West London Vets’ League Round Up
14 December 2022
Cold weather, dodgy availability and very possibly the prospect of an England World Cup Quarter-Final came together to decimate the West London Vets’ League programme on 9/10 December.
Four games nonetheless did take place. None of them involved either of the Ascot United sides; the ones were awarded all three points thanks to a walkover against Nottsborough whilst the twos will be playing HershamSouthside at some point in the new year. Both Ascot teams will nonetheless be up and running again on the weekend of 16/17 December. More on that below….
Kitz step up
In terms of the games that did take place, Sporting Kitz were the big movers in the Prem. They travelled to Kew Park Rangers (KPR) and came home with three points in the bag. They won 5-0.
The win moves Kitz up two places (from 6th to 4th). Slow though their start to the season has been, you can’t help but feel that they still might have a role to play in where the title goes.
KPR, on the other hand, are struggling a bit with availability. When they get everyone on the pitch they can compete with most. But on days like Saturday life must feel like a bit of a slog. Even then, they have still won two from five and are three points clear of the relegation zone.
Just don’t mention Ronaldo….
Only one game took place in Division 1 and a rapidly improving Civil Service won it. They defeated Old Actonians3-0.
Last week’s hat-trick hero, Jimmy Benn, was again in the goals, bagging two this time round. Antonio Soares added the third before being substituted on the hour so that he coulddepart and watch Portugal play in their WC QF. It’s probably not tough to work out which part of Soares’s day he enjoyed more.
The win means that Civil Service have won three (all at home) and lost three (all away). They are now up into fifth, just the two points off Whippet Wanderers in second and one point off Actonians in third. Div 1 is definitely getting tighter.
Double H on the move
Double H and MMB played out the only game in Division 2. The hosts came out on top, narrowly winning 3-2.
MMB are probably looking back on what might have been. Ollie Whiteford got both goals and the visitors had more than enough chances to extend their lead when they were 2-1 up. But, it wasn’t meant to be. The defeat leaves MMB in the relegation zone, two points away from Tenisonians in 7th.
The win sees Double H move up into second place, level on points (but with a one goal better goal difference) with Old Lyonians.
Goalless in Clapham
It’s not often you get goalless draws in Vets’ football, but Clapham Old Xaverians and Latimer Road Vets served one up last week.
The two sides had met the week before with Clapham edging things. Latimer had the better of the game this time round, although in truth both sides cancelled each other out a bit. Still, it could have been different … a penalty was missed in what was to become something of a theme of the day (think later events in Doha).
Moving Forward
A full weekend of fixtures (theoretically) beckons on 16/17 December. Ascot United’s first XI start things off, welcoming Polytechnic to the Racecourse Ground on Friday 16th. Elsewhere in the top flight, leaders Chelsea Vets welcome KPR, West London Rams host Croxley and Kitz are once again on their travels. This time to the green, green grass of Bank of England.
The standout fixture in Division One sees top of the table Claygate Royals’ Hares travel to second place Whippet Wanderers. Could be very interesting. Wandsworth Borough will be looking to make good on any slip ups made there when they visit bottom of the table Old Tiffs. Jamrock Steppahost Laleham & Kempton in a key game at the bottom whilst West Kensington Kings finish things off with a trip to Civil Service.
It’s at the other end of the table where Division 2 looks most interesting; bottom of the table Old Meadonians travel to MMB. The sides immediately above them (Old Tenisoniansand Bank of England IIs) also meet, whilst at the other end of the table Hillingdon Abbots will be looking to extend their lead when they host Molesey Lighthouse. Old Lyonians and Army Crusaders contest the fourth fixture in this division.
In Division Three top of the table Hersham Southside are off to Claygate Royals’ Hounds whilst second placed Ascot United IIs travel to Sunbury to play AFC Hampton. Clapham Old Xaverians make the long trek over to third placed Croxley whilst Latimer Road Vets host Old Tiffs IIs.
Go well one and all.
