Leyton Orient missed out on the chance to make it a league and cup double at the weekend, losing in the FA Trophy final to Fylde at Wembley.
Having secured their Football League status and lifted the title at the same time, the FA Trophy may have been down their list of priorities, but it still stings to lose a Wembley final.
22-year-old Marvin Ekpiteta took to Twitter yesterday to thank the Orient supporters and lament the defeat, despite the otherwise excellent season. 18 months ago he was playing for East Thurrock in the National League South, having also plied his trade with Chelmsford and Concord Rangers.
This season the towering centre back turned in 40 appearances for Orient and will start his Football League career in August at Brisbane Road.
“Not the result we wanted on the weekend but always been a dream to play at Wembley in front of my friends and family,” he tweeted.
“Been a great season personally and as a team, thank you to the fans for all their support throughout.”
That’s a message which has resonated with the supporters too. Not long ago Orient were challenging for a place in the Championship, but they suffered a humiliating collapse and stint out of the league.
Now, with committed and honest professionals like Ekpiteta, they’re on their way back and these fans are grateful for that.
https://twitter.com/timmymarler/status/1130919801222828032
https://twitter.com/lissimore_ian/status/1130918263125422080
https://twitter.com/AJEvoE17/status/1130956191209799680
https://twitter.com/shmishmorshon/status/1130933386992934912
https://twitter.com/OnlyOneTeam/status/1130919760642871296
https://twitter.com/LHangles/status/1131203957605490689
https://twitter.com/_TimMiller/status/1130949544479526914
Winning the National League was a superb achievement & well deserved, to ALL concerned at the Orient! The FA Trophy would have been a great bonus. However,it was just that: A bonus & nothing more! Well done Marv & the rest if the squad,…and we still had a Wonderful Day Out.