CHELSEA PULL CLEAR IN THE PREM
The weekend of 10/11 October was a quiet one in the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL). Six games took place across the four O40 divisions, four fixtures were fulfilled in the Supervets’ competition.
Still, a number of the games that did take place prompted significant change across the various divisions. Chelsea Vets, for example, won a tight one against Croxley Green in the Prem, and that was enough to see them pull three points clear at the top. Croxley were 2-1 ahead at the break, but Chelsea fought back to end up 5-4 winners. Samba Gaye scored a hat-trick for Croxley, but it was Chelsea who took a hard-earned three points.
Most teams in Division One were enjoying a bit of R & R, but there were still two fixtures on the calendar. Bank England moved into the promotion places thanks to an impressive 5-2 win at the Racecourse Ground against Ascot United IIs. Farouk Ampou El Ela scored a hat-trick for the Bank, Danny Lessey-Edwards added a scorpion kick (yep, you read that right) and Catalin Popa finished the scoring off. Fair play, the Bank look to have re-grouped well following relegation, they’ll be somewhere near the promotion spots come April/May.
Two other sides that are likely to be in the promotion shake up are Ruislip Rangers and Army Crusaders. They met on 11 October. The Rangers dominated the ball, were well organised, played lots of excellent football……and lost! Jon Miller and Anthony Gailey scored for the Crusaders in the first half, Dan Walton sealed the deal with five minutes left.
Ruislip’s 3-2 defeat represented their first ever (!) in the league. One gets the feeling they’ll bounce back stronger as a result.
CROXLEY GREEN IIs LOOKING GOOD IN DIV 2
Croxley Green IIs had a good day in Division Two. They welcomed a struggling Civil Service side and came out 6-0 winners. That win sees them up to fourth, just three points off the top of the table.
Old Meadonians and Putney Vale Rangers were the key movers and shakers in Division Three. Meads moved up to third in the table following a 3-2 win against Molesey Lighthouse. Lighthouse slip to the bottom of the table, but they’ll be cheered by running Meads so close.
Putney Vale Rangers (PVR) seem to have got their season nicely up and running. They drew with Wimbledonians on 27 September and beat Hersham (3-1) on 11 October. Substitute Scott Gifford was on target for Hersham as they suffered their second reverse of the campaign.
SUPERVETS; STONEHOUSE SPRING A SURPRISE
There were goals galore across the four Supervets’ games on 11 October. Claygate led the way, putting double-figures passed Lyonians. Croxley’s over 50s responded by saying ‘hold my beer’ and doing much the same to Hampton Rangers. And that even though the score was only 2-1 at half-time.
The other two games were much closer. Jamrock hosted Cheam, and the visitors came out on top (winning 3-1). Stonehouse were also at home, they went toe-to-toe with Chelsea. And, in what was arguably the surprise result of the day, the hosts won 2-1. First half goals from Mike Clancy and Tom Willock got the job done.
LOOKING AHEAD
There’s pretty much a full array of fixtures on this coming weekend (17/18 October). Bank of England and the West London Rams lock horns in the County Cup, and there are three further fixtures in the Prem.
Ascot United will be looking to avenge their first-day-of-the-season defeat against the Whippets on Friday night, whilst Latimer Road continue their hunt for that elusive first win when they travel to Croxley. Kew Park Rangers and Claygate provide the entertainment in the division’s final game of the day.
RUISLIP TO GET BACK ON THE HORSE?
Top of the table Wandsworth aren’t in league action this weekend, and that leaves their chasers with an opportunity to haul them in.
Army Crusaders are best placed to do that. They travel to bottom of the table Polytechnic. Ascot United IIs could also theoretically end the day top of the tree. They are off to Nottsborough.
Finally, Ruislip will be looking to bounce back from last week’s reverse. They welcome West Kensington Kings to North-West London. Should be an interesting one.
TOP THREE IN ACTION IN DIV 2
It looks like it’ll be an interesting weekend in Division Two.
Top-of-the-table Woking Welcome will be looking to continue their impressive debut season in the league when they host Old Tiffinians. Tiffs have played four games and are still looking for their first win of the season. Still, two of those games ended in draws and the other two were defeats by one goal. They won’t be pushovers.
Claygate Hounds will be waiting for a Welcome slip up. They travel to Laleham. Clapham are in exactly the same boat; all three sides (Woking, Claygate and Clapham) sit on nine points. Clapham host a struggling Thames Ditton.
FULL HOUSE OF FIXTURES IN DIV 3
Division Three is nonetheless where most of the weekend’s action will be. There are 7 games scheduled to be played there.
No fewer than four sides currently sit on nine points and three of them are in action on Saturday (Southall Athletic are the exception). Old Thorntonians travel to Old Wimbledonians in what looks like the game of the day. Neither have lost yet and Wimbledonians (fifth) will leapfrog Thorntonians (top) if they win.
Old Salvatorians (played two and won two, currently sixth) will also be looking to make a statement. They host third placed Meadonians in what looks like it’ll be an intriguing encounter.
MMB are the final side in the top of the table bunfight. They visit 11th placed Merton. Away win on the coupon? You’d think so, but what with injury and availability challenges you never know.
At the bottom Lighthouse Molesey will be looking to take the handbrake off and get their season moving. They host Hersham. Bank of England’s second string will be thinking much the same; they welcome an in-form PVR to Roehampton.
The final two fixtures see Claygate Tertia play AFC Hampton, and Old Lyonians host Double H.
Go well one and all.