Boro vets suffered a second consecutive defeat to continue a difficult start to life in Div 1 of the West London Vets League, but positives could be taken from an improved performance in a narrow defeat to likely promotion contenders, West London Rams.

Rams included ex-Premier League stalwarts Jody Morris and Jamie Lawrence in a strong side full of ex-pros and semi-pros but were matched well in the early stages by a committed Boro performance. Plumtree in goal, produced the highlight of the early stages with a spectacular diving stop from a full-blooded volley following a Rams corner. McNally had the best early sight of goal for the Boro but couldn’t trouble the Rams keeper with a couple of long-range efforts.

The visitors took the lead on 25 minutes, Boro perhaps guilty of overplaying at the back but the Rams still had plenty to do when they nicked the ball back and their ex-Dulwich Hamlets forward obliged in style with a dipping drive from 25 yards. The returning Rivers did trouble the keeper after a 1-2 with Renwick and was also controversially flagged offside when well positioned, but the equaliser eluded the Boro. HT 0-1

The start of the second half was a thrilling affair for the neutral. Rams pinned the Boro back forcing half a dozen corners in quick succession. Boro threw themselves at every block, header and clearance as the ball pinged around their 18-yard box. After Boro finally escaped with no further damage to the scoreline, they forced a series of corners themselves and were unlucky not to force a leveller. Renwick headed a Hogan cross on target but couldn’t generate sufficient power to trouble the Rams keeper and arguably Boro’s best chance was gone.

Shortly afterwards, Lawrence went down under a heavy challenge from McNally and the referee pointed to the spot. Plumtree went the right way but missed out on potential bragging rights as Morris’s penalty found the corner to make it 2-0.

Midfielder Morris has encountered many things in a long career but even he has possibly not encountered a character quite like Jamie McNally. After McNally went down claiming a foul for the 10th time of the afternoon, the ex-Chelsea man allegedly aimed an off the ball kick at the Boro midfield lump. The referee waved away McNally’s claims. Given McNally’s surprise when he found out in the bar afterwards that he had given away the decisive penalty, his evidence may not have been considered totally reliable.

There was late drama as Pytlos appeared to be elbowed in the face by ex-Sunderland (to be expected I suppose) winger Lawrence but the referee missed that one too.

Full Time: WBFCV 0 WLR 2

MOTM: R Plumtree, 10 votes, D Stone 2 votes, M Harris 1 vote