Tanners 5 - 2 Southall

Leatherhead bounced back from the defeat at the weekend to notch up an impressive 5-2 scoreline, despite letting a two-goal lead slip.

 

If we've learned anything in the last few weeks, it's that racing to a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes generally means good things. So, everything looked fine when we raced to a two-goal lead. First, Halim reacted to yet another ball bouncing off the crossbar to continue his good start, and then Gallagher tapped in a well-placed cross from Paget. 2-0, easy.

 

Then things started to unravel — fast. Southall's goals came directly from their pace down the flanks and were in no way Sonny Wheeler's fault. The fact that I say this just after meeting both of Sonny's parents, so they now know my identity, is neither here nor there. Within the space of two minutes (and just four minutes after we had gone 2-0 up), we were pegged back to 2-2.

 

Leatherhead now resembled a battered boxer, stumbling around while Southall looked to apply the killer punch. Within the next ten minutes, we could have found ourselves 4-2 down but for a close-range shot blasted wide and (Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, please take note) a fine save to Sonny's left. But somehow, we made it to the bell, slumped down into the corner, had water squirted into our faces, while Selley shouted instructions into their ears.

 

In the second half, Leatherhead regained their composure and patiently went about their business while looking for the winner. At around the 60-minute mark, Southall abandoned their attacking approach and started going down injured a lot more.

 

Finally, the pressure told, and Halim was set up by another Paget cross and slotted it away on 75 minutes. 3-2, and the floodgates were about to open.

 

Two substitutes made the game safe in quick succession. First, Massango pounced on a loose ball, ran into the box, and delicately chipped the 'keeper. 4-2. Then, The Lip's Logan Coles came on with a point to prove. Cruelly omitted from having an official player photo or announcing his sponsorship details, he saw the ex-Tanner Mitchal Gough on the ball and pounced. Stealing it from him, he marched on goal, calmly rounded the 'keeper, and found the back of the empty net. 5-2 and a timely reminder that this quality player is in the squad and has been sponsored…

 

Poor Mitchal would not have enjoyed his return to The Grove, as he was involved in both of the last two defensive errors, providing the kind of contribution Fareham's No. 12 still has nightmares about.

 

So, the five-point gap is restored, but now we go on again and face our old friends Raynes Park Vale on Saturday…

Southall are coming!

It looks like we have a game on! I feared last night's rain would ruin our chances, but a day of largely clear sky has meant we can put Saturday behind us and get get on with it.

Tonight we welcome Southall, who sit just one point above the relegation zone.

Kick of at 7.45pm. See you there!

Tanners 2 - 3 Westfield

Leatherhead failed to grab the chance to move eight points clear of Westfield following a disappointing 3-2 loss at The Grove.

 

After 15 minutes, I understood how Hampton & Richmond fans felt a couple of weeks ago as we allowed our guests to rush to a 2-0 lead.  Selley described our three conceded goals as sloppy, but I feel that is a little harsh as the opener was created from their No 9 plucking the ball from the air to create the perfect run at goal.  Wheeler came out to close this down, but the composed striker went by him and rolled it into the empty net.  0-1.

 

The second goal, fair play, was poor defending as we had about two or three opportunities to deal with the situation before the ball was played into the area for a tap in.  0-2.

 

Leatherhead fans had something to cheer about when Halim was brought down by either a defender or 'keeper (they both slid in and made contact while both pleaded their innocence) and Hogan stepped up to find the back of the net, despite the 'keeper guessing the right way. 1-2.

 

Surely, we would now go on and win this game… but alas Westfield got a third on the 37-minute mark.  It looked like Kane was pulled back to prevent him from dealing with the loose ball on the edge of the box, but the ref didn't see it that way and the Westfield player nipped around him and slotted in a through ball that was prodded home.  1-3.

 

After the break, we needed an early goal and got one.  Anas was provided with the ball inside the box and fired his shot into the roof of the net.  2-3 and game on.

 

Alas, despite applying good spells of pressure the equaliser didn't come.  Gallagher came the closest when he pounced on a loose ball, but his effort hot the crossbar and bounced clear.  Westfield held on to take all three points, but still sit two points behind us as we look to rebuild and face Southall (subject to the weather) at home on Tuesday…

Westfield are coming!

This is a big game.  This is a Sky-Sports-12.30-kick-off type of game as the top two face off together, at The Grove.  Out guests sit five points behind us but have scored two more goals… arguably those goals came against Hayes & Yeading, as they beat them 7-0 in October whereas we could "only" must five mideweek.

 

Kick-off at 3pm.  See you there!

Hayes & Yeading 0 - 5 Tanners

You know it's going to be an unpleasant journey when Waze reroutes you through the fifth busiest airport in the world. So, after 90 minutes of driving just 20 miles from Woking, it was with some relief that I made it to a freezing cold bar, sat down with a pint, and unwound before the game.

 

Leatherhead came out firing, taking their frustrations from the traffic out on the hosts and looking for goals from the very first minute. We thought we had the breakthrough when Hogan smashed home a low cross into the box, but the flag went up 2-3 seconds after the referee had awarded the goal. New-boy Halim also put the ball into the net a few minutes later, but the flag went up well beforehand, and he was lucky to escape without a yellow card.

 

Then came the goals. First, Hogan darted in from the left and smashed the ball across the face of the goal, past the diving Roger Daltrey lookalike in goal. Matters got worse for Hayes & Yeading just five minutes later, when a cross was blocked by a raised arm in the box. A penalty was awarded and neatly dispatched by Kane, despite the 'keeper diving the right way and the distraction of a supporter live-streaming the spot kick to someone at home, shouting, "Can you see it?" as Kane took the run-up.

 

Hogan made it a brace as we queued for a warming cup of tea, latching onto a spilled save at close range to send us into halftime 3-0 up.

 

The second half made me wish I'd taken my own advice and worn two pairs of socks. Leatherhead eased off the gas a little but still controlled the game while maintaining a respectable amount of attacking intent. Hayes & Yeading took advantage of this and created some good chances for themselves, but Sonny and the crossbar proved to be too good for them.

 

Leatherhead then added a couple of cherries to the cake. Anas cheekily chipped the ball over a diving 'keeper for a goal, and Halim scored on his debut with a powerful side volley into the corner.

 

A five-goal win, away at a side just outside the play-offs, is just the boost we need as we head into an almighty showdown with Westfield on Saturday…

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to a side that will be looking to get into the play-off places with any kind of results against us tonight.  We have been relying on late goals, in the league, to keep us top but hopefully we can make things a bit more comfortable tonight.  The weather certainly won't as it could be the first Double Socker of the season.

 

Kick off at 7.45pm.  Directions can be found here.  See you there!

Travelling Tanners

into the play-off places with any kind of results against us tonight.  We have been relying on late goals, in the league, to keep us top but hopefully we can make things a bit more comfortable tonight.  The weather certainly won't as it could be the first Double Socker of the season.

 

Kick off at 7.45pm.  Directions can be found here.  See you there!

Bedfont Sports 2 - 2 Tanners

If Leatherhead had played like they did in the last 10 minutes, this game would have been put away with ease. However, as it happened, we struggled against a side that came with a plan.

 

For the majority of the game, Leatherhead were like modern jazz: not incredibly entertaining, full of hopeful long balls for Breckon to deal with, and notable for the players who weren't being played. Cameron Black was strangely absent, and we were served by neither Butler.

 

One thing Bedfont managed well was frustrating our attacking players by playing a high line, which caught us offside more than in any other game I can remember. It was like having Dave Stevens back in the squad. The long balls to Jacob were also a source of frustration, as they were often overhit or too straight to do anything with. To make matters worse, Jacob suffered a nasty cut to the face from a clash of heads and was whisked away to hospital.

 

That said, we did manage to get the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside. Anas also came close when his shot looked certain to find the back of the net, only to hit the post and bounce to safety. Bedfont opened the scoring by working the ball into the box and firing it past Wheeler. 0-1.

 

Anas did eventually get on the scoresheet by chasing a ball down the right and lobbing it towards the far post. Someone was there to tap it in, but it had already crossed the line. 1-1.

 

I thought the second half would be dramatically different, and that we would take control of the game, but alas, it was more of the same. Bedfont scored again with a close-range goal, and we were behind once more.

 

A couple of changes saw us start to look livelier, while Bedfont seemed less confident in their high line, though they somehow managed to soak up the pressure. Just as six minutes of added time were announced, we got the equaliser. Our long ball tactic was abandoned in favour of our more familiar ball-to-feet approach, and a swift cross found an unmarked Anas, who prodded it home on his second attempt. 2-2.

 

With four minutes of added time still to play, we pressed hard for a winner and nearly got it, only to be thwarted by an excellent save and an incredible goal-line clearance from their No. 7. So, we settle for a point—but it's a point more than Westfield managed, and we now have the chance to pull further ahead when we play mid-week at Hayes & Yeading…