30 October 2024
West London Vets’ League (WLVFL) Weekly Review
Goals and even more goals were the order of the day in the latest round of WLVFL fixtures. Vets’ football may be just a bit slower than that played by those who are a touch younger, but it’s every bit as well placed to provide entertainment. Great stuff.
New Leaders in the Prem
There were three games in the Prem, and the results of thosehave led to a new name taking over at the top.
With KPR postponing their game against Ascot United, that gave West London Rams the chance to leapfrog the Berkshire boys and take over the top slot. And, that they did, hammering eight past Croxley Green.
Chelsea remain two points behind the Rams, but for significant periods of their game against the Whippets it looked like the gap might end up bigger still. Nick Pring initially gave the Whippets the lead before Chelsea levelled just before the break. A penalty early in the second half then gave Chelsea the advantage, although the Whippets did all they could to try and wrestle a point out of the game. To no avail, 2-1 to Tommy Williams’s men it ended.
The final game in the division saw two sides meet that were both on the hunt for their first league win of the campaign;Claygate Royals Hares and Bank of England. Claygate will have ended much the happier; they won 4-1.
Claygate’s win sees them on the move up the table; they are now sixth (out of nine). Wandsworth have slipped to the bottom of the pile, although given that in their three games so far they’ve played three of the current top four they’ll be hoping that things soon pick up.
Actonians looking strong
Like the Prem, there were also three games in Division One. The big one there undoubtedly involved Latimer Road visiting Old Actonians. Both sides were unbeaten and both are strong promotion contenders.
Actonians will nonetheless have been much the happier come Saturday evening; they dished out a 5-0 hammering to their visitors. Given that Latimer have enjoyed back-to-back promotions that’s almost certainly the biggest defeat they’ve suffered in quite some team. Woe betide whoever comes across them next, one feels…..
Latimer’s setback saw them slip down to third. Army Crusaders are the side that have jumped over them into second. Poor old Acton Ealing Whistlers had to cry off late in the day, so that saw Army claim the points without a ball being kicked. They did, however, manage to play in a hastily arranged friendly against an Army Gurkha XI. Quite possibly the fittest two sides playing Vets’ football last weekend there in one game, then!
The final game in the division took place on Friday evening at the Racecourse Ground in Ascot. Civil Service haven’t had the greatest of starts but they were in stubborn mood and it took well over an hour for Ascot to break them down. That wasn’t before the hosts had missed a penalty and hit the woodwork twice, but there was still a real feeling that it might well not be Ascot’s day.
That changed without around twenty minutes left when full back Dan Hough managed to nudge Ascot in front. Jon Bennett then bagged a couple and even though Civils deservedly got on the scoresheet themselves that wasn’t enough to prevent Ascot taking the three points.
Ruislip on the charge
It’s looking like the promotion races in both the Prem and Division One will be close. It’s not looking that way in Division Two.
To be fair, Old Meadonians have played four and are on ten points, but it’s Ruislip Rangers that are really setting the pace. Their 5-0 hammering of Thames Ditton on Saturday saw the Rangers move to 15 points from five games played. They are indeed setting a hot pace.
Clapham Old Xaverians have, after a slow start, also begun to move through the gears. They won at Old Lyonians at the weekend and that saw them move into third.
Old Tiffs and Laleham came together to play out the third and final game in Div 2 at the weekend. Until then Tiffs had had something of a nightmare campaign. Things nonetheless look like they are improving; Tiffs came through 5-2.
That sees Laleham slip into the bottom two alongside Old Lyonians. No need for particular doom and gloom there though; there is still an awful long way to go yet.
Claygate 2s top Div 3
All eight of the Div 3 sides were in action on Saturday. That meant there were plenty of interesting fixtures on the agenda.
Double H against Claygate 2s was arguably top of that list. Claygate are perhaps this season’s surprise package. They’ve not really been anywhere near the promotion bunfight over the last two seasons. Well, they most certainly are now. They won 3-1 and that sees them a point clear at the top.
Bank of England remain second, although they’ll be disappointed that their 100 per cent record has now gone. Lighthouse Molesey gained their first points of the season in registering a 5-3 win in Roehampton.
Elsewhere, MMB are third although they, too, had something of a weekend to forget. Croxley Green’s 2s were winless before the weekend, but they raced out of the blocks and into a two goal lead against the Milkmen. Scott Stafford pulled one back for MMB, but Croxley were in sizzling form in front of goal. Dean Kimber did manage to bag another for MMB, but they were still very much on the wrong end of a 7-2 scoreline in Hertfordshire.
The final game of the day saw AFC Hampton travel to Putney Vale Rangers. Neither side had a point to their name at kick off. That’s now changed for Hampton at least; they came away 2-1 winners.
Looking ahead
Three of our sides are in cup action this coming weekend (2/3 November). Claygate Royals Hares host Poly in the League Cup whilst Acton Ealing Whistlers are in County Cup action. They welcome Brentwood Town Vets to North-West London.
Elsewhere there are four Supervets’ games on the calendar. Ascot United currently lead the way in terms of the SV league table. They’ll be looking to build on their impressive start when they travel to Old Lyonians.
Nottsborough and Chelsea are, however, just the two points behind the Yellas. They meet up this week; definitely a game to keep an eye on.
Cheam Sports and Claygate both have one win to their respective names this season so far. They meet on Saturday knowing that three more points will be a good stepping stone up towards the top three.
The final game of the weekend sees Stonehouse – as yet winless – entertain Croxley Green (one win from three). Stonehouse have struggled so far, but with the mercurial Andrei Stoclers in their ranks opponents should be careful not to underestimate them.
Go well everyone.