Teams from the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL) were involved in no fewer than six different competitions on 22 November. That’s even more eye-catching when it’s remembered that there were no league games at all in the Prem or indeed in Divisions One or Two.
Four WLVFL sides through to County Cup QFs
The WLVFL remains well represented in the AFA County Cup. Given that a number of WLVFL sides played each other in the last 16 there were inevitably going to be a few casualties along the way. But, four WLVFL sides are still standing; the awesome foursome are cup holders West London Rams, Kew Park Rangers (KPR), Ruislip Rangers and Old Thorntonians.
The Rams led the way with a 4-1 win at Clapham Old Xaverians. Habeeb Alli-Owe was on the scoresheet for Clapham, but that wasn’t enough to see the Rams off. Andrew Scarlett, Anthony Oakes and Barry Hayles (plus and own goal) helped ease WLR through. KPR will be joining them; they beat Nottsborough by the same (4-1) scoreline.
The other two WLVFL representatives are from Division One and Division Three respectively. Ruislip Rangers lead the way at the top of Div One and they carried that good form into the cup, winning 2-0 at Old Ignatians. Old Thorntonians played FC Ditton and cruised through, again, 4-1 was the score.
Chances of the semi-finals being a totally WLFVL affair? Let’s wait on the draw for the QFs before getting carried away with that idea.
Army Crusaders nearly spring a surprise
Alongside County Cup games there were also a number of contests in the League Cup. Both Jamrock and the Rams are already in the QFs, Claygate Royals’ Hares and Chelsea joined them on Saturday.
Wandsworth Borough held Chelsea for a fair portion of the game; they were just the one goal down at half-time. Tommy Williams’s side nonetheless kicked on in the second half and won 4-0.
The contest between Army Crusaders and Claygate Royals’ Hares was much tighter. Army have a good track record of surprising teams in higher divisions, and they very nearly added Claygate to their list of scalps.
Claygate managed to score four goals in the first half, although given that one was a bullet header of an own goalthey ended the first 45 3-1 up. That then became 4-1 and then 5-2. Claygate home and hosed? No. Steve King banged in two more to complete his hat-trick and Justice Abusah scrambled in an equaliser as time was running out. 5-5 it ended.
Off to penalties, then. And, it was Claygate who held their nerve, winning 4-3. A rip-roaring contest though, fair play to both sides.
More penalty action in the Vase
Claygate’s second string, the Hounds, were also in action. This time in the Vase. They eased through that and into the QF, winning 2-0 against Lyonians.
Old Wimbledonians’ Ramblers will be joining them. They travelled to Thames Ditton and despite the sides being locked at 1-1 at half-time, it was Wimbledonians that eased through eventually. Nathan Barnett scored two as they got home 4-2.
MMB have had a quietly impressive campaign so far and they, too, will be in the quarter-finals. They travelled to the ever rumbunctious Putney Vale Rangers and won 4-1. Dean Kimber and Andy Larch got goals in the first half, Sam Walker and Scott Stafford added two more in the second.
Southall Athletic came through against Molesey Lighthouse, just as Woking Welcome did against Old Tiffs. But, the Welcome were pushed all the way in a veritable mud bath in Molesey. Jon Darvill, Reece White and Michael Farrell helped Woking to take a 3-1 lead. Tiffs then came roaring back, so much so that with the clock ticking down they were 4-3 ahead. Cue a second for Darvill and a final score of 4-4. Penalties incoming.
The drama kept piling up, though. Gaffer Mike Hooper would ordinarily have been in nets, but a concussion injury saw Neil Bantel take over the mitts. With Tiffs blasting one over the bar, it was then left to Bantel to take the final kick. One presumes, a la Kevin Pressman back in the day, he hammered it home. Either way, Woking were through. Just.
Ascot’s Supervets man the barricades
There were also a number of league games played on 22 November. One of them came in Division Three where AFC Hampton beat Bank of England IIs. That win sees Hampton moved ahead of Double H and into 11th place.
Elsewhere, the Supervets had a full house of fixtures to entertain themselves with. The most eye-catching of them was contest between Claygate Strollers and the Ascot United Supervets. The two sides locked horns in last season’s cup final and much as Ascot were stronger in 2024-25, Claygate had already beaten the Yellas convincingly in 2025-26. A decent contest was on the menu.
Ascot started the game with their foot very much down on the gas (see here for a match report); Chris Ferdinand bagged two, Dave Thompson neatly finished off a decent move and Mike Tomlinson slotted home a penalty. With an hour gone Ascot were subsequently 4-0 up and cruising.
Then old men’s football did its thing. Centre half Dave Freer went lame, another player was forced depart the scene as he needed to be elsewhere. Ascot were left to play the last half hour with ten. That became nine-and-a-half when Jon Norris pulled his hamstring. He went up front and hopped about as best he could.
Claygate sensed their chance and came roaring back. With ten minutes left it was 4-3 and the kitchen sink was being well and truly hurled at the Ascot goal. But, the Yellas held on, Rob Stockford in nets playing a starring role. 4-3 it ended.
Things weren’t quite as dramatic over in Harrow. Lyoniansand Cheam shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Chelsea managed to claim three points at Hampton; they were 2-0 up at half time, and 4-1 winners by the end. Finally, the Whippets continued their decent form, winning 7-0 at Stonehouse.
Looking ahead
There’s plenty of action this coming weekend. Once again WLVFL sides are in action across six different competitions.
Kew Park Rangers take on the Whippets in what looks like it’ll be an intriguing League Cup encounter. The winners will make their way into the quarter-finals.
In the league, well, there’s Premier League action in that Latimer Road travel to Chelsea. No easy task. Indeed, if Chelsea get so much as a point out of this one then they’ll go top of the table.
There are three games scheduled to take place in Division One. Wandsworth Borough have the chance to go back top of the pile; they travel to eighth placed Jamrock.
If results go their way then Army Crusaders could also be top come 5pm on Saturday. They make the journey to Roehampton to face Bank of England. The final game of the day sees Poly on the hunt for their first win of the campaign; they host West Kensington Kings in Chiswick.
Much as in Div 1, there are three fixtures in Div 2. Claygate Royals’ Hounds aren’t in action, so that presents Woking Welcome with the chance to move three points clear. To do that they’ll need to get the better of relegation-threatened Thames Ditton.
Third placed Clapham Old Xaverians have the chance to make up ground. If they beat Old Tiffs then they will join Claygate Hounds (and Woking Welcome should they lose) on 12 points.
At the bottom, Civil Service will be desperately searching for their first three points of the campaign. They host mid-table Croxley 2s.
Five games in Division Three
Division Three is where most of the action is likely to be on Saturday. Five games are taking place there.
Old Wimbledonians and MMB are currently in the top two slots, and so they will be come close of play on Saturday. Neither play this week, but the four point gap both enjoy to third place Old Salvatorians means that they’ll stay where they are for now.
Hersham (fourth) are the highest placed side in action. They are off to a struggling Double H. Three points for Hersham and they’ll be just the one point off the top two.
Old Thorntonians will also be seeing Saturday as a chance to play a bit of catch up. They travel to 13th placed Merton. Lyonians are tucked in behind Thorntonians in 6th; they could be as high as third if results go their way at the weekend. They travel to Southall.
Elsewhere Lighthouse Molesey struggled last time out, but they’ll be hoping to get back on the horse against Claygate Tertia. Claygate have won two from seven so they may be an easier nut to crack than a rampant Lyonians were.
Finally, Meadonians and Hampton lock horns. A win for the former and they’ll be in the top half of the ladder, a win for the latter and they’ll be racing away from the table’s nether regions.
Cup action for the Supervets
With ten teams competing in the Supervets’ competition this season two preliminary round games are needed to leave eight sides left in the QF of the Cup.
With that in mind Jamrock travel to Hampton Rangers on Saturday, and Croxley travel to Ascot United. Two intriguing ties there.
Go well everyone!