LEYTON ORIENT were yesterday drawn against Ipswich in the first round of the FA Cup, after thrashing Billericay Town 7-0. 

After clinching promotion to the Women’s Premier League at the ground with an 8-0 win at the end of last season, it was another emphatic Brisbane Road scoreline for the Os who lead the table seven matches in to their first season in the WPL.

As top goalscorer Sophie le Marchand explained: “We’ve had a brilliant start. I think it took us a little bit of time to adjust to the new pace and strength of the league.

“Now we’ve hit our stride again and playing the football we played last season, which was sticking to our game, passing the ball around. We’re a really attacking team, sticking to those traits and it’s really coming off now.”

Le Marchand opened the scoring on Sunday with a header which was quickly doubled by Chloe McNee. “Getting the early goal settles the nerves and allows us to play the kind of football we want to play,” Le Marchand added.

Injury-hit Billericay Town came back into the game thereafter and threatened a comeback but Le Marchand scored a crucial third goal before half-time and added two more in the second as Orient ran riot. Right back Vanessa Wilson scored against her old club before midfielder Egle Trezzi completed the rout from another corner.

Although neither scored, the victory was made possible by the unselfish support work of Hayley Barton and Belen Ripoll who assisted six of the seven goals. 

Le Marchand, whose four goals took her to 10 for the season, agreed. “It makes it easy for me when people like Hayley and Belen just put it on a plate basically.” 

New Swedish signing Lisa Holmback also impressed in central midfield spreading the play at every opportunity in an assured display. “It’s a very easy club to get into,” she said. “Everyone is very friendly. It’s a lot of fun to play with such good players.”

Orient play their home games at Mile End Stadium on Sundays at 2pm.