Division Two is done and dusted, but there are still fixtures to be played in all four of the other divisions in the West London Vets’ League. This coming Saturday is subsequently judgement day for many.
As you were in the Prem
There were four games in the Prem last week, and two of them involved title chasers Chelsea and West London Rams (WLR). Both won convincingly – the Rams beat Bank of England at a canter, Chelsea eased past Kew Park Rangers – and that means it’s very much as you were.
If the Rams win their last two games, they will be champions; the first of those takes place on Saturday when they host KPR. Chelsea travel to the Bank for their last contest of the league season; no doubt they’ll be keeping fingers crossed that KPR do them a big favour.
KPR sit seventh, but their status as a premier division side is now secured. They are five points ahead of Wandsworth and the Borough have finished their fixtures. Croxley are also done; they lost 5-2 at the Whippets last week. The Whippets, Croxley and Claygate will all finish comfortably mid-table.
Plenty to be settled in Div 1
There is still plenty of life in both the promotion and relegation races in Division One.
At the top, Latimer Road lost 3-2 in a decidedly epic encounter at Ascot United on 25 April (see here for the full lowdown on that), but they still remain four points clear of Army Crusaders. Why? As the Crusaders travelled to champions Actonians and came out on the wrong side of a 1-0 defeat.
Assuming Army Crusaders take three points from their game against WKK, then promotion will all come down to the game between Army and Latimer on 10 May. Could be a classic. In that scenario, Latimer would go up if the game were to end ina draw.
Down at the bottom, Acton Ealing Whistlers seem to have suddenly sparked into life. After a pretty dismal first six months, they’ve now started picking up points. Their latest triumph came against Polytechnic; they won 5-2. That puts them five points behind Nottsborough (who have completed their fixtures) with three games left. Given the state of theWhistlers’ goal difference, they need two wins to stay up. They travel to WKK on 3 May hoping to secure one of them, and they play Ascot United IIs on 9 May. They also have a(nother) game against Poly to arrange. Could be an intriguing set of contests.
The dust settles in Div 2
The Div 2 campaign, meanwhile, is officially done and dusted.
Old Tiffs beat Clapham 2-1 on 26 April and that sees the sides swap places (with Old Tiffs finishing fourth and Clapham fifth). Thames Ditton end third, and that despite losing to champions Ruislip Rangers.
Jamtock will be joining Ruislip in going up, Lyonians and Meadonians drop down to Division Three.
PVR on the rise in Div 3
There are two games left to play in Division Three, although all the matters of state have long since been decided.
PVR will play Hampton knowing that a win may well see them finish fourth. Not bad after the slow start they had. They won 3-2 at the Bank’s 2nd XI last week.
Double H are the other side in the hunt for fourth. They finish against second place Croxley 2s (who are already promoted). Croxley drew 0-0 last week with 6th placed Lighthouse Molesey.
At the top, Claygate 2s have completed their fixtures and they’ll finish as champions. 12 wins, one draw and just the one defeat represents a good season’s work.
Claygate or Croxley for second in the SVs?
Three games are left in the world of the Supervets, although none of them involve champions Ascot United. They’ve finished with a perfect record of 42 points from 14 games.
Elsewhere, Claygate won 2-1 at Cheam last week and that sees them stay in second place. They could, however, end up third if Croxley can wrestle three points off Chelsea on 3 May.
Chelsea then go to Nottsborough on 7 May. It’ll be the final outing for both sides, with Nottsborough welcoming Cheam on 3 May the third and final game on the agenda.
Following that, it’ll be cup final weekend! All three finals are taking place at Ashford Town on their brand spanking new 3G. The details of the games are as follows.
Saturday 10 May
11am, Supervets’ Trophy Final, Ascot United Supervets v Claygate Royals Supervets
1pm, League Vase Final, Clapham Old Xaverians v Croxley Green 2nds
3pm, League Cup Final, Ascot United v Chelsea Vets
Go well, everyone.