5 November 2024
West London Vets’ League
Weekly Review/Preview
Saturday 2 November was a ‘Supervets’’ week in the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL). Three games subsequently took place in the over 50s competition. Three of our over 40s’ sides were also in cup action, with games taking place both in the league cup and indeed the county cup.
Claygate Royals Hares were the victors in the one League Cup clash that was on the roster. They beat Division 1 side Poly 2-1. Sounds like a closer game than many pundits might have expected. Acton Ealing Whistlers’ interest in this year’s County Cup has, however, come to an end; they were on the wrong end of a bit of a thumping by Brentwood.
Yellamen leading the way in the Supervets
In terms of the Supervets, Ascot United further cemented their position at the top of the table. The Yellas are now played four and won four after they came out on top in a nine-goal thriller at Old Lyonians.
Ray Pillai put the hosts ahead mid-way through the first half, but a Chris Ferdinand goal blitz saw Ascot ease into the box seat. Mick Zammit fired home a penalty for Lyonians, but with Ferdinand bagging four Ascot nicely pocketed the three points. Mike Tomlinson and Dan Hough were also on the scoresheet for the Yellas.
Claygate Royals’ Strollers were also in action, and their 4-1 win against Cheam Sports sees them ease into second place. The table nonetheless has a really congested feel to it; half the sides in the league (!) are indeed on seven points. Croxley are one of those sides; they have played a game more than everyone else, but they are still very much in the hunt for the Champions’ League places. They beat Stonehouse 5-0 at the weekend.
Cup and league action incoming
Saturday 9 November looks like it’s going to be a very busy day. 15 games involving our sides are scheduled to be taking place.
For starters, there are four games in the County Cup. Division One high-flyers Actonians will be looking forward to taking on premier league Claygate Royals Hares, whilst top flightsides Wandsworth Borough and West London Rams lock horns. Chelsea Vets are also in County Cup action, they host the rather oddly named Parkfield Youth Old Boys in Chiswick. Nottsborough are also County Cupping; they hit the road to play West Wickham.
Just the one game in the Prem
Elsewhere there is just the one game in the Prem. And, it looks like it might be an interesting one. Ascot United travel to the Whippets knowing that a win will see them return to the top of the pile. Whippet Wanderers, meanwhile, know that if they gain three points they’ll be level with Chelsea in third.
There are three games in Division One. Latimer Road have the chance to jump from third to first. For that to happen they will have to gain three points from their game with Civil Service. Civil Service lost at Ascot last time out, but they showed enough in that game to move forward with a degree of confidence.
At the bottom Acton Ealing Whistlers will be looking to nail down their first points of the season. They travel to West Kensington Kings. The final game in the division sees Polytechnic host Ascot United 2s on the 3G at the Quinton Hogg Memorial Ground.
Top two clash in Div 2….
There is a full house of fixtures on the cards in Division Two. Ruislip Rangers, the runaway leaders, will be looking to continue their early season charge when they travel to second placed Old Meadonians. Neither side have yet tasted defeat in the league in 2024-25. You get the feeling something will have to give there.
First plays second whilst third plays fourth. That means that Jamrock are off to Clapham Old Xaverians. The perfect symmetry continues lower down with fifth-placed Thames Ditton travelling to sixth-placed Old Tiffinians. That means, obviously, that the bottom two – in seventh and eighth respectively – face off, too; Old Lyonians will be travelling to play Laleham FC.
…. and in Div 3
There will be three games in Division Three on Saturday.
Claygate Royals Hounds are top of the tree and they – following the pattern in Division Two – host second placed Bank of England IIs. Should be an intriguing one.
MMB are currently third. They are on the road; they are off to visit Double H. The final game in the division sees the bottom two face off; Lighthouse Molesey welcome an as yet winless Putney Vale Rangers.
Go well, everyone.