Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow night we travel into Kent for the Surrey Senior Cup for the rearranged fixture. Beckenham's injury woes appear to have eased so hopefully the game will be on now!

Directions
Not alot on directions to the ground but a map can be found via www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk but it is just of the A214 by Eden Park station.

Pub Guide
If you are getting there early then head for the The Rising Sun (in Upper Elmers End Road) for something to eat.


Pub of choice

Tanners 3 - 2 Casuals

Revenge is a dish best served cold... and today it was freezing. There was only talking point before the game and that was what Edu's house was like. Before you knew what time it was the ref had kicked off and we rushed to see how Dave Stevens would do on his return.

The Tanners came out in an attacking formation. Three centrebacks while wingbacks pushed forward to cross into box and supply the midfielders. It was one of these wingbacks that got the first. A bouncing ball in the box was too tempting for Beero, while the defender seemed to only walk to the danger. Jamie beat him there and fire it past the 'keeper who could only feel it blast through his gloves.

The rest of the day belonged to Dave Stevens. He probably had three chances all game. The first came in the first half a through ball which he controlled and fire across the keeper. In the second half a similar chance but with more pressure from a defender, this time he held him off and fire near post. The third chance he set up Chippy instead of taking a shot.

Corinthians meanwhile were busy at the other end and scored two of their own to make us think the "Return of Stevens" script was actually a Greek tragedy.

Corinthian Casuals Are Coming

Could tomorrow's game be any bigger? They beat us early on in the season in an ill tempered game 3-0 with their only three meaningful attacks. A victory that represents 25% of their total wins to date.

Meanwhile, Leatherhead have struggled to score and so see the return of Dave Hitman Stevens into the fold...

Kick-off at 3pm. Frankly who'd miss it!

Dover Are Coming

Apart from maybe the opening game of the season, this is possibly the biggest home game of the season for the Tanners this year. Big time charlies Dover are coming and are expected to bring a big crowd. It is just a pity its a Tuesday night and not a Saturday!

Kick of at 7.45!

Fleet 1 - 1 Tanners

Fleet were in a confident mood, so much so their No2 decided to give us a one goal start after just 33 seconds by firing past ex Tanner Gray without any real pressure from any Tanner. They had every right to be confident with a toothless attack and a dodgy ref at hand.

15 minutes later and a Fleet player surged into the box, clashed with Beero in a shoulder to shoulder bid for the ball which Beero came out with... penalty decided the ref and it was tucked away.

You could tell Fleet are coached by an ex-pro as they new every niggly trick in the book and managed to used our players like step ladders for much of the game. Their no3 thought he was a cut above the rest and after getting away with a blatant pull back and a push on Beero he probably thought he was immortal. Much to the amusement of the Tanners the ref didn't agree and after a rash tackle he saw the second yellow so he could go back and wash his split ends alone.

Sadly that proved to be the last of the entertainment as the game drifted to a halt...

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead must pick themselves up after the disappointment of last Saturday and the defeat to Bashley and face another inform side. The Tanners already have a slight advantage with a Tuesday night off while Fleet were in action. For such a big game a pre-match snifter seems like a good idea and hope to see you in the pub of choice for lunch... see below.

Directions
Fleet is only a short distance from the town centre. Come off the M3 Fleet turnoff and follow the signs to Fleet and you'll end up driving through the town centre high street.
Drive through to the end where you'll come to a crossroad & traffic lights, the Oatsheaf pub to your right and a Chinese restaurant to your left as you look ahead.
Go straight over the lights; pass a police station on your left & Fleet Coaches to your right
Go down a hill & Fleet FC is on your right at the bottom of the hill.

Pub Guide
I have done my research and despite the messageboard I spoke to a nice man who recommended the Prince Arthur in Fleet Road, which is the only pub out of the two suggested that can cater for us.

Poll Result

Well its been a while but the memory of Walton Casuals' captain wearing tights still lives on. Lets hope its warmer in April when we go to their place. It was tight for second place but in the end honours were even as my curry party of one (Dominic would have gone but couldn't get out of a prior engagement) and Moler's birthday shirt got eight votes each.

This weeks poll looks at a very topical issue...

BECKENHAM MATCH - POSTPONED

Please note that tonight's Surrey Senior Cup against Kent side Beckenham has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Watch this space for the rearranged date - probably in a couple of weeks time.

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow night we travel into Kent for the Surrey Senior Cup for yet another tricky midweek journey. Beckenham are flying in the Kent League, second to Maidstone so they will be high on confidence. With any luck they will have one eye on their big game with Slade Green in the league cup eh!?

Directions
Not alot on directions to the ground but a map can be found via www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk but it is just of the A214 by Eden Park station.

Pub Guide
If you are getting there early then head for the The Rising Sun (in Upper Elmers End Road) for something to eat.


Pub of choice

Tanners 0 - 1 The Bash

Leatherhead fail to score for the second game in a row while conceding a controversial goal at the other end with many believing it was offside.

The second half offered very little in the way of a comeback in a surprisingly limp display after showing such good signs until the goal was conceded. The second half was so bad in parts that the most interesting passage of play was the debate over the average weight of a humans head.

While, by all accounts, the players got a roasting after the game questions were being asked outside. Is a goal and a point from the last three games the return we need to get to the play-offs?

Bashley Are Coming

They're probably still smarting over their last minute defeat at their place we infliected earlier in the season and they are on their way here! Tomorrow we face The Bash, a side that is ticking along nicely losing only one game in their last nine to close the gap behind us.

The Tanners should be able to field a strong side and importantly a stronger bench than what was on show for the last home game... no offence Woodsy!

Kick-off at 3pm (and for the first time in a month I can say...) see you there!

Ramsgate 0 - 0 Tanners

A hard fought draw in an open game that Ramsgate could have snatched at the end. An impressive away point which should set us up nicely for Saturday's game against "The Bash".

I am back now so normal service will resume...

Travelling Tanners

Its a Tuesday night... that must mean the Tanners are playing in some far flung place! Tonight its Ramsgate in an important trip against a side occupying third. For those about to leave I have heard from the Horsham fans that this is not an easy ground to get to midweek and apparnetly is famous for its low floodlights!

Good luck!

Directions
1 Approach Ramsgate via A299 (Canterbury/London) or A256 (Dover/Folkestone) to Lord of Manor roundabout
2 Follow the signpost to Ramsgate along Canterbury Road East, counting via 2nd exit of the 1st roundabout.
3 At the 2nd roundabout, continues towards Ramsgate on London Road (2nd exit)
4 Take the 3rd turning on the left, into St Mildred's Road, then 1st left into Queen Bertha Road.
5 After a right hand bend, take left into Southwood Road, and 1st left into Prices Ave. The stadium is at the end of Prices Avenue

Kinstonian 2 - 1 Tanners

Tanners lose out in the Thames Valley derby through two second half goals. Leatherhead were down to 10 men after just 18 minutes, but despite the disadvantage pulled it back to 2-1 to make for a tight finish.

More details to follow...

Travelling Tanners

This is the return leg from the opening game which proved to be a nervous affair with neither team wanting to lose. Soon after Kingstonian´s form dropped as they did not have the firepower to compete but with new arrivals in the shape of Moorhouse have seen them rise up the table to make this a close affair.

Directions
From M25 - Exit the M25 at junction 10 (A3) and head towards London. Exit the A3 at the New Malden junction and turn left heading towards New Malden. Turn left at the next roundabout (The Fountain) onto Kingston Road (A2043).
The ground is in "Jack Goodchild Way" which is before you reach the town centre, but a few miles along the Kingston Road.

By Train - The nearest station is "Norbiton" which is on the Kingston line and is served from Waterloo. The ground is a mile walk from there. Head towards the main London road (the main road near the station) and then turn left into Cambridge Road after the supermarket. It is about a ten minute walk up this road, with the ground on your right.

By Bus - A large number of buses serve Kingston Town Centre. The 131 passes the ground (from Kingston Town Centre)

Pub Guide
They have a huge club bar which will provide the biggest draw for the Travelling Tanners but if you don´t want to rub shoulders with our arch rivals then try the Robert Peel just up the road!

New date for the diary - Surrey Senior Cup 3rd round

The Tanners' reward for defeating Dulwich Hamlet in the last round is a trip to Beckenham Town.

The match will be played on Tuesday 17th January kick-off 7.30pm.

For directions etc, go to www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

And before you say anything, although this is the Surrey Cup, Beckenham IS in Kent, and yes, they play in the Kent Premier League!! Don't ask.

Tanners 4 - 0 Banstead

OK it's a bit late but for the sake of completeness!

Summary.

O'Connor corner, someone - either Dochers or a defender, got to it and guided it into net. 1-0.

Thommo cracks a right foot screamer from outside box, bounces in off underside of bar. 2-0.

Dante comes on as sub and smartly heads in from a corner. 3-0.

Best till last. Thommo collects ball twenty yards out, hits the sweetest left foot bender into the top corner. 4-0.

Sundry items - Thommo pulls hamstring and goes off, replaced by Steve 'Coach' Woods. Within 30 seconds he has a chance to score from 1 yard out. A one-legged, blindfolded 3 year-old would have buried it. Woodsy decided to forsake Dick's offer of free beer for a year if he scored and missed it. Who cared? no one except Woodsy I suspect!

There was still time for MCS to miss a last minute penalty.

Phew!