Christmas and New Year are now firmly in the rear-view mirror as sides in the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL) get back into the footballing groove.
CHELSEA START 2026 BRIGHTLY
In terms of the Premier League there have been four league games since the turn of the year. Chelsea are the side that have made most progress, playing twice and winning twice; they cruised past Kew Park Rangers (4-1) but were run much closer by Ascot United. That game ended 4-3; Ian Davies, midfield dynamo Tony Everest and Les Sykes were on target for the Yellas.
Chelsea’s nearest rivals, the West London Rams (WLR), are now six points back, but they do have a game in hand. The Rams travelled to Actonians on 3 Jan and came home 4-1 winners. Richard Frape had put Actonians into the lead, but Warren Coborne, Charley Baverstock, Paul Jones and most intriguingly Dean Jones were replied for WLR.
The fourth game thus far in 2026 saw Claygate win a tight one at the Whippets. Goals from Logan Plant and Neil Robinson weren’t quite enough for the hosts, as Claygate eased above them on goal difference.
One premier division side – Ascot United – was also in League Cup action. The met Division One pacesetters Ruislip Rangers. Ascot have had a bumpy season so far, but they have certainly hit the ground running in knockout football.
Les Sykes scored after ten seconds, and the roving number ten added three more before the afternoon was over. Ian Davies matched that, bagging four himself, whilst Adam Moroney and Sam McIntrye each notched a brace. All that translated into a 12-2 win for Mike Tomlinson’s side.
NOTTS EASE INTO PROMOTION SLOTS
Division One, meanwhile, is turning into a decidedly intriguing affair. Only three points separate the teams in second and sixth places; Div 1 is a division where everyone appears capable of taking points off everyone else.
Pacesetters Ruislip might have struggled in the cup, but on 3 Jan they performed well enough in the league. They came out 4-0 victors at a struggling West Kensington Kings.
Nottsborough are now up into second place in the ladder. Notts hosted Wandsworth Borough on 3 January and came out 3-2 winners. The Borough were also in action on 10 January; they drew 2-2 in what sounds like it was an even contest with the Army Crusaders. Alistair Beard and Stephen King bagged for the Army.
Bank of England were the fourth and final winners over the last two weeks. They travelled to bottom of the table Polytechnic. James O’Brien, Charles Asher and Dan Bell ensured they came out on top (3-0).
TOP TWO MARCH ON
Division Two has been a bit quieter than most over the last 14 days. Just the two games to report back on there.
Both of the top two, Claygate Hounds and Woking Welcome, have played, and both have won. Clapham Xaverians held Claygate until the half, but by the time the final whistle blew the Hounds has eased to a 3-1 triumph.
Woking, meanwhile, hosted Laleham and scored four of the five goals that went in. Solid stuff from one of the league’s new boys.
Those wins mean that both sides remain firmly entrenched in the promotion slots. Sure, third placed Xaverians have games in hand, but Woking are nine points ahead and Claygate are 12 clear. You’d feel that promotion is theirs to lose now.
MILKMEN MARCH ON IN DIV 3
Division Three isn’t as open as Division One, but there’s still plenty going on.
MMB are in many ways the team to watch. They played Meadonians on 10 January and bludgeoned their way to a 6-2 triumph. Adam Cooper grabbed a hat-trick, the ever goal-hungry Andy Larch also got a couple.
Hersham are one of the other sides making a beeline for the promotion slots. They beat Southall 4-0 last week, William Samuels, Gavin Harper, Stuart Klein, and Arran Cowell were all in the goals.
Putney Vale Rangers (PVR) have more games to play than anyone else, and if they can get into a decent groove they will fancy their chances of moving into the top seven. Last week they came out on top against Molesey lighthouse, winning 4-2. Salvatorians, meanwhile, picked up three points from a walkover against Merton, while Hampton – on the charge up the table – caught the eye with a 3-2 win at Thorntonians.
SUPERVETS QUALIFICATION NEARLY SORTED
In terms of the Supervets, it’s becoming ever clearer as to which sides are going to be in the top group when the divisions split.
Ascot demolished Cheam on 9 January – Mark Reed and Chris Purdue scored hat-tricks along the way – and that sees them secure a qualifying spot alongside Claygate.
Croxley Green have a perfect record in the Alliance and that means they, too, are through. The Whippets are also all but there. The only thing that could prevent that is if Chelsea beat Croxley……. 25-0 in their final match. Call the South Asian bookies if that happens.
That having been said, the best third placed side also gets into the top group. If Chelsea get a point against Croxley then they are still likely to make it. Indeed, if Ascot beat Lyonians on 24 Jan then Chelsea will be there come what may.
LOOKING AHEAD
The weekend of 16/17 January will see four games in the top flight. Chelsea host the Whippets, WLR welcome Claygate. So, the top four play each other.
Actonians are currently fifth and they travel to Croxley. Croxley sit in the relegation zone and they will be uneasy at being just a little adrift. Time to get points on the board if they want to be in the top flight in 2026-27.
The final game sees basement boys, Latimer Road, travel for their first ever meeting with Ascot United’s 1st XI. If Ascot win they could will leap from 6th to 3rd. It’s close in there.
TWO CONTESTS IN DIV 1
There are just the two games planned in Division One.
Wandsworth play for the third week running. If they win then they’ll be back in second spot. They host WKK, a side that needs points to get out of the relegation zone.
Army Crusaders are another side with promotion ambitions. They sit sixth, but a hefty win against Jamrock and they could quite plausibly end up third (or even second if WKK beat Wandsworth). Intriguing.
BIG GAMES AT TOP AND BOTTOM OF DIV 2
Top dogs Claygate Hounds welcome Woking Welcome in the Div 2 game of the day. Claygate have so far swept aside all in their way, but Woking have surprised a few people this season; a real contender for the first game on Match of the Day this coming Saturday evening.
At the bottom the contest between Old Tiffs and Civil Service should, all being well, give one of the combatants their first win of the season. Whoever comes out on top there will feel that Laleham – just above the relegation zone – will be in touching distance. Laleham are also in action; they play second bottom Thames Ditton. If TD can win then the gapbetween those two sides will be just two points.
SEVEN MATCHES IN DIV 3
There are seven games scheduled for Division Three.
The pools panel will definitely have leaders MMB v (13thplaced) Lighthouse Molesey down as home win, whilst you’d think Thorntonians would be big favourites against Claygate Tertia.
AFC Hampton, meanwhile, have won their last four and indeed beaten some good sides along the way. Hersham have also been playing well of late so they’ll be hoping to halt the Hampton bandwagon.
Elsewhere, mid-table Meadonians meet equally mid-table Lyonians, and PVR – moving north with games in hand – host struggling Merton. Southall Athletic, meanwhile, play Double H, and Bank of England continue their hunt for that elusive first win against Salvatorians.
Go well everyone.