Molesey 0 - 1 Tanners

A night of long ball chasing on cold night ended up with a superbly taken goal by MCS deep into the second half after chasing a long kick by Tommy Dunn. With both sides worried about in form strikers it was hardly surprising that it turned a bit stale but you couldn't fault the work rate of the Tanners, escpecially Warren Waugh and MCS.

The problem for Molesey was that while we could mark Phil Ruggles and they could mark Dave Stevens, we had MCS whose pace was too much in the end.

A win is what we wanted though so onwards we look to Tuesday!

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel, weather permitting, to Molesey for the return fixture of the season. Molesey are struggling this year despite having the in form Phil Ruggles notch up 24 goals for them. The encounter at the Grove certainly proved to be eventful with nine goals so expect anything.

The weather may be the only sticking point with freezing conditions and snow showers forecast... I will try and post something before I set off tomorrow night.

Directions

Take the A3 from London to Hook then onto the A309. Follow to Marquis of Granby Pub then right to Hampton Court Station. Left through Molesey and the ground 1 mile on left marked by a big "Welcome to Molesey FC" sign.

Tanners 1 - 2 Hastings United

Unfortunately the pitch was playable.

Tanners never got going. Hastings took the chances that we presented them.

Full report to follow, although it won't make pretty reading that's for sure.

Popeye

Hastings game is ON!!

Pitch is playable, but it will be messy!!

Popeye

Hastings match today - pitch inspection

Referee's inspection of the waterlogged pitch taking place at 10am this morning.

Watch this space for outcome which will be posted shortly afterwards.

Popeye

Tanners pay the penalty!

Leatherhead 1 - 1 Kingstonian
(0-0 a.e.t. Kingstonian won 4-3 on penalties)

Kingstonian won this battle of the near neighbours after the full ninety minutes produced no goals and extra time strikes from Scott Corbett and Wes Harrison cancelled each other out.

This was a scrappy game where neither side could find that final ball to unlock the opposition defence. The Tanners were without Dave Stevens (cup tied), Steve Sargent (unavailable) and Richard O’Connor (substitute).

As has been the pattern, Leatherhead had most of the possession and territory with a very jaded K’s relying on the break. As usual, Marc Charles-Smith ran himself into the ground and caused constant danger to frequently panicking visiting defence.

Of the 2 extra time goals, Kingstonian’s Corbett was the first to score when he touched on a free kick past Tommy Dunn with the Tanners defence sleeping. It was only a matter of minutes later when a smart 3 person passing move saw Harrison with enough time to hit a low shot to draw level.

Kingstonian’s Michael Brady was straight red-carded when he brought down Charles-Smith who was yet again bearing down on goal. Indeed he was fortunate not to have earned one earlier for a similar infringement which only earned a yellow.

The penalties were jittery affairs. For the Tanners Warren Waugh, Richard O’Connor and Adam Gray scored with Tommy Dunn, Wes Harrison and Jamie Beer failing with their attempts. For the K’s Alimi, Corbett, Ahmed, and Sills converted while Lee and Reid failed from the spot.

So once again the Tanners lose out to the K's in a penalty shoot-out. In truth we had enough chances to clinch it during the game itself but good luck to Kingstonian in the semi-final.

For the Tanners it's vital that we build on the Tonbridge win last weekend when we play Hastings this Saturday. With Thommo doubtful for Hastings after limping off with a damaged hamstring, it's a good job Stevo is back available.

Steve Dennis/Popeye

Next up - Kingstonian - Tuesday k.o. 7.45pm

After Saturday's superb 4-1 win at high-flying Tonbridge, the Tanners return to cup action tomorrow night (Tuesday) against local rivals K's in a Surrey Senior Cup quarter-final.

Kick-off is 7.45pm, and with K's hitting a rich vein of form recently, it should be a cracking cup tie.

Tanners will be without Saturday's hatrick hero Dave Stevens who is cup tied - unfortunately he played for Dulwich Hamlet when we knocked them out of the same cup in round 2 back in December!

Popeye

Tonbridge Angels 1 - 4 Tanners

Yes, we like playing the Angels. This was our second 4-1 win against them this season - a real double.

And here's the match report courtesy of our roving reporter Mr Richard Wilkinson:

Tonbridge looked decent early on, and their quick passing and movement pulled the defence around as we struggled to find our feet.Fortunately their shooting and final pass were poor, and after some pressure a training ground corner routine saw Doherty flick home Sargeant's low drive after MCS dummied Paul Sears corner driven across the edge of the box.

Inexplicably we then gave away a penalty......'gave' being the opertaive word as Henders reached a through ball first and took it away from danger, only for Dunny's momentum to cause him to collide with the forward who dropped dramatically in heap.The resulting spot kick was confidently converted.

Dave Stevens had a one on one which the keeper did well to block with his legs, but little did we realise that the Tanner's goal maestro was simply warming up for his second half masterclass.

Not that the first action after the break went to plan, as MCS was tripped when bearing down on the goal (how did their defender escape a red card?), and DS saw his weak penalty comfortably saved by the Tonbridge keeper.

He was soon to make amends with an incredible finish from virtually on the deadball line, after he had ghosted in on a weak back pass.When MCS was again impeded barely moments later, there was only one candidate for the penalty, as a pumped up Stevens smashed the ball confidently down the middle of the goal, past the diving keeper.

By this stage it seemed as if Stevo could have scored blind-folded whilst standing behind the floodlight pylon, and he wasn't to disappoint as he finished superbly once again from a tight angle for 20 minuted hat trick, after playing a defence destroying one two with Chippy.

Tonbridge rallied briefly, a free kick crashing against Tommy's bar, but the resulting ballooned header high over the bar with the goal gaping summed up the difference between the two sides.........goals win games, one side had Dave Stevens, one side didn't.

Just as well he's back where he belongs, in a green shirt!It could've have then become embarrssing for the Angels, as Tanners looked like they could score every time they went forward, mainly thwarted only by repeated fouls from despairing Tonbridge palyers. The defence looked much more solid in the second half, with Henders dominating, and Paul Sears once again proving a more than able deputy at right back.

Dochs had another decent game in front of the back four, and Sarge was back to his best in his favoured central attacking midfield role.

To say MCS proved a handful once again would be being kind on the Angels defence as he won both penalties and repeatedly skinned two defnders at a time, before making way for Wazzer after a taking a slight knock.

Lyndvall had departed earlier, also appearing to suffer a knock, and hopefully both will be recoverd for Tuesday, especially as DS is sadly cup tied.

Popeye

Surrey Senior Cup - quarter final date

A tasty home tie is against Kingstonian is the Tanners reward for defeating a tricky Beckenham in the last round.

The date for the game is next Tuesday 21st February kick-off 19.45.

A semi-final against the winners of the Walton & Hersham and Carshalton tie (being played a week later on the 28th Feb) awaits the victors.

Expect a bumper crowd at the Grove with high expectations of finally putting one over on our local rivals...

Popeye

Ashford Town 0 - 0 Tanners
Att: 205

A handy point against a fighting Ashford side who are engaged in their usual struggle to stay in Ryman Division One.

However, should it have been three points?

Although I wasn't there, I'm reliably informed that we had a sure-fire penalty appeal declined by the weak referee.

We're back to Kent next week for the trip to Tonbridge, three points will be vital if we are to lift ourselves from 9th place to rejoin the play-off gang.

Still, no midweek games to distract us agin this week.

Popeye

Travelling Tanners

This is it. The chance to bounce back is now upon us and the trip to Ashford becomes even more important considering this is a place that many feel we slipped at last year. Many think the linesman slipped up more by allowing at least two Ashford players to be offside as the final passing move of the game resulted in us losing.

Directions
From M20
Exit the M20 at junction 10, and follow the signs for International station and Brenzett. You should be on a dual carriageway called Bad Munsterieful Road. Follow this road straight over the first roundabout (McDonalds drive through and Travel Inn on your right). At the next roundabout take the first exit sign posted Kingsnorth. Follow this road, and at the next roundabout go straight over (Tesco's on your left).

Follow this road for about 2 miles, going through Kingsnorth, passing the cricket club on the left. The Homelands is 300 yards on your left..

By Train
Ashford international station is over four miles from the Homelands, so unless you're very fit and leave a few hours before KO then a cab is a must.

Pub Guide
Having done this trip last year there is only one place to meet and thats the Tufton Bailiffehouse which is about half a mile away.

Poll Result

It was close... first it was all positive thinking... then the doubts set in... now sadly the "NO's" have it with a narrow win of just 5 votes. All the talk on the message board is of our run in and our away trip at Ashford is the perfect place to start.

This weeks poll looks at our ground improvement scheme and the chance to name the stand... would you be that shameless...?



The Matt Le Ross Stand?

Slip-Sliding Away

Last nights results see Tanners slip to 8th with Croydon doing the business away at Corinthian Casuals being the main culprit. Hardly massive crowds either!


Corinthian Casuals 0 - 3 Croydon Athletic - Attendance 86
Metropolitan Police 0 - 0 Hastings United - Attendance 85

The Tanners Book Is Coming

Coming soon – ‘How Green Is Mole Valley’, a history of Leatherhead Football Club (1946-2006) and its predecessors (1886-1946). The book will include a season by season look at each club, their successes and failures, the people that made it happen, and those that didn’t, final league tables, major cup results, statistical summaries, the development of Fetcham Grove, many photos, and contributions from Billy Miller, Chris Kelly and current Chairman Tim Edwards.

It is expected to have at least 280 pages, will cost under £20 and be published early next season. To reserve your copy, get £1 off the retail price and have your name included on a dedication list that will appear in the book, just send £10 with your name and address (by 30th April 2006) to: David Johnston, 10 b Brighton Road, Hooley, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 3EB

Tanners 2 - 4 Hornets

Leatherhead proved to be too generous at the back and too wasteful upfront to lose a game they put themselves in such a strong position in after just four minutes. I think Chippy scored the first and MCS the second as I was in the bar and buying a burger for our efforts.

The ref decided at this point he wanted to be the star and slowly made his impression. The linesman gave a corner but the ref thought his view through two players was better and gave a goal kick... the resulting move saw Hornets have too much room and a placed shot into the corner.

Horsham now were back and pressed and within 10 minutes found themselves in the lead after sloppy defending saw two free headers glide in. The ref continued in his quest to ruin our chances by allowing Horsham players to say what they wanted, even push the referee away while booking Beero for the first instance of dissent.

This booking proved crucial as, while Tanners exerted the pressure through no less than four one on one chances which he squandered, Beero saw another yellow for an incident only the ref saw.

Horsham's fourth goal came from a break down the centre, spread out right and then a perfect lob over the advancing Tommy Dunn. The best goal of the day by far, pity we couldn't show that precision!

Horsham Are Coming

Old friends Horsham travel up the A24 today for the Ryman fixture. The Hornets will be in high spirits today, not only because they are riding high in the league but because they will be in the Running Horse from about 11.45 by all accounts.

Today is the first game under the new regime and also your first chance to see the stand you could name for inspiration!!

Barry Barnes Resigns

It is with sadness that I announce that Barry Barnes has stepped down from the management team due to personal circumstances. The popular manager will still be seen at the Grove to cheer on the team. I am sure we all wish him well!

For the time being Dave Harlow will continue as manager but assisted by Mark Harper. An official statement is expected in the next 24 hours.

Beckenham 1 - 2 Tanners

With Dave Stevens cup tied and MCS still injured Wes partnered Julian up front. Leatherhead made heavy weather of the task but created enough changes to perhaps warrant the lead at half time. Second half started and still no improvement so it looked like the tie was beyond us when they scored following a breakaway move.

Leatherhead seemed shocked into action and the equaliser came from an unlikely source, a superbly taken goal by Lee Doherty! Then, while many were thinking of a midnight hometime with extra time and penalties, Julian Thompson pounced to make it 2-1.
Kingstonian edged past Westfield so we will host them in the next round!