West London Vets League Weekly Review 23/3/23

#WeAreAscot.

23 March 2023

West London Vets’ League, Weekly Review

With the Ascot United Vets’ 2nd XI game against Hershamcalled off (on account of a dodgy pitch), it was the ones who flew the flag for the Yellas last week. For the second week running they locked horns with West London Rams and alsofor the second week running West London Rams came out on top. A full report of that encounter is here should anyone want to read more. 

Elsewhere, only five other games survived the deluge of rain that fell in the run up to Saturday. Three of those games were in Division Two with one each taking place in the top flightand Division Three.

Time for Poly to hit the panic button?

The other game in the Prem saw bottom of the table Polytechnic travel over to play Croxley. Four of Croxley’s last five games are going to be played at home and they’ll be hoping that that gives them an advantage as the season comes to its close.

It certainly did them no harm on Saturday. They won 3-0. That moves Croxley four points away from the relegation play off place and 6 points above the relegation trap door. 

Poly, meanwhile, look like they are in trouble. Five points from nine games tells its own story. If they want to be in the top flight in 2023-24 then they’ll need a change of fortune, and fast.

Double H hit the top

With Hillington Abbots’ game falling foul of the weather, Div2 has a new leader. Double H are now top dogs, if only on goal difference …. and having played five games more than Hillingdon have!

Double H made very light work of fellow promotion hopefuls, Old Lyonians. They won 6-0. That victory still leaves Lyonians in third but they’ll want to move on and shake that defeat off pronto.

The most intriguing game in Division Two came at the other end of the table. Old Tens and Lighthouse Molesey are both very much in the relegation mix and that remains so even after Saturday’s game. But Old Tens went away from it much the happier; they won 2-1. That puts both sides on 12 points and within striking distance of both Army Crusaders and Bank of England IIs.

The Bank, however, also had a good weekend. They won 4-1 against MMB, Ben Pierre, Joe Garner, Mike Rayner and Raul de la Feuntes bagging the goals. That win lifts BoE up to 5th, but they’ll know that safety isn’t quite assured yet.

Hampton shock Xavs

Finally, the one and only game in Division 3 produced what looks on the face of it like a surprising outcome. 

Bottom of the table AFC Hampton had played five and lost five on their travels in 2022-23. So their win at Clapham Old Xaverians definitely represented something of a coupon-buster. They came through 2-1.

Hampton’s win wasn’t enough to lift them off the bottom of the table, but they are now much closer to doing that than they were 7 days ago. They’re now just one point behind Claygate and three behind Old Tiffs’ 2nds.

Looking ahead

The weekend of 24/25 March is a Supervets’ weekend, but that’s not stopping a number of sides from catching up with missed fixtures.

There will be at least two games in the Prem, both of which will have an impact on the bottom of the table. Poly travel to BoE in what has ‘must win game’ written all over it for the visitors. The Bank could certainly do with the points, too…..

Elsewhere, Ascot United 1s hit the road. They travel to Nottsborough. Notts could lift them themselves to sixth if they win (and Poly beat the Bank), so they’ve every incentive to give this one a good go. Ascot, for their part, will move back into third place if they come out on top.

Catch up games in Divs 2 and 3

There are four games scheduled elsewhere. In Div 2 Hillingdon will be looking to re-take top spot when they host third placed Old Lyonians. Lyonians, of course, will be looking to get back on the horse following their demolition at Double H last week. Army Crusaders host BoE II in the division’s other game.

If results go their way Ascot United 2s could be all but promoted out of Division 3 on Saturday. They’d need to win over in Norbury against Clapham Old Xaverians and Latimer Road would need to lose against a revitalised Hampton. If those results come to pass then the Yellas would – barring a major statistical meltdown in terms of goal difference changes – be able to start planning for Div 2 in 2023-24.

Go well everyone!

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