Welcome to this week's TLFG.
I'll keep this preamble brief as I've got to get ready for work, but how have you been?
In the last piece I mentioned how I had an American friend coming to town and as a result I wouldn't be able to go to Actonians' game on Sunday.
Well plans slightly changed and I was able to go and I think I'm glad I did.
I say I think, because it was a landmark day but not much of a competitive spectacle.
A little delayed heading out, I arrived at Bedfont Sports about two minutes into the game only to hear stadium announcer Andy P already celebrating the first goal.
Ascot United from a parallel Tier 4 division were the opposition and over the last 18 months or so, we've had three fairly close contests with them (3-1, 0-0 and 2-0).
However, something must have gone badly wrong over the summer as they've made a dreadful start and I confidently predicted a big win here.
And so it transpired. Phoebe Williams scored an exquisite hat-trick but she was one of five different players who got on the scoresheet before half-time as Actonians led 8-0 at the break.
Sadly for her, she was eclipsed in the second half by Wiktoria Fronc who added to earlier strikes to end the match with five for the second week running as the A's ended up with a 13-1 win - the biggest victory I think I've ever watched by any team at senior level.
The result put them second in the group behind QPR who caused an upset by beating Fulham 2-0 in their game. The A's and QPR meet in the next and final round of group games on 27 September for what should be some match.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Despite there being a round of Premier League and EFL Cup fixtures, there aren't any obvious blockbuster fixtures that really jump out.
In the top flight, I'd argue that the Chelsea game against Hull City is the most interesting as the newly promoted Tigers head to Stamford Bridge unbeaten and just above the Blues in the top four.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace play Ipswich Town in what could prove to be an important match in the battle to ultimately avoid the drop. The biggest crowd of the day will almost certainly be found watching Tottenham Hotspur look for their first win against Everton but the chances of this being thrilling look remote.
The EFL Cup has reached its Third Round. The tie between Chelsea and Leeds United tops the bill on Wednesday but it's the tie between Millwall and Newcastle United on Tuesday which looks far more intriguing. Crystal Palace also face a tricky tie against Championship title contenders Middlesbrough.
If you're looking for a London derby this week then head to The Valley on Wednesday where Charlton Athletic host QPR in a league game. Both are in the top six in the Championship so there's plenty to play for.
With two wins on the bounce, West Ham United have finally got going and they welcome Wrexham to the London Stadium on Friday night for another highly anticipated fixture.
Talking of derbies, there's a decent one opening proceedings on Monday night in League One where Bromley entertain AFC Wimbledon. After their historic promotion to the third tier, the Ravens begun well but have now lost their last two, conceding 12 goals in the process. The Dons aren't much better off and sit just above them on goal difference.
In League Two, Barnet remain unbeaten and in the top three but three consecutive draws have cost them top spot. On Saturday, struggling Accrington Stanley travel to The Hive and should be beaten.
Sutton United will bid to get back into the National League's top three on Saturday. Struggling Scunthorpe United, with one win from six, are the opposition so the hosts should be feeling optimistic.
Fifth-tier clubs will also be taking part in the latest round of group games in the National League Cup which sees them play against pro clubs' U21 sides. Hornchurch, Sutton United and Wealdstone are all at home but it's Boreham Wood's game against Newcastle United which looks most interesting to me.
With only one win in three, Dagenham & Redbridge have seen their strong start to the National League South campaign begin to slow down. On Tuesday they take on 18th placed Dover Athletic and they'll retake top spot if they better Maidstone United's result against Tonbridge Angels.
For a lot of people, the highlight of the midweek programme will be the smattering of FA Cup First Round Qualifying replays.
Arguably the biggest ones are the all seventh-tier affairs between Carshalton Athletic and Chertsey Town on Monday and Cray Wanderers and Lewes on Tuesday.
Isthmian League North (ILN) new boys Buckhurst Hill will look to make the Second Round Qualifying for the first time in their history when they welcome Yaxley from the southern suburbs of Peterborough. The visitors play a level below so they won't get many better chances to progress.
Hashtag United top the ILN and they'll be looking to cause an upset by knocking out St Albans City who play in the division above them.
With their FA Cup games out of the way, Carshalton Athletic and Dartford meet in an important game in the Isthmian Premier - both are in the top five.Whilst in the parallel seventh tier Southern League Premier South, it's worth keeping an eye on Uxbridge. Despite some of the logistical challenges of being a London club in a division with clubs all over the West Country, they're unbeaten in six and top of the league. They welcome Chichester City to Honeycroft and they're in the top six too.
The FA Trophy and FA Vase will be taking centre stage for many of our local eighth, ninth and tenth-tier clubs this weekend.
In the Trophy, Hashtag United's game against Hertford Town would appear to be the tie of the round as both are in the top four in their respective eighth-tier divisions.
There are Vase ties all over London but none really jump out at me.
AFC Greenwich Borough are top of the ninth tier SCEFL Premier and should therefore fancy themselves to go far this year. They host Molesey who play a level below them so a home win looks likely.
In the women's game there are two derbies in the WSL this weekend.
West Ham United welcome London City Lionesses to Dagenham on Saturday lunchtime whilst Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday.
The Eagles looked to have made a great start to life back in Tier 1 with a 1-0 win over Everton giving them three crucial points but they made one substitution too many and will now almost certainly face some kind of punishment.
With no WSL2 games in the capital, we look next to Tier 3 where early leaders Oxford United head to Hashtag United and AFC Wimbledon host Real Bedford.
In Tier 4, leaders London Bees host MK Dons at The Hive complex and second placed Actonians receive a visit from Stevenage.
Second placed Bromley take on Sutton United who are just below them in Tier 5. This is being played at the CopperJax Stadium.
As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs and development matches. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.
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