There were 13 games across the four 40+ divisions of the West London Vets’ League over the weekend of 4/5 October, with goals flying in left right and centre. There were 25 alone in the three games in the Prem, although Division Three managed to beat that; the ball hit the back of the onion bag 27 times (again via three games) there.
Weak defences? Attacks on the march? Bit of both? Whatever it might be, it’s delivering some entertaining Vets’ football.
CHELSEA SLIP UP
Two of the three games in the top flight went with the form book, but the third one definitely did not. Chelsea Vets, perennial title chasers, made their seasonal league debuts and they only managed to win a point in their contest with Bank of England.
The irrepressible Farouk Ampou El Ela helped himself to a hat-trick for the Bank as both sides took it in terms to take the lead. Ultimately, it may well be Chelsea who were happier with the point, the hosts scoring the 10th and final goal of the game to bring the scores back level as time ticked away. 5-5 it ended.
Elsewhere both the West London Rams and Ascot United enjoyed home successes. Ben Standing bagged a brace for the Yellas as they beat Croxley Green 5-1, the Rams defeated a decent Claygate side 6-3.
League tables aren’t worth a great deal this early in the season, but Ascot United will still be pleased with how the Prem is currently looking. They are five points clear of Croxley (having played the same number of games). Mike Tomlinson’s side nonetheless travel to Chelsea next (19 October). Already looks like that could potentially be a big game.
ACTONIANS STILL TOP OF THE DIV 1 TREE
Division One currently has a bit of an odd look about it. Four teams have played three games, four have played two and Acton Ealing Whistlers haven’t played any at all. It’s going to take a little while before this division calms down.
Actonians are top, and that even though they are one of the sides that have played just twice. Army Crusaders are nonetheless level on points with them, and that follows a decent 3-2 win over Nottsborough on Saturday.
Lazlo Bircsak put the Crusaders a couple of goals to the good, before they managed to concede a fourth penalty in two games (!). Still, Crusaders’ ‘keeper Tony Banks saved that and when Danny Bishop put the Army 3-1 up it looked like it was job done. Not quite. Nottsborough rallied well and created plenty of chances. Indeed, they got it back to 3-2 but couldn’t grab that equalising goal.
Nottsborough stay fourth, largely as West Kensington Kings (fifth) lost at home to Ascot United’s second string. Leon Palmer-Wilson pinged a beauty in from the edge of the box whilst Chris Purdue tucked an inch perfect pass from Adam Abusweder inside the far post. The Kings had far more of the possession in the second half, but try as they might they couldn’t get the ball past Rob Stockford in nets.
The final game in the division saw Polytechnic gain their first three points of the campaign. They were 4-0 up after half an hour against a luckless Civil Service before Pete Hough and Rob Hodgson got a couple back for Civils. Poly were nonetheless still able to run out 5-2 winners.
RUISLIP ON THE RISE
Although it’s obviously early days in Div Two, the division already has something of a split feel to it. Four sides have started impressively and are moving away from the others, whilst the bottom four have – so far – only one win between them.
Newly-promoted Ruislip Rangers are certainly looking impressive. They made it three wins from three against Old Lyonians. Skipper Craig Beccan got the Lyonians’ goal.
Old Meadonians look to have bounced back impressivelyfrom last year’s relegation. They have also played three won three, and they are only in second on account of having a fractionally worse goal difference. Meadonians won 2-1 at Old Tiffs at the weekend.
Clapham Old Xaverians will have been pleased with Saturday’s events. They hadn’t picked up a point in 2024-25 before the weekend. That changed when they won 6-0 at bottom of the table Laleham FC. The final game in the division saw the first draw of the Div 2 campaign; Jamrocktravelled to Thames Ditton, the two sides sharing six goals between them.
MMB GET THERE IN THE END
Claygate Royals’ Hounds and Bank of England IIs have both got out of the blocks quickly in Division 3. The Hounds are currently top of the pile on goal difference. They beat Lighthouse Molesey 4-2 at the weekend.
Bank of England were involved in a decidedly epic game against Croxley Green’s second XI. They eventually edged a ding dong of an encounter 7-5.
The final game in the division was a local derby between MMB and AFC Hampton. MMB went into the game in positive mood having held Kew Park Rangers for 88 minutes of their county cup encounter the week before. Hampton, however, hadn’t read the script; they were 2-0 up after ten minutes and looking good.
Mark Brunton then pulled a goal back before Dan Biss scored an excellent free kick. Cue Hampton again not following the plan; they scored two more and at 4-2 it looked like they might be well on the way to springing something of a surprise.
Dean Kimber then scored a penalty for the milkmen, Mark Brunton added his second of the game before it all came down to a(nother) Dean Kimber penalty. He again made no mistake and MMB were home and hosed, 5-4.
LOOKING AHEAD
A number of WLVFL sides are in cup action on 12 October. League cup and indeed county cup ties are on the agenda
The Supervets’, meanwhile, return to league football. Ascot United – currently two wins from two – get the ball rolling on Friday 11 October when they host Stonehouse.
Second placed Chelsea hit the road. They travel to Croxley Green. Paul Gladstone’s Cheam Sports are also going to have some fun on the M25, they travel round to Old Lyonians.
The final game of the weekend sees third placed Claygate host fourth placed Nottsborough.
Go well everyone.