Not even updating my spreadsheet to reflect my first visit to Rectory Meadow - *sigh* ground three hundred and thirty t-t-t-two… *sobs* - could take away the disappointed of yesterday's results. Marlow's trip to South Park was always going to be difficult and while Hanworth Villa are no pushovers to be eighth, there was hope we could seize the initiative and take second place.
Leatherhead never really looked likely to benefit for the draw being played out near Reigate. Tyler Cox, for one, appeared to be in a very deep role that prevented him from embarking on some of the runs that have entertained us so much recently. A tepid first half ended goalless.
Second half and the hosts started to enjoy their last home game of the season. We helped facilitate this by failing to clear a ball in the box and allowing their striker to smash it into the roof of the net, from close range. Things got worse moments later when a shot, from distance, through a crowded box found the back of the net.
Leatherhead did pull one back, on 75 minutes, from a Beanie penalty. Ibz brought down crudely from behind by their number 3, who was booked for his troubles. The ref reached for his pocket moments later when the same player aggressively prevented us from getting the ball back to the halfway line, but he realised that would mean a red card so put it away again.
Hanworth Villa forced the ref's hand on 90 minutes when a player did see a second yellow, just as nine minutes of stoppage time came up. To add to the pressure, an injury meant that Hanworth Villa were left with nine men as they had used all of their substitutions. Despite the two-man advantage, we could not get an equaliser and now need a Hanworth Villa to do us a favour, when they make the trip to Marlow on Saturday…