Woodford Green athletes pose for the camera after their Metropolitan League meeting last weekend at Horsenden Hill. Pic: Ken Bray

Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies look set to miss out on the men’s Met League title despite a good showing at Horsenden Hill last Saturday.

Woodford Green AC’s men’s team’s grip on the Metropolitan League appears to have loosened, despite a solid performance in the penultimate round at Horsenden Hill on Saturday.

Despite the absentees, Alex Cornwell, Ed Shepherd and Daniel Bruynooghe, Woodford threw everything they could at the race.

Highgate Harriers held the lead going into the meeting and despite strong packing down the order, Highgate had come well prepared for the Woodford challenge.

Peter Matthews, making his cross-country debut for the club, finished strongly for 13th, five seconds ahead of Andy Mariani.

Highgate’s six men then closed before a rush of Woodford men, four within nine seconds.

Tom Beedell (26th) got the better of Matt Shone (27th), Angus Holford (28th) and Bertie Powell (29th).

As a man who doesn’t enjoy the mud, Matt Shone was probably most pleased with his run, though all four were solid.

Jordan Donnelly (32nd) came in 20 seconds behind that group, just ahead of Kevin Murphy (35th) and Harold Wyber (36th). Darren Southcott had a tough time, finishing 43rd.

Woodford’s A team was rounded off by two excellent runs from Louis Clark (45) and Tony Russell (57). Both missed out on last week’s Essex-winning team, but this provided very acceptable consolation.

The club’s performance was very good, but it was no match for a Highgate squad closing 12 in 38 and 16 in 49.

Woodford have 13 Met League titles to the club’s credit, but never has it done better than close 12 in 44, which shows the level of Highgate’s achievement.

While trailing in their wake, Woodford are over 800 points ahead of third-placed Serpentine with one race left.

Team manager Terry McCarthy was satisfied that his club had given it everything.

“Today we were beaten by a very special performance,” he said. “It looks like the title is heading Highgate’s way and, if so, they will have earned it. But I was more than pleased with our effort today, and proud of my men.”

And it is all to play for in the women’s league, as despite still sitting in third, Woodford are 103 points behind leaders Serpentine.

It was a strong performance where the 10 Woodford girls all produced good performances

After a customary fast start, led out by Sidnie Sales, the Woodford girls packed well together.

First home and third Vet overall was V35 Kat Gundersen (11th), with her best league performance this season.

Twelve seconds behind Gundersen was first V45 Linda Jackson (12th) who equalled her performance from Alexandra Palace in the previous round.

On her heels only two seconds behind was Rachel Lund (13th), who also made the vestibule of the top 10 as she climbs steadily in this league.

Dani Nimmock in 14th made it four green and whites in a row across the line, while Lauren Stewart was two places further back in 16th. Sales, 25 seconds behind Stewart, closed the team in a respectable 26th, giving the girls their best performance this season, putting them back into third place in the league and not yet out of contention.

Sales picked up the £55 prize for being the first under-20 home.