Tanners 1 - 0 Guernsey

A very different game to the one on Saturday, where Guernsey arrived from Gatwick airport and parked their coach on the edge of the penalty box.  Huff, puff and controversy were the order of the day…

 

Leatherhead worked hard for this win.  It was clear that they were not going to have the freedom they had enjoyed at the weekend, but in the first half they tried to get a breakthrough but rarely threatened.  We got a bit lucky too, with corner decisions, as we were awarded one that came off of our player and Guernsey were denied one that seemed to be kicked out from our defender.

 

Any good will towards the officials for their awarding of corners soon evaporated when they gave Pearce a straight red for violent conduct.  A replay does not show any significant contact, but the referee saw an elbow so we were down to ten men.

 

Guernsey now grew in confidence and wanted to return to the island with all three points.  This created a bit more space for our attacking players and we too went on the hunt for a goal.  

The goal came via a penalty, when our player drove into the box and was caught in a clumsy pincer defence where two players attempted to tackle but missed.  Despite the 'keeper guessing the right way, Kane's shot was too powerful, and the ball hit the back of the net with fragments of glove on it.

 

Guernsey upped their push for a goal even more, and when Ruben was retreated to the bench we had no real outlet so the ball kept coming back to us for the last six minutes of stoppage time.  Finally, the referee blew his whistle to signal a fine win and for once results went our way, to leave us just four points behind.  Saturday just got bigger…

Guernsey are coming!

The plane took off, so providing they didn't miss it we are good to go tonight.

An interesting array of games being played tonight, so no doubt people will be looking at their phones… hopefully the team will concentrate on the three points.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Tanners 3 - 0 Ascot

Ascot simply didn't turn up at the races today, as Leatherhead notched up an impressive 3-0 win today to take us to within seven points of the play-off places.

 

Leatherhead opened the scoring quickly and decisively, when Kane brought the ball down in midfield to evade his defender and find Rhys out on the right.  Rhys rode his luck on beating his marker, but expertly bent a shot into the side netting.  1-0.

 

It was soon 2-0, when a corner found Pearce at the back post who headed back into a dangerous area where Akinnibi could smash it into the same corner as we had scored moments earlier.

 

The third goal could have come on four occasions in the remainder of the first half; the closest where a cross became a Ronaldinho lob but hit the bar.  Ascot did finish this half strongly but Sonny was largely untroubled.

 

The second half and it was only six minutes before we did get our third and ultimately made the game safe.  The ball popped up in the box with Ruben in close terms with the 'keeper but his improvised shot sneaked into the goal.

 

At this point Ascot decided it wasn't going to be the day and both sides decided to tread water until the final whistle.  A fine win which takes us into Tuesday when Guernsey hope to make the long awaited trip to The Grove… expect low-flying fog then…

Ascot are coming!

The reverse fixture ended in controversy when a provoked moment of madness cost us all three points, at a time when we were stringing some wins together.

Our guests have gone on to be in a good position in the playoff places while our chances look to have faded. Could a win change that today…?

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Farnham 2 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead started this match like 11 rabbits caught in the headlights and meekly allowed Farnham to control the game and race to a 2-0 lead.  The three-goal-lead rule looked likely to be enforced by as early as 25 minutes, and allow me to rejoin my family in town.

 

Somehow, we managed to hold on; but Farnham's towering number five managed to walk off with his pristine white shorts and boots intact as he had no defending to do.

 

The second half we showed up and least held them at bay… well, apart from them hitting the woodwork twice and forcing Sonny into a fine save.  Then, as we approached six minutes of stoppage time we did the unthinkable and scored.  We had started to build a bit of pressure in the final ten minutes but Ruben made it interesting with a low strike on the edge of the box.

 

From nowhere, Leatherhead had created genuine excitement to the game.  The best chance came when we one a freekick, about three yards outside the box.  The powerful shot forced a save from our former 'keeper but no one could follow up.

 

The final whistle blew, and Farnham's No 7 over celebrated towards a large travelling contingent that had barely noticed him all game.  Losing 5-3 on aggregate doesn't seem to be anything I would be too proud of, so only he knows why that was necessary.

 

Onto Tuesday then, and the visit of fourth place Uxbridge…

Travelling Tanners

Game on! Despite overnight rain, an early pitch inspection is passed and we have a game on.

Worryingly, our hosts absolutely destroyed Ks midweek and no doubt the score line from our home tie will be on the dressing room wall.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 2 - 2 Hendon (3-4 on penalties)

Leatherhead heroically bow out of the League Cup after taking Hendon all the way to penalties but fell short from the spot.

 

Hendon arrived at the Grove with a relatively strong side, albeit with only three players on the bench and their top striker rested.  That didn't stop them scoring first, when their player hit a volley over our 'keeper and into the side netting from a tight angle.

 

Hendon are at the wrong end of the table and so have their own defensive frailties to deal with, which Ty exposed by running onto a through-ball and tucking it between the legs of the young 'keeper.  1-1.

 

Overall, Leatherhead looked the better side and on 65 minutes they got a stunning second goal when Niran Butler let fly from 25 to 30 yards out; an unstoppable shot that arrowed directly into the top right-hand corner.

 

We could dream of a famous win but Hendon started to apply real pressure and pegged us back with a swift move in the box and a cool finish.  Onto penalties…

 

The first two round of penalties were scored, but Marco's effort was saved and Hendon scored to make it 2-3.  2-3 soon became 3-4 and Kane stepped up needing to score.  He opted a confident chip down the middle but completely undercooked it.  The 'keeper, who dived to his left, had time to get up and simply bat it away.  So under hit was the shot, I wonder if the 'keeper was even needed and the ball would have landed in front of the line and span backwards… we will never know.

 

No semi-final for us… but also, no long trip to Chatham… time to focus on Saturday and the much talked about trip to Farnham…