14 February 2024
West London Vets’ League
Week 11 Review
Have you heard the one about the game where a side was awarded five penalties? No? Well, read on….
Penalty-mania at Croxley
In many ways, Week 11 in the top-flight went much as predicted. Five games were scheduled and none of the results ended up being coupon-busters. One thing, however, was anything other than predicted; the penalty deluge when Croxley Green welcomed Ascot United’s Vets’ Ones to Rickmansworth.
On the face of it, the game went to form. An improving Ascot United won 7-2. Ian Davies was very much at the centre of that, grabbing four goals – all of which were penalties.
Indeed, Davies could have made it five from my five, but with the second of the spotkicks being saved by the Croxley keeper he had to settle for just the four goals on the day. Has anyone ever heard of one side getting five penalties in a game before? Answers on a postcard please. Quite whether Croxley Green will be inviting the ref back again always remains very much to be seen.
Elsewhere, Chelsea remain top thanks to a 2-0 walkover-win against Bank of England, whilst the West London Rams remain hot on their heels in second. The Rams won 8-3 at Claygate Royals Hares, Andrew Hidlen notching four (non-penalties, we can assume) and the evergreen Barry Hales bagging a couple.
Kew Park Rangers also had a good day, they won 4-0 at home against Nottsborough. That win sees them jump above Croxley as they went three points clear of the relegation trapdoor. The Whippets will also be happy with their 4-1 win at Poly. That seems them nicely nestled in fourth place, three points ahead of the Bank in fifth.
Hersham go seven points clear in Div 1
There were just the two games in Division One, and both were close affairs.
Hersham Southside stretched their lead at the top to seven points, although that wasn’t before Civil Service gave them a bit of a scare. The ever-reliable Steve Reddings bagged a brace whist there must have been a blue moon about somewhere as Andy Nye also managed to get on the scoresheet.
To their credit, Civils pushed Southside all the way; Gary Hazel and Kevin Davis both scoring equalisers with Davis’s effort a lovely chip from outside the box.
Double H and Army Crusaders were involved in the other game in this division. They shared the spoils following a 2-2 draw. Double H twice took the lead but goals from Jimmy Blair and Ali Beard saw the Crusaders twice haul themselves level. The Army went all out for the next goal and indeed the three points, but to no avail.
The point isn’t a great deal of use to either side; they remain in third and fourth, but the gap to Wandsworth in second remains 6 and 8 points respectively. Plus, Wandsworth have a game in hand. It’ll take quite the implosion if either HershamSouthside or Wandsworth are going to miss out on promotion now.
As you were in Div 2
A full round of fixtures took place in Division Two although by close of play on Saturday it was still pretty much a case of ‘as you were’.
Jamrock cemented their place at the top of the table with a hard-fought win against Old Meadonians. On their day Meads are clearly a match for anyone, it’s just that they haven’t had quite enough of those days so far this season.
Meads certainly pushed Jamrock hard at the weekend. Jamrock surged into a two-goal lead, but Meads soon responded with Jordan Khalil and Noel Pollock scoring to see the game back all square. Jamrock then surged away again, and at 4-2 it looked like they’d secured the three points. Meads, however, came back admirably, as Khalil bagged his second and Huan Hguyen notched another to see the game finely balanced at 4-4. It was Jamrock who nonetheless got the all-important ninth goal of the game, and that sees them remain four points clear.
Latimer Road also won and they remain second. They beat Tiffinians 4-1, Nicholas Joseph and Kelvin Lindsey helpingthemselves to a couple of goals each. That win sees Latimer Road stay four points behind Jamrock, but they do have a game in hand. It’s also worth noting that the two still have to play each other twice this season, including on the very last day of the league campaign. Could be an interesting one!
Ascot United IIs also remain in the promotion hunt, they beat Old Lyonians 4-1 at the Racecourse on Friday night (see herefor a full report on that game). The Yellas remain three points behind Latimer, but given how the fixtures are panning out – namely that Jamrock and Latimer Road still have to play each other twice – Ascot United know that if they win all four of their remaining games they will indeed be promoted.
Doing that won’t be straightforward. Ascot travel to Jamrockon 24 February and they still have to play an up and down Putney Vale Rangers twice. PVR had one of their better days at the weekend, beating Bank of England 2s 6-3. Veto Perkins bagged four of those goals.
Things in Division Three, however, remain very much as you were. Why? As the one game that was planned was rained off.
Moving forward, it’s cup week and a host of interesting ties loom large. Ascot United against Chelsea arguably looks the pick of the crop, although Hersham Southside’s visit to Claygate will also be worth keeping an eye on. In the Vase Ruislip Rangers will be looking to spring a surprise at Putney Vale Rangers while the Chelsea Supervets welcome Old Meadonians. Another one that looks potentially intriguing.
Go well everyone.
