Travelling Tanners

Deep breaths. This is massive. Leatherhead make their first trip to the impressive Dartford stadium to see out a nervy FA Cup encounter. We've had our trip to the seaside... our fun on Socceram... even a cracking picture in the paper... but it counts for nothing this weekend. Christ, I feel like Winston Churchill!

An early mention of making the trip by train has stirred up a bit of a following so here are the time that will get you there in good time for a prematch livener.

Depart:	11:41 Leatherhead (LHD)
Arrive:	12:25 London Waterloo (WAT)
Leg 2 of 3
Depart:	12:25 London Waterloo (WAT)
Arrive:	12:45 London Waterloo East (WAE)
Leg 3 of 3
Depart:	12:49 London Waterloo East (WAE)
Arrive:	13:29 Dartford (DFD)

I wanted an earlier start but Dickie needs time for his lucky prematch rituals!

Pub Guide

We'll sniff one out on the way!

Walton & Hersham - photos

Excellent photos of yesterday game (including Gavin's goal) at:

http://andy578.fotopic.net/c1357695_1.html

Tanners 1 - 1 Walton

When the Walton manager saw the dress code for the newly decorated Grove as smart casual he decided to play with things a bit, opting for a suit and tie while untucking his shirt. Now I understand where he may have been coming from, if you iron the whole shirt why not show it off but frankly he looked ridiculous.

Leatherhead by contrast started the game looking sharp and it wasn’t long before we found the back of the net. The lively Billy Marshall put the ball into Gavin Bolger’s feet who fire it into left hand corner.

It did not look like the visitors had an answer to it other than “****” and “@&^%” as their number three got booked for back chat and throwing the ball away. Though the ref found a niggly foul in just the right spot to award a free kick to Walton and it was headed home to make it 1-1.

Now the ref. I am not interested in debating the apparent one sidedness or penalty decision. These things happen where a decision is made in an instant, but what I took offence to was the ref’s handling of his own mistake.

A ball into the box was being defended by the ‘keeper and defender both looking to get to the ball via Billy to be sure of romoving the threat. Billy on the other hand had other ideas and pulled out of his challenge allowing the two away players to collide and fall in a heap. This would normally be as funny as a man carrying a plate full of jelly slipping on a banana peel but the ref, who was in no real position to see through the defender to blow for a foul and reach straight for his card.

The Referee’s Assistant then did the unthinkable… he assisted the referee. He could see that Billy had done nothing and called the ref over. They talked and called Billy over and then pointed to four other parts of the field so booked him for being naughty on those occasions instead of this one. Coward. A bigger man would have apologised and given a drop ball or something but he was a little man in every sense and so opted for the cheap option.

He was big enough to award the visitors a penalty but they showed true Corinthian spirit and smacked the ball against the post. It finished 1-1 and it was unclear by the reaction of both sets of players of who was happier with that result.

Dover 1 - 0 Leatherhead

Leatherhead will be able to sympathise with Tottenham fans as they failed to press home their advantage over their high flying rivals. Chances fell to Sargent, Thompson and Sheerin in the first half but none found the net.

The Tanners though had shrugged off the tame showing at Sittingbourne and looked like they wanted to win. An early 4-5-1 experiment looked certain to fail as the Dover manager had clearly seen what attacking down the right could do. With Julien there little cover could be provided to the struggling Adam Gray.

Then a switch to 4-4-2 saw Sargent go over to help and the tide turned. Leatherhead were throwing the ball into dangerous areas and the Dover fans went quiet.

The second half saw Dover gain more possession but their chances were few and far between. Our chances dried up too but with the requirement to make three subs in Baker, Thompson and Sheerin a lot of the power had been lost.

Dover got their goal. A cross from the right was headed home perfectly from the striker hanging in the air desperately to get to it. Beero tried to cover but the striker had made too much space for himself.

The Leatherhead side of Tuesday accepted defeat, making no attempt to really take the game to the opponents. This side got ready to get the equaliser they felt they deserved. Lyndval pushed up into midfield and they attacked with real purpose. They nearly got their reward when a Henders header dropped onto the post and rolled wide and Billy Marshall's overhead kich fly narrowly over.

Billy, out wide, with the ball at his feet rather than jumping for hit and hopers looked twice the player he has and will give the Tanners hope for Monday where we entertain Walton & Hersham...kick off at 3pm.

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow Leatherhead pick themselves up from a midweek disaster to play what many people will believe to be future champions of this league. They have started as they mean to go one winning both of their games. I just hope the linesman keeps his eyes open and the ref's on the watch... we have a ferry to catch!

Directions

From outside of Kent, find your way to the M25, then take the M2/A2 (follow the signs for Canterbury, the signs for Dover will take you down the M20) as far as the Whitfield roundabout (near the Esso petrol station and McDonald's Drive-Thru). Take the fourth exit at this roundabout, down Whitfield Hill.
At the bottom of the hill turn left at the roundabout and follow this road until the first set of traffic lights. At the lights turn right (180 degrees down the hill) and follow the road under the railway bridge, the ground is just up the road.
If you have to take the M20/A20 leave the A20 in Folkestone (the exit immediately after the tunnel through the hill) and travel through the Alkham Valley (turn left at the roundabout at the end of the slip-road and then left again, following the signs for Alkham) which will eventually take you near Kearsney train station (turn right into Lower Road just before the railway bridge, before you get to the station).

Brickies 2 - 1 Tanners

As my Sat Nav plotted my route into a deadend I realised perhaps this was not going to be our day. The walk did us good although the wafting smell of raw sewage from the nearby treatment plant further dampened our spirits.

Although was this thought misplaced. OK the general flow of the game resembled something floating in a nearby pool, a swift move through the middle found Benno through on goal and his powerful shot beat the 'keeper near post. The Travelling Tanners exploded... camp Sittingbourne Officials called us names. All good stuff.

Once we had navigated past fences that were there for no good reason other than to please mystery people at the FA, the travelling Tanners got behind the goal hoping to celebrate another win. Sittingbourne had other ideas and without any warning made a substitution. The right wing now had that channel as their own personal playground. Waltzing up and down and in and out at their leisure.

This was getting a bit beyond a joke now. Their number 12 was stopping to light up a cigerette and still getting a cross in. No need to panic though. This is not the Tanners side that will wait to concede one goal before adding to the stretched areas... oh no... this is the side that will wait to concede two.

Lyndval, in all of his athletic pacey splendor, stood waiting to come on while not one but two goals flew in in quick succession. Julien came on before the first and looked powerful and created some chances, then Sargent came on to add to the festival of football down the right but it was our left that was so badly lacking and Sittingbourne, to their credit, exploited it.

Dover Saturday!

Travelling Tanners

A tricky start to the season gets trickier with a visit to Sittingbourne. Tricky mainly due to most Sat Navs taking you down a dead end when trying to get to the ground. Both teams got off to a winning start sharing the 1-0 scoreline.

Some key players are back although the focus of the NLP page 3 article will be out with a hamstring injury.

The directions are complicated so I have posted the link HERE so I cannot be blamed for getting lost around Dolphin Road or where ever.

Pub Guide

Are you ruddy mad? My last suggestion was so bad for this place I daren't have another go. If you are keen for prematch sustainance give me a call around 6.30ish and I will let you know where we are as we are going to find something on the road. If I say Dolphin Road send a search party.

Tanners 1 - 0 Blues

Opening day and holidays are like peaches and cream to Leatherhead and with two key players away the home faithful must have feared the worst after last years opening defeat to Fleet. Met Police however without their hitman looked only ever good for a point so it was a matter IF we could score.

It perhaps didn't look that way. Forrester had the best chance and pulled a hamstring while Henders head let him down byglancing a chance wide.

With the injuries on came two subs, Julien Thompson and Jamie Reid/Read. Both looked lively and made the difference combining to create the only goal of the game. Thompson put in the through ball and Read reid it well, slotting it past the keeper.

Cult hero status confirmed for the striker who, after some time away, looks to be the finished article.

Met Police Are Coming

It is here, the start of the season and what a start we have. Three of the sides that will be going for the play-off places in the opening week. This is either going to be brilliant or a ruddy disaster.

Anyway, tomorrow is our chance to see as the Met Police arrive without their new hitman. Sadly Dave Stevens has chickened out, deliberately pulling a groin muscle to avoid coming to the Grove. That said I am sure they have plenty in reserve as I am sure our new crop of strikers will look to get to a flying start.

Kick-off at 3pm see you Heathrow... yes I am missing the opening game. What a loser.

Godalming 1 - 2 Tanners

If the footballing gods were asked for an end to the goal drought they misheard slightly, it chucked to down while the forwards that look likely to start the game failed to hit the back of the net although looked lively.

It was shades of Torquay for our opener late in the first half with Henders pouncing like a salmon, plaicing (I knew I shouldn't have cracked that joke in the stand) it past the 'keeper.

Disappointingly Leatherhead conceded early from a corner, it appeared to go straight in but may have had a touch on its way down from its steep fall. Was this to be a repeat of the score for the last league encounter here? Not without their Eider Gudjohnsen look-a-like.

Julien looked sharp and combined nicely with cult hero Jamie Reid. Julien's powerful run down the right and pin point cross found the striker who flung himself into the header.

So, the pre-season friendlies are over and Saturday we start the campaign with a win under our belt. We have tried a few formations and many players... the one thing we can be certain of is Harlow wont be playing. He came on last night making two dodgy tackles and a weak freekick. Its Holmes I feel sorry for... being subbed off for him...

Met Police Saturday!

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow we travel to Goaldalming... with three games with the onion bag being troubled and the season looming large it is the perfect chance to build some confidence with some much needed goals. That is not to be disrespectful for the battling Surrey side but with the last games being against higher opposition, this game is at least a more realistic test.

Lets hope lightening doesn't strike either at the Surrey ground as the last midweek friendly had to be abandoned after a bolt from above hit a floodlight pylon. No blaspheming just to be safe though...

See you there!

Directions

A3100 from Guildford: Proceed past the Out & About Hotel on the left, and ‘Save’ Petrol Station on the right; then take the first right after 50 yards.

A3100 from Godalming: The ground will be found on the left by the Leathern Bottle PH.

Tanners 0 - 1 Wealdstone

A second half goal that resembled a something often seen at the business end of a pinball machine was enough to see off a spirited Leatherhead performance.

Against higher opposition Leatherhead played well, holding them at bay for the first half and Joe Sheerin upfront keeping hold of the ball and bringing others into play. The worry is that this has not resulted in goals yet.

Godalming Town are the kind of side we should be looking to beat so Tuesday night is now vital to get the strikers' peckers up for the season.

Wealdstone Are Coming

Our old friends come to the Grove in this friendly encounter. In the last two games the Tanners have come up against teams two leagues above so playing our visitors is almost like a holiday!

Goals is the watchword for me. Two games without scoring is not heathy for this time of year so grabbing a couple tomorrow and a few more Tuesday will set us up nicely for the Met Police.

Kick or at 2.45... oh OK 3pm but come down early and enjoy the bar and the sunshine!

Tanners 0 - 4 Fisher

Leatherhead upped their game from their display on Saturday and were rewarded with a 4-0 pounding after a goalkeeping error gifted a second goal which allowed the flood gates to open.

Losing heavily to a side of Fisher's standard is nothing to be ashamed of but what may be worrying the Tanners faithful is two games without a goal while boasting some exciting talent. Still there are two more games to go with the visit of Wealdstone and a trip to ex-league cohorts Godalming Town.

See you Saturday!

Fisher Athletic Are Coming

Now I have mixed emotions when it comes to the last time we played a friendly. Their 'keeper, called Maurice, was a fiery fellow and after 5 minutes we had a shot that whistled past the post I declared "that was close 'keeper" and I got a "$£%$ off" for my troubles.

Know I had struck gold I continued with the mild line of enquiry until he stopped the game to discuss the matter with me behind the goal. He was subbed during the second half and gestured to me that he wanted to discuss this further outside.

I realised then that friendlies don't need to be watched for the entire 90 minutes. I showed him who the bigger man was, I made some hand signal of my own and ran off to the pub... giggling. He wont be there tonight will he?

Anyway, expect entertainment at a more appropriate level tonight as the Tanners look to bounce back from the weekend. Kick off is at 7.30(ish) so come on down and enjoy the sunshine.

Tanners 0 - 2 Sutton

Leatherhead were given a lesson today by their higher placed opposition, especially in the first half where their dominance resulted in early two goals. The first was very early, some people were still arriving.

Sutton have high hopes for a number of their young players, one of them being their No 7 and it looked to be justified when he scored after 4 minutes. He was being almost invited to have a shot from some distance and he did beating our unsighted 'keeper ends up. Just 15 minutes later another goal came through a combination of their tricky strikers which went on to torment our back line all game.

The second half was a less spectacular affair but by then the damage was done. The game reminded me of when Farnborough came here in FA Cup but it is still a valuable exercise. Sutton have a squad to compete on the Conference South and together with the hottest Saturday this year it was difficult to step up (I'd imagine... I was sitting in the shade with a drink).

Fisher Athletic arrive Tuesday day, 7.30pm kick-off.

Sutton Are Coming

Not since Jamie Reid spanked in a goal against Dorking have the pre-season fixtures been so exciting. Unbeaten, goals and new players on show... and all for a fiver! (Free if you have a season ticket.)

Top stuff. Tomorrows Feast of Football kicks off at three, see you there?