The first weekend in November saw plenty of action in the Prem and in Division Three, with rather less going on in Divisions One and Two. There were also games in both the County Cup and indeed the League Cup, plus one contest in the world of the Supervets. So, all in all plenty to keep the aging footballing community of West London entertained.
ACTONIANS CONTINUE TO CATCH THE EYE
In terms of the Prem, Actonians are developing into the story of the season. Newly promoted from Division One they are now played three, won three. Their latest triumph came against Ascot United’s 1st XI. Ascot may have dominated the ball, but Richard Frape managed to bundle home a last minutewinner for the Brunel University-based side. 4-3 to the hosts it ended up.
Ascot are in unfamiliar territory, struggling along in seventh place. Latimer Road are also down in the relegation zone; a 5-1 defeat against the West London Rams did little to help their cause. Wade McKay grabbed four for the Rams, Bashiru Alimi got the fifth.
It’s Chelsea who nonetheless sit top of the pile. They played Claygate Royals’ Hares in what sounds like a veritable ding, dong, doo of a game. John Small bagged a couple of goals for the Hares, Lewis Draper and Ahmed Hussain took the hosts’ tally up to four. Chelsea, however, put the ball in the onion bag six times to come out on top in a ten-goal thriller.
The final game in the top-flight was a little more sedate, Croxley Green and the Whippets sharing the spoils. Dean Cupit put Croxley ahead early in the second half, Logan Plant pulled one back with 20 minutes left. 1-1 it ended.
That leaves Chelsea three points clear at the top, but Actonians do have a game in hand. The Rams are also well placed in second.
RUISLIP HIT THE TOP OF DIV 1
Just the two games took place in Division One.
Ruislip Rangers travelled to Aldershot to play the Army Crusaders. The Rangers were no doubt keen to make amends for their defeat against the same opponents earlier in the season. And, that they did. Ruslip won 4-0. That puts them top of the pile and looking good.
West Kensington Kings will also be pleased with their weekend’s work. They hosted Jamrock and ran out 5-0 winners. That three points sees them move out of the relegation zone and up into fifth place. Jamrock remain eighth with one point from their four encounters thus far.
CLAYGATE WIN CLASH OF TITANS IN DIV TWO
Much as in Division One, there were two games in Division Two on 1 November.
Woking Welcome and Claygate Royals Hounds clashed in a high-octane top-of-the-table encounter. Both sides had a player see read whilst Woking’s Reece White missed a penalty in what sounds like it was a feisty affair.
Ultimately, it was Claygate who came out on top. Michael Farrell bagged for Welcome, but Claygate ended up 2-1 winners. That put the Hounds clear at the top, with Woking and indeed Clapham Old Xaverians three points back.
Clapham were involved in the weekend’s other encounter in this division. They travelled to a struggling Old Tiffs. Habeel Alli-Owe bagged four for the visitors, Ronald Ohene got a fifth as Clapham won 5-1. That leaves Old Tiffs still looking for their first win of the campaign, and that despite having played six games. Their time will no doubt come.
MMB ON THE CHARGE ON DIV 3
A Div 3 side (Old Salvatorians) met a Div 2 sides (Civil Service) in a League Cup game on Saturday. And, the Div 3 side came out very much on top; Salvatorians were 5-1 up at half time, eventually winning 8-1.
In terms of league action, there was plenty going on. MMB continue to look good. They sit top of the tree following a 4-1 win against Old Lyonians. Adam Cooper was very much at the centre of things there, he bagged a brace. Lyonians lost, but they still remain nicely in the chasing pack. They are sixth (out of 15) in the ladder.
Old Thorntonians also continue to look good. They sit third following a 4-1 win against mid-table Southall Athletic. Hersham Vets are also beginning to purr; Richard Connolly and David Risk got a couple of goals each as they eased to an 8-2 win against Merton. Darcy Yates and Chris Thornberry scored for the visitors.
Putney Vale Rangers had a stuttering start to the campaign, but things are clearly improving. They beat Meadonians 5-1. Irod Bramble was on the mark for Meads.
Double H notched a 2-1 away win at Lighthouse Molesey and, finally, Bank of England IIs and Claygate Tertia took a point each from a 3-3 draw in Roehampton. Matt Scanlon got two for Claygate, but it was Elliot Samano who scored the sixth and final goal of the game to bring the Bank level at 3-3.
LOOKING AHEAD
There was one game in the Supervets’ competition on Saturday. Chelsea beat Hampton Rangers to register their first three points of the campaign.
There are four more games planned for this coming weekend; in the Conference Old Lyonians host Claygate whilst Jamrocktravel to Ascot United. In the Alliance Hampton Rangers hit the road to play Whippet Wanderers, and Stonehouse visit Chelsea.
One League Cup qualifier takes place on Saturday; Premier Division Croxley Green travel to Div 1 Nottsborough. Nothing’s planned in any of the top three divisions of the over 40s competition, but seven encounters are on the agenda in Division Three.
Third placed Thorntonians versus top-of-the-table MMB looks like it’ll be the pick of the games, although Salvatorians (4th) at Lyonians (6th) also looks intriguing. At the bottom AFC Hampton will be looking to get up and running when they face Meadonians, just as the Bank’s second string continue their hunt for that elusive first win when they travel to Southall Athletic.
Go well, everyone!