West London Vets’ League Round Up
22 November 2022
Goals galore in the WLVFL
Most of the clubs in the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL) were scheduled to return to league action on the weekend of 18/19 November. But, there was also a bit of AFA Cup business that needed sorting, and that meant that ultimately only nine league games took place; two in the top flight, one in division one and three each in both divisions two and three.
Ascot United Ones and Sporting Kitz serve up a classic
Ascot United’s Vets’ 1st XI were involved in what always looked like it was going to be the game of the weekend. They entertained Sporting Kitz at the Racecourse on Friday night.
It’s not always the case that games live up to their billing. On this occasion no one need have worried. Kitz came to play and were positive from the off. With 20 minutes or so on the clock it was Ascot who nonetheless suddenly clicked; the hosts scored four goals within the space of ten minutes. Ben Standing and Adam Moroney were very much at the centre of Ascot’s good work there.
Most sides would be down and out at 4-0. Not Kitz. They pulled one back on the cusp of half-time and by the time the game was moving in to the 90th minute the score was back to 4-3. Kitz thought they’d snatched a point when they equalised with regulation time basically up.
The drama, however, wasn’t over. Seven minutes were added on and that enabled Ben Standing and Stuart Tanfield to grab a goal apiece for the Yellamen. Indeed, Tanfield could, and quite possibly should, have made it 7-4 with the last kick of the game. Breathless stuff, but in the end three hard earned points for Ascot.
The only other game in the division took place between second placed Chelsea Vets and Bank of England. Ultimately, Chelsea ran out 7-1 winners, although the Bank’s Richie Taylor scored a scorcher of a long-range consolation effort for the hosts.
The win means that Chelsea move two points clear of Croxley at the top whilst Ascot ease three points clear of West London Rams in third. Kitz are fifth, although they have games in hand on most of the sides above them.
The Whippets are in the groove
Four games were originally scheduled for Division One, but only one of them ultimately took place; West Kensington Kings visited last week’s cup giantkillers, Whippet Wanderers.
The Wanderers came out on top, winning by an impressive 5-1 margin. Shaun Lydon got things up and running four minutes in thanks to a deflected free-kick. WKK quickly responded via a long range bobbler of an effort ten minutes in. 1-1. Lydon then bagged a second for the Whippets from a(nother) free kick before Dan Hannah added a third just before half-time.
The Whippets held things steady from then on in, although Jamie Grainger-Smith and Mark Fletcher added two more as the clock ran down. The win only lifts Wanderers up the one place (from 5th to 4th), but it does nonetheless mean they arenow just two points behind leaders Old Actonians. So, that’d be five sides now within two points of each other at the top of the tree.
The Abbots take the strain
One of the key take-homes from the action in Division Two is that Hillingdon Abbots’ perfect record is now no more. They drew 2-2 in a lively encounter at MMB.
The Abbots had to survive three of their players being put in the sin-bin, and at one time they found themselves battling along with just 9 on the field. MMB, winless in the league so far this campaign, were twice in front, and given that Ashraf Sakri managed to hit both the post (twice) and the bar it did look like it wasn’t going to be Hillingdon’s day.
Darren Chute and then Paul Skuse – via a 90th minute penalty – did eventually manage to get Hillingdon back on level on terms. They couldn’t nab all three points, but that does still mean that their unbeaten record remains intact.
The other two games in this division were a little more one-sided. Old Lyonians remain in second place. They came through 3-0 against Molesey Lighthouse. Double H are now up to third following a 9-2 mauling of Bank of England IIs (who slip to fourth). The Bank were miles off the pace in the first 45 minutes, but Dan Devlin and Joe Garner were on the mark for them in what was a much improved second half showing.
Hersham Southside march on
Division Three was an away teams’ paradise at the weekend. Three games, three away wins and a goal difference of 2-15!
Most folks would have expected top of the table HershamSouthside to come through against bottom of the table AFC Hampton. And that they did, 7-0.
Hampton, however, certainly didn’t make things easy for their unbeaten visitors. With 25 minutes left Hersham were just the one goal to the good. The ever-reliable goal machine, Steve Reddings, nonetheless ended up with five whilst Ash Martin and Gene Shafique, the 57 year old warhorse, added the other two between them.
Ascot United 2s are doing their best to keep on Hersham’scoattails. They went 1-0 down at Old Tiffs’ 2nds, but a brace from Dave Thompson plus further goals from Jon Gavin, Paul Woodford, the indomitable Ed Du Bois and Andy Gleave(dubious goals panel verdict notwithstanding) saw them safely home.
The final game of the day took place over at Croxley. Latimer Road Vets travelled and they won 2-0. That win sees Latimer move up to third, three points behind second placed Ascot United IIs.
Looking ahead
There are no scheduled league games on 25/26 November, and that gives the Supervets the chance to get into the action.
Croxley Green welcome Old Lyonians whilst Old Tenisonianstravel to Chelsea Vets. The third and final Supervets game of the day sees Nottsborough welcome Double H.
Go well everyone.
