Banstead Are Coming

The festive season´s "Big Game" this year is Banstead as they come to the Grove tomorrow for the rearranged fixture. Banstead find themselves near the botttom end of the table and Leatherhead have only the comfort of a 5 point gap folloing Hasting´s win today.

Kick off is a 3pm!

Boxing Day Fixtures

With the Tanners in action tomorrow (subject to weather conditions) there are plenty of fixtures today that will effect our position in the league... Again subject to weather conditions, can´t understand why though as it is lovely here!

Bashley v Lymington & New Milton
Burgess Hill Town v Horsham
Dover Athletic v Ramsgate
Hastings United v Ashford Town
Molesey v Corinthian Casuals
Tonbridge Angels v Cray Wanderers
Tooting & Mitcham United v Dulwich Hamlet
Walton Casuals v Kingstonian

Feliz Natal!

Happy Christmas to all Tanners, where ever you find yourself today! See you in 2006!

Poll Result

The long running poll comes to an end and Wes takes the poofy glove title away from last years winner MCS. In truth I think it was Richard O'Conner who first broke rank but Wes couldn't have been far behind as he wears them when watching while others use manly pockets etc.

As for this weeks poll... there were some funny sights on show Saturday but which was the most ridiculous?

Tanners 0 - 2 Slough

Slough should have had this game wrapped up after 11 minutes after three open goals went begging but it took a freekick after 20 minuytes to break the deadlock. Leatherhead were rarely in the game first half but had a chance to level the game when Dean Carpenter forced a great save.

Second half the Tanners gave it a good go but Slough were too strong. Warren (good god yo'll) Waugh had the best chance when his point blank shot was fired over. Slough grabbed a second and it was all over.

No gripes as Slough controlled much of the game but hopefully a more settled back four will get a better result against Banstead a week tomorrow.

Slough Town Are Coming

One time league opponents Slough Town are coming to the Grove tonight in the next round of the Westview Cup. When the draw was made they were making heavy weather of the Ryman Premier but since then they have notched up a few high scoring wins. Whats more they beat Bromley so they can't be a bad lot of fellas!

Kick-off at 7.45 so see you there!

Tanners 2 - 1 Walton Casuals

Leatherhead had enough chances to make the scoreline look a lot more comfortable but got the win in the end after a long struggle with a side that have beaten some good sides in recent weeks.

Leatherhead should have been two goals and a man better off within the first 20 minutes. Warren Waugh (good god yo'll) headed onto the bar which bounced on the line and MCS was rugby tackled by the 'keeper but the poncy ref pranced on to waive play on.

Then Walton got their goal from their one attack, which was calmly headed home by man of the match Henders. It didn't look like it was going to be our day. These fears crystalised with Scott Bennetts crashing down only to break his collar bone. Our thoughts are with him.

Second half saw Leatherhead fail to make the kind dent into their defense that we had first half but still maintained firm control of the game. The breakthrough came when MCS was brought down and the resulting freekick saw Henders score in the same goal, but for the right side.

Leatherhead then looked a different side and pressed for the winner and it came via the poncy prancy ref. A fired in shot struck a defender on the line, penalty and a red card were awarded. Fortunate I have to say but the ref got it right in the end as the 'keeper should have been off after 20 minutes for bringing down MCS. Richard O'Conner hit the ball with too much power and beat the 'keeper who guessed the right way.

2-1 left the Walton side feeling hard done by. Especially Widow Twanky who turned up in tights just for the panto season!

Walton Casuals Are Coming

Walton are on a fine run of form at the moment beating some hefty sides along the way with Kent sides Ramsgate and Tonbridge losing at their hands. Leatherhead will be in confident mood as well with a fully fit side and a fine win against Dulwich behind them.

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

Tanners 2 - 0 Dulwich

Dave Stevens found out today just how important MCS was to his game as Dulwich were thoroughly outclassed tonight! "10 men, you've only got 10 men" was the cry and it certainly rang true as he was substituted after 70 uneventful minutes.

It was MCS' pace and control that set up the first, crossing directly to Julian Thompson. Then MCS got a goal for himself. Dante found a perfect pass for Marc Charles-Smith to beat the trap and go one on one with the 'keeper. There was only going to be one winner there. 2-0.

Julian had a similar chance, tried the same trick of jinking round the keeper but took the ball too far and gave himself a tight angle and could only find the post.

A further plus was the return of Chippy who played 20 minutes. Wes, meanwhile, pulled a hamstring and suffered a freak head injury will trying to avoid O'Conner's pants...

Dulwich Hamlet Are Coming
30 Years of Hurt

Dulwich Hamlet arrive at the Grove tomorrow in the second round of The Surrey Senior Cup. Just over 30 years ago we met in the final where we were edged out by Hamlet in the last time that they won the competition.

Early indications are that Dave Stevens will not feature for the visitors as he was not on the sheet submitted for the programme or is this early kidology...?

Can you help?

I have received an email via the Official site regarding a book I have never heard of. I got the enquiry about "Up the Tanners" by Geoff Powell.

Does anyone know anything about it? Where you can get it or get in contact with the author? Answers in an email of via the message board!

Cray 3 - 3 Tanners

How Leatherhead threw away these two points is beyond me! Tanners opened the scoring through Sargent who fired a shot against a defender in the box... handball could have been given but he reacted to the rebound first and made no mistake about his second chance. the second was a fantastic through ball to MCS who went in 50-50 with the 'keeper. The ball squirted out goalwards and MCS made no mistake.

Continued pressure saw us hit the bar while Cray manged two or three passes in the final 20 minutes.

The second half saw a long ball picked up by Julian and calmly plpaced into the bottom corner. It was 3-0 with 40 minutes left. Surely the Jingle Bells song could come out... oh what fun to see Leatherhead win away? Alas no as Cray were allowed to score freely in almost freakish calamities at the back for the first then pressure told for the second too. By all accounts they had a good shout for a forth while Leatherhead wasted a clear chance to snatch it at the other end!

Being a Southampton fan and hearing how 3-0 can turn to defeat at the hands to Leeds means nothing surprises me, but in this case I thought the three points were frankly...easy.

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow Leatherhead make a well travelled journey to Hayes Lane to play Tootman's Cray. Who knows what Cray side we are going to see tomorrow... the side that beat Newport 6-2 or the side that went on the worst losing streak in Isthmian post war history...

With the new fella at the back it should give the Tanners the confidence to build on our first victory in five games!

Don't forget... if you fancy a few drinks in London afterwards I am holding the annual Tanners pubcrawl and we start in Picadilly Circus.

Directions

From M25 Junction 4, head towards Orpington. At the first major roundabout you should take the third Exit. From there, continue going straight ahead at all roundabouts.

At the Second set of traffic lights, coaches should turn left towards Croydon. Again, at second set of lights, turn right. Then they should continue down this road and go straight ahead over the two mini roundabouts. The ground is on the right just after the second roundabout in a concealed entrance, which should have been mentioned in the train directions. If you reach the width restriction further up, you have gone too far.

At the second set of traffic lights, cars should continue straight. They must then continue going until they reach another set of lights. Here, they must turn left, then follow the road through the width restriction and round the sweeping left-hand bend. The ground is on the left in a concealed entrance. If a mini roundabout is reached, then the car has gone too far.

Tanners WON - 0 Newport
Report by Levred Moler

Solid if unspectacular as MCS scored a cracking goal after about 15 minutes, lashing the ball from the edge of the box after a clearance fell to him. Despite plenty of possession, we didn't create a great deal of chances against a Newport side whose sole ambition seemed damage limitation. 1-0 at half time, and shortly into the second half it looked like we might rue the lack of a second goal when Steve Sargent as harshly sent off for a second yellow card.

Sarge had been bursting forward when seemingly chopped down in mid flight, the ref played on, but quickly blew up having apparently heard sarge swear whilst on the deck facing the ground.

MCS and Julian Thompson were incensed, and MCS said later that it was in fact their centre back swearing at Sarge that the ref heard.Either way, it was down to ten men, and JT was pulled back into midfield leaving MCS to plough a lone furrow up front.Wes came more into the game, and was unlucky to see a low shot bounce back off the post, and another effort tipped over by the keeper.

Newport briefly threatened, and Dunny did well to hold a fierce strike, with a forward ready to pick up any spillages.There was only one further scare for the Tanners, as a dangerous low cross skidded across the six yard box, but fortunately neither forwards nor defenders got a touch, and we were able to comfortably play out time for a workmanlike, but deserved victory.

Team : Dunn, Beer, Hendry, Duncan, Gray, Bennetts, Sargeant, Doherty, Harrison, MCS, Thompson Subs : Alighieri (for Thompson), Waugh (for MCS).MOTM : MCS

Attendance: paltry (126)

Newport (IOW) Are Coming

Leatherhead have only taken 2 points from the last four games and will be looking to improve when we face Newport Tuesday night, as they suffer the same trip we had to do midweek.

Leatherhead will probably put out the same side that started so brightly against Horsham but is there a new man around town...

Horsham 2 -1 Tanners

The Tanners can feel hard done by as they travel up the A24 today. Leatherhead opened the scoring early on after already having two good chances. Then Scott Bennetts fed MCS the ball who nipped the ball away from the slow 'keeper and passed it to Julian Thompson who made no mistake from 5 yards.

Horsham got the equaliser minutes later after a lofted ball was met by a clash between the Horsham striker and Doherty. The Horsham man got the knock down and the ball was fired home.

The second half was an equal affair with both 'keepers pulling off good saves. Then the ref reacted to the home crowd as two players came together in the box, the same level of contact that was waived on for their opener was now ajudged to be a foul and the penalty given.

Two points in four games is difficult reading but the side were looking good again and must focus on getting all three points at home on Tuesday...

Travelling Tanners

Today we travel to league leaders Horsham in a 3 o'clock kick off game. Last year I accused a Horsham player of wearing poncy silver boots... he told me to "**** off" and went on to score a hat trick. Think I will turn my attention to Wes' poofy gloves and see what that does instead!

Directions

Follow the A281 through the centre until you get to a T-junction. Turn left into Queen Street , go under the iron bridge. You should pass a road on your right called Queensway. About 50 metres after this turning there is a pub on the left called the Queens Head - opposite the pub is a driveway (next to a bookies). The ground is at the end of the driveway.