Tanners 2 - 1 Molesey

Leatherhead bring their seven win less streak to an end with a hard fought battle against Molesey today.

First half Molesey were shocking. Their defense might as well have been selling poppies in November they were so charitable, and Leatherhead were in the mood to take advantage of it.

Their No3 in particular donned his clown feet and set about to make it an interesting opening 45. He didn't waste any time, pushing Jamie Beer over in an off the ball incident that would have probably resulted in a red card if it was not for these unwritten laws about being too early.

Dave Stevens opened the scoring after Julie's effort was blocked. Then No3 struck again when trying to chase a bouncing ball. The jumped up and he patted it down into the path of Julien Thompson like a Harlem Globetrotter with stage fright. If the build up was fortunate the finish wasn't. He blasted into the top right.

In between that there was yet more incident and Molesey were thinking scoring and they nearly did. A goal bound header was crawling towards the line and Ruggles pounced like a Fiat Punto off the lights. He had seen Nugent do it and claimed a goal... but he was offside thus ruining his colleagues effort.

Second half and Molesey woke up. They were here to get something out of the game and with that sharpened up at the back. They got there reward with Ruggles firing home to haunt us again, but given they have yet to beat us this season it was more like having Casper on the pitch than even a jovial poltergeist.

Leatherhead were not without their chances but really the second half belonged to Molesey who just couldn't get the breakthrough. Gibson could have made things tricky after fouling outside the box. He got badly injurred so the ref may have taken pity on him and we survived the scare. Hope you are ok Gibbo!

So three points and Chuck even smiled, I don't know which felt the most unlikely at the start of the game but we got both!

Molesey Are Coming

Once there was a time we couldn't get enough of each other. Every game seemed like we were playing Molesey, but that was a long time ago now. Molesey sit comfortably in midtable, a luxury for them in recent years but they do have Phil "Fast Car" Ruggles upfront for them! Never before have Tracy Chapmans lyrics seemed so poignant.

Hopefully both parties have moved on from "The Night of Hate" but somehow I think the truce will end with one misplaced hand signal from the goalmouth... I hope I am wrong.

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

Tooting 3 - 1 Tanners

It all started so well. A burger and chips bought from there bar / restaurant for £5.45 and it came with a beer of your choice. You didn't have too long to dwell on that we were 1-0 down within the first minute.

Ronnie Green came back to haunt us by opening the scoring and running rings around us for much of the game. Benno wanted to have his say as an attacking winger though and let rip with a screamer to bring it level.

Tooting took the goal as a warning and applied more pressure and soon created several clear chances before the second and third goals came to quash any ideas of a come back.

Still, at least we have Molesey to look forward to on Saturday...

Travelling Tanners

Another midweek game for us and we travel to inform Tooting who, along with Dulwich, are finally showing what they can do after years of what many people thought was under performing.

You could not accuse that of our second half performance against an also inform Hastings, although I will hope we wont need a punch up every game to get firing on all cylinders...

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.

The Week That Was

Yet another week sees me abroad and unable to update the Lip... not that there was much to update it with after a 0-0 draw away at Whyteleafe.

I am going to say something... you know, just put it out there... do with it what you will... I think our best chance of promotion has just passed. There, said it. Not for the want of trying recently though as we have seen all four of our strikers in one game and a reverting back to the fans favourite, 4-4-2. Not that it got us anywhere... who'd be a manager!?

Anyway, I am away AGAIN this weekend so happy hunting down in Hastings, at least it is a close game for one of our fans.

Tanners 3 - 3 Ashford

This was a game both teams felt they should have won when the final whistle sounded. Leatherhead for their bright start and number of chances. Ashford for having a goal disallowed in the dying seconds.

Dave Harlow rang the changes up front with Sheerin and Thompson starting. It started well too (so I am told, I was still in my car!) when Henders scored on two minutes. It then turned sour as Thompson was crudely fouled and needed to be subbed a minute later.

Someone else scored for Leatherhead about five minutes later. To be honest I missed that one too and I am feeling too jet lagged to remember. Scott Bennetts I think...

Anyway. Then there was another goal I missed. I high ball was dropped by Borf leaving a simple tap in for the visitors. We struck back when on fire Henders latched on to a ball in the box and struck it accurately past the 'keeper.

So 3-1 and were were cruising to victor. Nope they broke down the right and slotted it past the on coming Borg for one of the only 2 goals I saw all day. 3-2. What we needed was another goal to settle the nerves. Then the chance came. A penalty for handball, and Sargent stepped up but his shot was too close to the 'keeper and it was saved.

Goals is what we needed and we scored two more only for them to be ruled out for offside and a foul on the 'keeper. I say foul, I know I have seen them given but when the visiting team took the ball to the centre spot because they saw nothing wrong with it I would say it was a little harsh.

Then came the Ashford comeback. Cross after cross into the box and a header made it 3-3. Another looping header made it 3-4! Grown men were crying, dogs were barking and the unseasonably warm weather seemed colder... but all was ok as the officials saw something wrong with it and disallowed it. Offside I think... again I still think it is Friday!

Ian Wright wasn't there either. My motivational lecture will have to wait until next season when we will no doubt meet again...

Asford Town (and Ian Wright!?) Are Coming

That´s the rumour. The new Director of Football will be making his first trip with Ashford to visit the Grove. No doubt he will want to speak to a fellow Director of a football club to see what it is like. I will try and make time to see him when not selling the Tanners At Torquay DVD (available at just a fiver...).

This then is probably not the time to play the visitors. We appear on the ropes while they will be on a high after their off the pitch signing but what trickswill we have up our own sleeve...

Travelling Tanners

This lucky lot got to come to the Grove the Tuesday before we made "that" trip. What´s more they got to see a couple of their four goals on Sky Sports! We have no such distractions this time and so will hope to achieve a win against tough opposition.

See you in the messageboard as the updates come in...

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!

Tonight's game v Whyteleafe is OFF...

...waterlogged pitch.

Game rearranged for two weeks time - 20th March

Whyteleafe match tonight

Not looking too optimistic for tonight's game after the rain last night.

Official pitch inspection at 3pm, watch this space for the verdict.

Tanners 1 - 3 YMCA

Normally my trips to Brasil coincide with blistering runs of form but it would appear the lucky charm has not worked after a disappointing result today.

Stevo had the chance to put the game to bed for us in the early minutes but YMCA weathered the storm and took control. They soon had a two nil lead at which point Leatherhead responded.

Henders powerful header gave us hope but the visitors extended their lead and put the game (and some are saying the play-offs) out of our reach.

Game on!

Well actually, there's a pitch inspection at 12.30, but I've just talked to GD who is at the Grove with a band of merry moppers, and he says that in the absence of a torrential downpour this morning (not forecast), the playing surface is fine.

Bring it on.

We know it's fun to play the....

Yes sirree, the YMCA are on their way to the Grove tomorrow. Horsham that is, of course.

A game the Tanners will want to win to maintain hope of a play-off position.

So, Leatherhead v Horsham YMCA, Ryman Division One South. Kick-off 3pm.

Be there or be square. And let's make some noise...