Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow we travel to Dulwich in a hope to gain three prescious points to kickstart our league campaign. Dulwich Hamlet are looking like an improved side than what they were last season so Leatherhead are going to have to show the kind of resolve they displayed against Hampton & Richmond to get the win...

Directions

By Road
From Elephant & Castle go down Walworth Road, through Camberwell's one-way system and along Denmark Hill. Turn left by the railway into Champion Park and then right at the end down Grave Lane to the ground in Dog Kennel Hill; Come up through Streatham on the A23, turn left at The Grove into Lordship Lane and carry on to East Dulwich.

By Train
Denmark Hill is also nearby and is served by trains from Victoria and Blackfriars. From the station, walk up to the main road, and then turn left up Grove Road. Follow the road around, up the hill and then down again. The ground is very easy to find, being located near a Sainsburys superstore, so just look out for the company logos. Take the turn off to Sainsburys and walk along to the ground. The walk should only take 10-15 minutes, although it could be slightly longer on the way back as you have to walk uphill!

Fixture News

The FA Cup fixture with Farnborough Town will be at the standard time of 3pm and not the early time of 2pm as indicated in my earlier report. This will mean you can all catch the second half of the England game in the Tanners bar.

Other rearranged fixtures are;
Tanners v Dover Athletic Tuesday, 8th November.
Tanners v Whyteleafe Tuesday, 15th November.

These will be reflected on the Official Site tonight.

Poll Result

Chatham wins the FA Cup trip in recent years... even pipping the coach trip that was Abingdon. With 7 goals and the winner coming late on it is no wonder why we rated it so highly.

This weeks poll looks to resolve an argument... who scored THAT goal Tuesday night?

Tanners 2 - 1 Humbled & Richmond
FA Cup Second Round replay

The Tanners blew the higher placed Hampton away in the first half with an early goal from Dave Stevens which was followed by a bizaar Steve Sargent goal from the half way line. His through ball was chased by Dave Stevens who jinked to the left followed by keeper and defender... but not the ball and it rolled into an empty net.

The second half Hampton came out a different half and started to give us a bit of a game and got a consolation goal after 20 minutes. Both sides had chances to score but neither could find the net.

Next up is Farnborough! Will they play a full strength side? We will beat them? Will Moler be back? All questions that will be answerwed on 8 October at 2pm!!

FA Cup Draw

Leatherhead’s reward, should we knock out Hampton & Richmond tonight, will be a visit from Conference South Farnborough!

Game to be played on the weekend beginning 8 October.

Hampton & Richmond Are Coming
FA Cup - Second Qualifying Round REPLAY

The FA Cup dream lives on with the visit of Hampton & Richmond to the Grove this Tuesday. The Tanners survived the tricky away tie but still have a lot to do against the high flying Ryman Premier side.

Kick-off at 7.45... See you there!

FA Cup - second qualifying round:

Hampton & Richmond 1 - 1 Tanners

The Tanners bounced back from their midweek disappointment at Tooting with a well deserved draw at Ryman Premier leaders Hampton.

The Beavers were quickest out of the blocks and were a goal up with barely a minute gone. The Tanners failed to clear the ball from the area, and the lively Fontana slotted home.

It was a massive blow, and the Tanners failthful feared the worse, but the lads showed true character in gradually hauling themselves back into it, so by the time half time approached they were giving as good as they were getting. The 4-5-1 formation meant that Dave Stevens was ploughing a lone furrow upfront but he was working really hard to create chances. The best fell to Tommy Moorhouse whose lob with just the keeper to beat drifted wide.

As half time approached, it looked pretty much curtains when Dante's lunge at a speeding player resulted in a penalty to Hampton. Dunny one again performed heroics by making a great diving save. Whether he appreciated Dante's grateful peck on the cheek is debatable.

The second half saw Leatherhead ring the changes as newcomers Richard O'Connor and Warren Waugh, along with a lively Julian Thompson all came on and immediately gave the Tanners attack a much more purposeful look.

Justice was done in the 80th minute when O'Connor gathered the ball outside the area, and alomost passed it into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. The Tanners faithful went delirious, and after that the Tanners pressed on for a winner but it was not to be. In fairness Hampton also had a couple of good chances but the defence, and Dunny in particular, stood firm.

Both teams were probably happy with the draw for different reasons. On balance the Tanners probably edged it, but no doubt Hampton will look to play to their league position in the replay at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday night at 19.45 (the league game versus Dover will be reschdeuled).

Popeye

Travelling Tanners

Saturday sees Leatherhead face old friends in the FA Cup 2nd qualifying round. This is probably one of the hardest ties we could have got, but we said that about Yeading last year in the League Cup... Leatherhead will have to improve on recent league showings though to get past this years Ryman Premier high fliers...

Directions

Follow the A3 southbound, and exit onto the A243 (...signposted Sandown Park, Esher, Staines). At the Scilly Isles roundabout, follow the A309 (Hampton Court), crossing over the Thames, with Hampton Court Palace on your right. Turn left onto the A308 towards Staines and follow this for a mile, and then take the second right into Thames Street. Then take the immediately left into Station Road, and Beaver Close is on your right hand side.

Pub Guide

Just round the corner is the Jolly Coopers... if you fancy a good beer before the game then see you in there!

Charity Game

The Grove will be hosting a charity game between two local rivals, Tesco v Sainsbury on Sunday 25th Sept KO 4.30. Proceeds to Children in Need. Sadly you wont earn Nectar or Club points at the gate...

Rooting Tooting 2 - 1 Tanners

Tanners suffer to a 7th minute injury time goal to suffer their second defeat of the season. Truth told it was not a good performance and the Dave Stevens opening goal on 75 minutes was against the run of play. We couldn't hold out for another clean sheet and suffer our second defeat on the road.

One eye on Saturday perhaps, but the league campaign is mirroring last year and will have to change soon to prevent play-off disappointment again...

Travelling Tanners

Tonight we play away at Tooting & Mitcham in the league in the hope of scoring some goals and getting three points. So far Tooting have had a mixed bad, but a consistent factor is that they have scored at least twice every league game while the Tanners have only notched up the one. With plenty of goals being conceded by their defense that will give plenty of encouragement to our strikers who seem to be constantly foiled by outstanding 'keeper performances...

Directions

M25 junction 8, take the A217 northbound, this goes through Tadworth and Cheam. It's dual carriageway most of the way, although long stretches have a 40mph speed limit. This leads to a major roundabout with lights (Rose Hill). Take the third exit (Mitcham A217), this is Bishopsford Road and the ground is a mile further on. Go through two sets of lights, the road dips, and the entrance is on the right opposite a petrol station.

Tanners 0 - 0 Fleet

Justin Gray came back to haunt Leatherhead with a Man Of The Match performance that kept out the greens while they threw everything at them. On top of that they had two cleared of the line.

Leatherhead started like a team possessed but failed to capitalise on it. The game became a little stale until the last 15 minutes where it really opened up. Fleet started to look like they may even nick it when Justin pulled of a superb finger tip save and the rebounded shot crashed against the bar.

Tanners would surely have expected all three points from this game and will have to start winning soon to keep the play-off dream alive.

Fleet Are Coming

This Saturday Leatherhead make a welcome return to the league campaign and a chance to get back to winning ways in this competition.

The Tanners managed 6 points from Fleet last season and will need to score at least two goals past them to get all the points again if past form is anything to go by as Fleet have drawn the last four games 1-1.

Kick-off at 3pm... see you there!

FA Cup Draw

Unofficial sources indicate that we have been drawn away to Hampton & Richmond in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. To be played on 24 September. Probably not the tie many of us were hoping with them sitting on top of the Ryman Premier with six straight wins...

Poll Result

Satursday's game certainly lived up to the fans expectations which saw 90% vote in favour of not missing it for anything.

But how good was it compared to recent FA Cup jollies? This weeks poll asks that very question and I would like you to consider the whole away trip experience when casting your vote.

Chatham 3 - 4 Tanners

What could be better than this away trip? Hob-nobbing with celebs in a Kensington lunch? No way as this game had everything!

Leatherhead were cruising fir the majority of the first half and the score reflected it. Two goals from open play, one from Dave Stevens and a strange goal from a looping Wes cross that deceived the 'keeper allowing Dante to pelvis-thrust the ball over the line. "Easy, Easy!" cried some inexperienced Travelling Tanners...

From nowhere Chatham got one back! An unmarked striker managed to find some power for a lofted cross and beat Tommy Dunn... fluke we thought. Then in the 8th minute of injury time for the first half a debatable penalty was awarded after two players clashed in midair. 2-2 at half time and we had to trudge past the lippy truants to the bar.

Second half started and would you believe it. Their sub rushes past three tackles to smash the ball into the roof of the net and we were down 3-2. We never lost faith though despite some dubious officialling from the ref.

Henders showed some light footwork to slot home the equaliser, then as we were all working out what day the replay was on Dave Stevens picked up the ball on the left cut inside and fired the ball perfectly into the top right hand corner. The ball hit the stantion and bounced straight out and could have appeared to the officials (who had missed a player push over Marc Charles-Smith in the box so he could get close enough to the ball to punch it) that it had only hit the post. After a couple of seconds the pint sized linesman gave the goal.

The players got a rousing cheer off... the ref who had found nearly 20 minutes of extra time did not. Onwards we go though!

Travelling Tanners

The excitement of the FA Cup returns as we plan to embark on our trip to Chatham. Both sides are evenly matched finishing in similar positions in their respective leagues last year and both losing their last competitive league game. The only

I cannot remember the last time the two sides met so it should be an interesting encounter. Hopefully they wont have a Mr Ash-a-like to drain the atmosphere away...

Directions

From M2
Exit the M2 at junction 3, and follow directions for Chatham & Town Centre. You will then pass a Homebase & Toys 'R' Us on the left hand side. Continue straight over the roundabout and then there is a split in the road, where you bear right for chatham this is Maidstone Road. Follow this, continuing straight over the cross roads and you will see a petrol station on the left. Bournville Road is opposite the petrol station on the left. Ground entrance is first left.

By Rail
Train to Chatham Station. Turn right on leaving the station and right again you are now on Maidstone road continue up Maidstone Road till you pass a cemetery on the left ground is next left.

Pub Guide

I have been told that pubs can be a bit his and miss so I am going by a recommendation I received. I have also rang and they do a lunch menu, have a beer garden and a bouncy castle! It is the;

The Huntsman
106, Pattens Lane, Rochester, Kent ME1 2RA (click on the name for a map)

It is only 2 minutes from the ground and they recommend that you park there and walk as parking is limited to 9 spaces.

Poll Result

Despite the perceived lack of form we are pretty much confident that we will do better this season with 21% of you saying this is the best side we have ever had. With a total of 80% thinking we will better ourselves the sceptics are in the minority with only 8% dredding the forthcoming season!

The latest poll looks ahead to Saturday... are you going to be there? Travelling Tanners will be posted tonight for those that click on yes!

Chertsey 1 - 2 Tanners
Ryman League Cup

Tanners win on the road thanks to first half goals from Chippy and Julian Thompson. Leatherhead were making light work of Chertsey in the first half.

Leatherhead were passing the ball around with confidence and barely allowing the home side to cross the half way line. The first breakthrough came when Chertsey failed to clear yet another chance and it fell to Dean Carpenters left foot and the ball screamed past a statue-esque 'keeper.

The second goal came on the break down the left, Dante released a perfect cross that Julian Thompson pounced on just 3 yards out and sent it flying into the roof of the net.

The first half comfort was replaced second half pressure as we appeared to take the foot of the pedal. Chertsey were now given a bit of space which they took and one striker was allowed to turn in the box and beat Tommy near post with a powerful drive. Chertsey now smelt blood and were after the equaliser. Meanwhile Leatherhead resorted to long balls for MCS to chase. When he beat the trap, his pace gave the illusion of foul play and the referee's assistant raised his flag anyway.

The officials had come under the usual Travelling Tanners' scrutiny so it was strange that they came under fire from the home supporters as they left the pitch and it appeared to hinge on just one offside decision in the second half. If that is the extent of your gripes I would count myself lucky, so their moaning as they left the pitch was the only real highlight of the second half for me...

On to Chatham then. A tough game but at least we have a win to build on!

Travelling Tanners

Tuesday night (and not Wednesday) sees the Leatherhead try and bounce back from their defeat in a competition that saw us beat the likes of Yeading and Hendon.

Last time we played Chertsey I seem to remember winning by one goal despite us being down to 10 men after Jamie Beer (I think) lunged in and got sent off. A crucial three points as we faced a relegation fight that year.

Directions

The ground is around ten minutes walk from Chertsey station. From London trains, turn left out of the station onto Fox Lane North, and continue along there onto New Road. There are several signs for "football and cricket club" which may be noted along the walk. When you get up to a couple of small roundabouts, DO NOT turn left along Riversdell Close; it's a no through road. You will be able to see the ground, but not get in!!

Instead, stay on Guildford St., and walk to its end, then turn left. This is a main street-London St to the right, and Windsor St to the left. Alwyns Lane is the second left as you walk down Windsor St., and the ground is down on the left.

Pub Guide

If you need to go straight there from work he George us nearby on Guildford Street and does good food.

Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 0 Tanners

Tanners go back to their old ways at the Casuals' ground and suffer defeat scored with their only chances of the game. Corinthians had two tricks up their sleeves; break away plays and winding us up and both worked to full effect.

Had we not conceded a goal after just three minutes it may had been different, but with us chasing the game there was little chance we could get past their tactics.

The second half descended into pharce as scuffle after scuffle broke out, and while we tried to compose ourselves they scored two more on the break. Not even Dave Harlow could steady the ship enough for us to break through.

Not the game we wanted before our trip to Chatham...

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to a side that started last season like a bull in a china shop but faded away towards the end. the signs are they are continuing where they left off last season but I hope we wont take the result for granted as we did for their visit.

Don't forget it is an early kick-off at 1pm so see you there!

Directions

Tolworth Roundabout on the A3, go round the round about and head as if you were going to Guildford. Literally 20 yards after leaving the roundabout you will see a slip road off to left called Hook Rise South. Go down there until on the right you see Queen Mary Close. The ground is at the bottom of this road.

England still expects (part 2)

The kick-off time for the game on Saturday against Corinthian Casuals is 1pm - confirmed.

Sorry for any confusion.