The former O’s midfielder wasn’t given a chance by old boss Steve Davis despite poor form and selection problems in the centre of midfield

East London Advertiser: Freddy Moncur in action for Leyton Orient at Newport County last season (pic: Simon O'Connor).Freddy Moncur in action for Leyton Orient at Newport County last season (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: 07958 573219 simon.oconnor@virgin.net)

Freddy Moncur is grateful to be playing regular football at Wingate & Finchley after a lack of chances at Leyton Orient.

The 21-year-old ended his five-year stay at Brisbane Road last month after exiting the O’s by mutual consent.

Moncur, who made his senior Orient debut in September 2015, found minutes hard to come by after progressing through the academy.

He finally got some game time towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign, but mainly off the bench and in unfortunate circumstances with O’s in a relegation battle and players and staff not being paid for a large amount of time in April.

Initially Moncur left Orient at the end of the season, but once the takeover was completed he was offered a new deal and rejoined.

Chances under Steve Davis failed to follow though and eventually the midfielder bid farewell to E10 on February 9 after an honest conversation with current head coach Justin Edinburgh.

Moncur has since joined Bostik Premier outfit Wingate permanently and doesn’t want the campaign to end now!

He said: “Obviously I’ve had a tough year, it is probably been my toughest in football so far, but they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I feel my character is a lot stronger because of what has happened at Orient.

“To finally get playing regularly now with Wingate is great and I don’t want the season to end to be honest.”

The one-time West Ham United youth had plenty of offers upon leaving O’s, but made the decision to link up with Keith Rowland again.

Blues boss Rowland first had Moncur on loan during the 2015/16 season before he went back there for a couple of months in September and October 2016.

This is now his third spell with the north Londoners and he has enjoyed getting some much-needed minutes under his belt.

Moncur: “I feel good and feel I’m improving with every game and my fitness is getting to where it needs to be.

“Obviously I’ve played Saturday (2-1 home win over Tonbridge Angels) and then on Monday (3-1 home defeat to Billericay Town), so there is not a lot of recovery, but I felt sharp out there.

“I feel like I’m getting better with every game I play, but I do want to keep improving and keep kicking on now.”

Monday’s home match with Billericay was always set to be tough with the visitors’ favourites to win the title.

For half an hour, there was little between the two teams and if anything, Wingate were the side who looked more likely to score.

Moncur, alongside Ahmet Rifat and Tommy Tejan-Sie, was more than holding his own against the likes of Jamie O’Hara, Sam Deering and Daniel Waldren.

Billericay took the lead through Waldren in the 34th minute though and a penalty from Billy Bricknell and a 20-yarder from Jake Robinson put them in control.

Irnti Rapai pulled one back for Wingate, but Town ran out deserved winners in front of 240 spectators.

“I thought in the first half there weren’t a lot in it at all. They scored a deflected goal, but second half we’ve come out and the penalty killed us,” said Moncur.

“We were chasing it afterwards, but I didn’t think there was a massive difference between the teams and I think 3-1 flattered them a touch.”