TLFG: 12-18 November 2012

Hi there. After several weeks of publishing a bit later than I'd like, this week's edition is out a bit earlier than normal.

This is because my brother became a father last week and I'm off to Bristol to visit my new nephew.

As a result, it's possible that the match map might not be 100% accurate because Sunday's game between Cray and Welling might require a midweek replay (I will adjust in due course).

The lack of time will also mean a slightly abridged TLFG Top 10.

My football watching this week took me almost to the northern summit of London as I paid a visit to Spartan South Midlands League Division One club Cockfosters.

This part of the capital is probably most famous for being one end of London Underground's Piccadilly Line so I was quite intrigued to make the journey to this legendary and mysterious place.

One of the best things going for the football club is that it's located just across the road from the station so is one of the easiest to get to.

After a lifetime of not making the journey I thought a top of the table clash against local rivals London Lions would be a perfect time to go.

So it was with some dismay that I discovered on Friday that the powers that be had decided to shut the line for engineering works!

All prepared to call it off I was persuaded to go by fellow Non-League Day organiser Mike who said it was walkable from New Barnet station instead.

So after a good lunch in our favourite Turkish place in Finsbury Park we battled past the hordes heading to the Emirates for Arsenal v Fulham to head north for what we hoped would be another decent derby.

The stroll from New Barnet to the Chalk Lane ground was indeed straightforward but largely uphill which was a bit of a pain but we made it just in time for kick-off.

At the start of play the hosts were on an impressive 15-game unbeaten run to stand second in the table just ahead of the visitors who had played three games less and were in pretty good shape themselves.

A club official goes on a ball retrieval mission early in the first half

Unsurprisingly the pitch looked really heavy after a lot of rain earlier in the day but it was playable which was a credit to the Step 6/Level 10 club.

London Lions, a club made up solely of Jewish players, started well and took the lead from close range only to be pegged back soon after.

There wasn't much to separate the sides for the rest of the half and it duly finished 1-1.

The second 45 minutes were quite different with Cockfosters starting far more brightly and generally dominating the play.

Chances came and went before the visitors began to look more dangerous.

It was they who took a rather fortunate lead with just over 15 minutes to go when a young substitute playing on the left wing managed to squeeze the ball rather scrappily between the keeper and a defender.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and with the game deep into added time got caught on the break, as so often happens, and conceded a third to lose 3-1.

The score definitely flattered the Lions but it could be pivotal in the title race with only four points now separating the top three (top club Harpenden Town had the day off and have played more games than the other two).

Apart going well in the league, Cockfosters and London Lions are still in the FA Vase so both look worth keeping an eye on for the remainder of the season.

Before I sign off this week, I'd like to point you in the direction of a fine short film by 'BeChampionsTV' shot at Wingate & Finchley on Non-League Day showing what the club and the game at that level is all about and how the day went for them:

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Each week at TLFG we attempt to compile a list of what's on general sale to non-members at London's Premier League clubs and for other notable matches (click on the team name for details).

ARSENAL

Wednesday 21 November, 745pm - Montpellier, Champions League

CHELSEA

Wednesday 5 December, 745pm - FC Nordsjaelland, Champions League

FULHAM

Sunday 18 November, 4pm - Sunderland, Premier League
Monday 10 December, 8pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Wednesday 26 December, 3pm - Southampton, Premier League
Saturday 29 December, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 1 December, 3pm - Aston Villa, Premier League

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Sunday 25 November, 4pm - West Ham United, Premier League

Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Sunday 16 December, 130pm - Swansea City, Premier League

WEST HAM UNITED
Monday 19 November, 8pm - Stoke City, Premier League
Saturday 1 December, 1245pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Sunday 9 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League (on sale 6 Nov)

Of the games above, West Ham are offering reduced admission for their Premier League game against Stoke with all adult tickets costing between £20-25 which is roughly 50% off the normal price so well worth having a look at.

Over the next seven days there are over 70 matches happening in the London area. Aside from all the normal league action, we've also got some FA Cup and FA Trophy replays, the next round of the FA Vase and lots of county cup matches to look forward to.

With all that in mind, here's this week's match map. If you've never used it before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the left side of the page to make sure you get all the information.

MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures

Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures

View London match map 12-18 November 2012 in a larger map

As always, please check with the host club whether a match is still taking place before you travel. Please also let me know if any of the details are wrong or missing.

Next up is this blog's top 10 recommendations of games we think could be particularly worth watching this week, feel free to mention your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - two bitter north London rivals go head-to-head in what is arguably THE London derby. Spurs are currently one point and one place ahead of the Gunners in the Premier League. (Saturday 17 November, 1245pm, Ticket info)

2. Queens Park Rangers v Southampton - possibly a make or break game for both managers as the Premier League's bottom two clash in this crucial match at Loftus Road. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

3. Crystal Palace v Derby County - rather than crumble, the Eagles have soared since Dougie Freedman left for Bolton and Ian Holloway came in. Four consecutive wins and a lengthy unbeaten run has taken them to the top of the Championship. The Rams are also chasing a play-off spot. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

4. AFC Wimbledon v York City - this FA Cup replay will be the third meeting between the two clubs in 10 days.  After drawing the original tie, the Dons won Saturday's league match 3-0 so will come into this one full of confidence. The prize is a potential trip to MK Dons (if they beat Cambridge City) for a very eye-catching tie in the second round. (Monday 12 November, 745pm, Ticket info)

5. Welling United v Salisbury City - a huge game in the Conference South as the fifth-placed team host the current league leaders. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

6. Dulwich Hamlet v Herne Bay - third play fourth in a crucial game in the Isthmian League Division One South. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Club info)

7. Erith Town v Guernsey - Kent League high flyers take on one of the title favourites from the Combined Counties League in a mouthwatering FA Vase tie. (Saturday 17 November, 1pm, Club info)

8. Oxhey Jets v Cockfosters - another tasting looking FA Vase tie as one of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One's best sides try their luck against one of the pacesetters in the division above. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Club info)

9. Phoenix Sports v Bearsted - top two in the Kent Invicta League who are both averaging close to four goals a game. 'Nuff said! (Saturday 17 November, 2pm, Club info)

10. South Kilburn v Westfield - top two in the Combined Counties League Division One, hopefully another cracker. (Saturday 17 November, 2pm, Club info)

If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or email.