
Both sides enjoyed spells of possession, but Romford struck first when Downes finished well following a flowing move.
The contest took a controversial turn when a challenge resulted in a straight red card, with the referee deeming it to have denied a goalscoring opportunity, although the subsequent penalty was ruled out after the taker took too many steps.
Orient eventually equalised and Romford were further reduced by a blue card, forcing them to play short-handed.
Despite this, they regained the lead before the break through a superb long-range effort from Tillet.
Leading 2-1 at half-time, Romford were pegged back early in the second half after gifting Orient an equaliser.
However, they responded strongly, with Flanagan adding a third before Downes struck again to make it 4-2.
Orient pulled one back late on, but Romford held firm to book a third-round tie against Aylesbury.
The Over-65s also competed in the Essex Walking Football League Cup, enduring a challenging campaign.
The team, this time made up of Neil Clements, Tom Lemon, Ray Sapsford, Paul Poole, Sean Mallett, Charlie Waters and Mick Howard, began with a goalless draw against Beacon Hill Rovers despite seeing them dominate but failing to convert chances after striking the woodwork and losing a key player to injury.
A 2-0 defeat to Concord Rangers followed, despite Clements saving a penalty earlier in the match.
Romford then drew 1-1 with Leyton Orient after falling behind, Poole levelling, before another 1-1 draw with Chelmsford City in a must-win game ended their hopes of progressing.
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