It’s been wet and windy, but that’s not stopped the hardy souls of the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL) from getting out and playing a fair bit of football. Good work one and all.
CLASH OF PREMIER TITANS POSTPONED
Over the last ten days there has been five games in the Prem, although in truth the results have had little impact on the top of the table. West London Rams (WLR) and Chelsea remain locked on fifteen points apiece. That was all set to change on 6 December…..until the first showdown of the seasonbetween the league’s top two sides was postponed until the new year.
The Whippets used that as an opportunity to close the gap on the both of them. They won a tight one at Croxley Green, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Dean Cupit got bothgoals for the hosts, Greg Leach, Shaun Lydon and substitute Juan Herbon were on target for the visitors.
Whippets are subsequently third, Actonians are two points behind them in fourth. Actonians had a horror of a day on 29 November, losing 7-1 at WLR. Wade McKay grabbed four there. However, they fared much better on 6 December, running out 5-2 winners at relegation-threatened Kew Park Rangers. Richard Frape, Liam McKinley and Lewis White were in the goals for Actonians.
Actonians’ win sees Claygate slip to fifth. They drew 2-2 with Latimer Road, Lewis Draper and John Small getting their goals. Fair play to Latimer though, that’s their first point in the Prem and they got it by recovering from two down. Respect due.
Actonians make it three games in three weeks this coming weekend. They travel to Ascot United. A win for Actonianswill see them go level on points with WLR and Chelsea. A win for the Yellas and they’ll move up a place and further away from the relegation trapdoor.
TOP TWO DRAW IN DIV ONE
The star attraction in Division One last week was the clash between the top two, Wandsworth Borough and Ruislip Rangers. Ultimately the spoils there were shared; the game ended 1-1. That left Ruislip top on 13 points while Wandsworth slipped to third (with 12 points).
Ascot United IIs were the side to jump in-between them. The Yellas hosted Jamrock Steppa at the Racecourse Ground and cantered to a 6-0 win. Dean Papali caused chaos down the left, James Niknejad led the line admirably, whilst messrsDando, Everest, Stephenson and Abusweder were strong in the middle of the park. The win sees Ascot move level on points with Ruislip.
The final game of the weekend saw Army Crusaders lock horns with West Kensington Kings (WKK). That game ended 2-2, Stephen King grabbing both Crusader goals, one being a delicate chip over the ‘keeper. The Army remain three places ahead of WKK although in truth it was very much the Army – beset by injuries – who were holding on for a point at the end. Indeed, the evergreen Andy Campbell came on for the last few minutes as all hands were well and truly on deck.
Both of those sides were also in action on 30 November. The Crusaders lost at Bank of England (4-2), WKK took home a point from their trip to Polytechnic.
Looking ahead, there’s just the one game in this division on 13 December. Ruislip will be looking to move clear at the top; they host 6th placed Nottsborough.
WOKING AND CLAYGATE STRETCH AWAY IN DIV 2
There was just the one game in Division 2 last weekend, although two took place on 30 November.
Both of the top two, Woking Welcome and Claygate’s second string, took advantage of the fact they were in action to increase their lead over the pack to six points. Xaveriansmight have games in hand, but Woking and Claygate have points in the bag.
On 6 December Claygate Hounds travelled to a struggling Civil Service and won 7-1. Civils remain rooted to the bottom. They’ll be hoping for a change in fortunes in 2026. Woking, meanwhile, played Thames Ditton on 30 November – they also won convincingly, 4-1. Jon Darvill, Neil Bantel, Michael Farrell and Ian Spearing were on target.
The other game on that day again involved Civil Service. They lost, but the result was a bit closer. Croxley won 4-2.
DIVISION THREE CONTINUES TO INTRIGUE
Old Wimbledonians are now three points clear at the top of Division Three, but you get the feeling that others are circling just below them.
Wimbledonians nonetheless got their job done on 6 December; they won 5-1 against Southall Athletic. David Taplin grabbed a first half hat-trick there. Poor old Southall didn’t fare much better the week before; they lost 7-0 against a rejuvenated Lyonians.
Further evidence of Lyonians’ decent form could be found on 6 December. Sure, they lost against Old Thorntonians, but they ran one of the division’s pace-setters very close. The game ended 3-2.
That win leaves Thorntonians third, behind MMB – a side that didn’t play on either weekend – on goal-difference. Salvatorians are now fourth. Indeed, they still have a 100 per cent record and games in hand to play. Gary Stanley scored a hat-trick as they won 7-1 at Molesey Lighthouse on 6 December.
Lighthouse had a much closer encounter the week before; they lost a thriller against Claygate Tertia by the odd goal in seven. Dean Brooke, Nimalan Ilankovan, Peter Jordan and Cornell Power scored for Tertia, Scott Labacik prowled about with intent in midfield. Claygate followed that win up with a 4-4 draw against Merton a week later. Matt Scanlan scored a hat-trick there, Alan Thick and Peter Obeng-Adu grabbed two apiece for Merton.
Looking ahead, Salvatorians could go second if they beat AFC Hampton at the weekend. For that to happen MMB would have to draw or lose against Hersham. If, however, MMB win – and win by six goals (!) – then they’ll go top. Long shot, but it’s possible….
The final game in this division sees bottom of the table Bank of England IIs host 12th placed Double H. First Bank win of the season incoming? We shall see….
SUPERVETS AGAIN PROVIDE ENTERTAINING FARE
The Supervets have also been very much in action. Ascot United won 5-2 at Jamrock Windrush, Chris Ferdinand bagging a brace. Midfield dynamo Mike Tomlinson and full back Dan Hough were also on the scoresheet as Ascot looked rather more like their old selves.
Claygate were also on the winning track, they beat Cheam 1-0 in a close one. Just the one goal separated Chelsea and Whippets, too; that ended 2-1 to the Blues. Finally, things were rather more straightforward for Croxley Green; Graham Cousins was man of the match as they easily beat Hampton.
There’s more SV action this coming weekend, too. Cheam play Jamrock in the Conference, Hamton lock horns with the Whippets and Chelsea host Croxley in the Alliance. Intriguing games one and all.