Whyteleaf 2 – 2 Tanners

The home players and supporters looked distraught as they left the pitch following the last 10 minutes that they will no doubt feel the ref handed them the draw. They will have no doubt forgotten the goal ruled out for offside where Stevens looked a good two yards onside for in the same period.

I missed the first goal while I walked about a mile up Church Road but by all accounts our ‘keeper was to blame as he refused to come for a ball. Some 10 minutes later the old ball to the far post and headed back routine cost us the second.

Whyteleaf must have felt on top but the signs where there that we were in a scoring mood. Their ‘keeper had to make two fingertip saves to stop looping headers going in as well as a couple of other reflex saves.

Other than those saves the ‘keeper was a disaster waiting to happen with his gloves made of a textile commonly seen when frying an egg or whipping up a stir fry. Out he came punching and flapping nearly scoring two own goals for his trouble. A goal nearly came when the ball squirmed under his legs and rolled painfully close to goal.

The second half we was rarely tested until we had a free kick deep in their half. The ball was whipped in and headed home but up went the flag. Offside. Considering where the ball was and where the defenders were it would be quite a feat for Stevens to be offside… even for him!

So we were feeling pretty down with our selves but still behind the goal cheering them on. The home fans had just rhymed Tanners with Spanners so were feeling pretty clever. Then the ref saw something and he blew his whistle.

To be fair to the home fans I can see why they were upset. We were shouting at the ref thinking he had blown up for an offensive foul but it was a penalty. The defender was using Marshall like a step ladder. Stevens hammered the ball home in impressive style.

Could we get the second? It looked a little unlikely until a long diagonal ball found Bernard in space on the right. Out came the penguin in the goal, flapping all the way and the ball was clipped over for the second.

Two frantic minutes while both teams wanted it and then it was full time. There was some close talk going on after the game. I think their number 14 wanted to swap shirts with Benno but he had promised it to their no 10… or something like that…

Travelling Tanners

I've seen the footage and I hope there is no one do do doing the Whyteleaf tonight... I feel quite sick just thinking about it.

Anyway, tonight we travel to Whyteleaf for the rearranged fixture. Could we make it three league games in a row?

Directions (from their site)

• From Junction 6 of the M26 head north along the A22 (signposted to London, Croydon and Caterham).
• At Wapses Lodge Roundabout, the Ann Summers building is clearly visible opposite, take the third exit.
• Take the first left adjacent to Whyteleafe South railway station and cross the level crossing.
• Fork right after 200 yards into Church Road.
• The ground is a quarter of a mile down the road on the right

Tanners 2 – 0 Whitstable

Leatherhead fans will have to be quizzing themselves over the last two goal victory they have enjoyed this season. There haven’t been many, but it is what was needed against a side that have scored relatively freely and made us sweat for much of the second half.

Leatherhead though were in a goal scoring mood themselves and in the first half alone calved enough chances to bury the visitors. The goal came from Gibbs who had previous blasted wide of the goal out on the left, this time got a similar chance who shot flew past the ‘keeper. The Whitstable "shot stopper" spent most of the game playing musical statues and this was his finest moment.

The second half had us on the back foot. Whitstable were giving it a go and had their finishing been anything special we may have been given a bit of a hiding. Luckily The Mole was in more danger of being hit. That said it didn’t stop us biting our nails until Stevo popped up with his second in two starts for us.

Holmes broke through the middle, got a bit of a lucky bounce as he was tackled but stayed on his feet to be through on goal. Once accused of not being able to pass he sent in a ball perfectly to set up the open Stevens who calmly side footed it passed a goal keeper best suited to stand on the top of a Nelson’s Column.

Whyteleaf Tuesday night!

Whitstable Are Coming

If Molesey at home was the night of the long knives where the old regime departed, Whitstable away was the day the daggers were first drawn as we lost 1-0. Our visitors lie just four points behind us but have scored 40 goals to our measly 28 so at least they have gone down with a fight.

Stevo will be back in action so hopefully we can build on the fantastic climax to the Molesey game…

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tooting & Mitcham 3 – 0 Tanners

Two late goals again give Tooting a slightly flattering score line as we huffed and puffed against a well organised side.

We had our moments though with Marshall and Gibbs providing some early threat but as the game wore on they became less effective. The Travelling Tanners would turn to two potential handballs inside the box that were both judged to be ball to hand. It could have been seen that way and just fortuitous that the ball bounced safely away after the contact on both occasions.

Their goal came when Henders miss judged where the ball was going to bounce and so it sailed over him to allow their striker a clear path on goal.

The second half was largely uneventful for the visitors as even the bench remained still until the last five minutes when all three subs were used but as we pressed they took advantage with two classic breakaway goals.

Whitstable come to the Grove Saturday…

Moles 2 – 3 Tanners

This was a game that the Tanners could not afford to lose. It was almost unthinkable that we could only be one point off the drop zone after all of the new talent that has arrived at the club in recent weeks.

It would be perhaps forgivable that the first half was nervy but in truth it appeared just to be flat with Molesey looking the more likely to score while Leatherhead could only have a flash at goal. The returning Messiah making his first start since his return and looking the most dangerous for us.

The second half started with Molesey on the attack. The sniff of a win was in the air and they wanted it. So through the pressure they quickly raced to a two goal lead. Leatherhead could not cope with the attacks down the wings and a ball in from the left was slashed at by a defender to see it loop over French for a own goal and then from the right to be prodded home.

It looked desperate for the visitors until reinforcements were called. Gibbs had already been put on at half time and now Billy Marshall and another new player that I have yet to be told his name came on.

Despite the new faces in truth the revival came from the old as Lyndval showed some sense of adventure down the right wing and got the ball to the far side. Gibbs then showed some trickery to get a ball in the box for the swift Lyndval to pounce. We were back.

Stevens was up for this and his powerful freekick flew in following a deflection from the wall.

Molesey thought they had then gone on to win it with a similar goal to their second. Their ‘keeper certainly did and made the classic mistake of over celebrating in front of the aways fans to miss the offside flag being raised.

Back came the Tanners and soon Gibbs had a bit of room and his accurate shot made it three and to deny Molesey even a sniff of their only double of the season.

That said, Molesey must know what it feels like to be robbed judging by how two local youths have discovered the knack of sneaking into the ground to grab a match ball at half time…

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow Leatherhead will hopefully find a playable pitch to battle out what has now become a six pointer. A few weeks ago we snatched six points against some big hitting sides to make us dream of an upward surge up the table. Thank the lord we had those six points or we’d be smack in the middle of it now.

In past seasons a loss at Molesey would be greeted with tales of bogey sides. With only four points separating us from the drop there can be no room for these excuses. Should be a ruddy cracker!

Pop onto the messageboard tomorrow to make sure it is on as the picture shows, we would struggle to host the game!

Directions

A3 from London to Hook, then A309, follow to Marquis of Granby Pub, right to Hampton Court Station, left through Molesey, ground 1 mile on left.

Non-travelling Tanners

Tonight's game at Burgess Hill Town has been called off. The pitch is waterlogged, and it's still raining!

Travelling Tanners

I am writing this tonight rather than on Monday or Tuesday as I am away in Liverpool (sneaking in a trip to Anfield to boot!) so wont be able to update this site until my return.

Hopefully when I get back there will be some good news for me to type up as we travel to Burgess Hill… not the happiest of hunting grounds for us but still enough chances created on Saturday to give us hope.

Kick-off a leave work early 7.30pm (Liverpool at 8)

Directions (from their site)

By Car: Leave the A23 at the junction of A2300 north of Hickstead show ground. Follow the signs to Burgess Hill/Wivelsfield Station Over 1st roundabout, Left at second (past Triangle Leisure centre). Left at next roundabout then Right at the next. Drive up the Hill for 300 yards then take the first left into Maple Drive. the home of BHTFC is about 3/4 mile down this road on the Left hand side look for the parking signs and the floodlights.

Tanners 0 – 4 Tooting

Leatherhead are on the wrong end of a tonking today after they fail to take their chances in the first half. Leatherhead were starting to play good football again and took the game to the high flying visitors.

Gibbs had the first chance, capitalising on a mix up in defence and was one on one with the ‘keeper. Luckily for the tall shot stopper it was right at him so he pulled off a save. I say lucky as despite his size he was one of the worst I have seen when it came to using his hands. I am sure his misses would do the washing up herself when the best crockery had been used, even if 12 bowls of rice pudding had been left overnight to crust up.

Leatherhead were pressing Tooting hard and were getting their reward of plenty of possession. Another mix up and the ball found a green shirt in the box and a gaping goal but a shin later the shot went well wide.

The second half started with Tooting wanting more of the game but Leatherhead still matched their visitors and wanted to score. Martin made some space down the right and crossed into Billy Marshall for another open goal but the ball got stuck under his feet and squirmed out behind him. He latter went on to hit the post with a well struck shot that left the ‘keeper standing like a statue.

The game then seemed to turn after Leatherhead were building some pressure. Then a Tooting player went down with a “head” injury. Fortuitous to say the least and when the treatment indicated it was no more than mud in the eye it confirmed my belief that it was not to be our day. A swift move later and they went one up.

Again Leatherhead were out of luck as Gibbs had the ball on the edge of the box. As he shaped to shoot he was pulled back, only ever so slightly but enough for him to lose his shooting position. Possession lost and within seconds the ball broke and was in the back of the net.

On came Stevens. The game seemed destined for this moment, albeit maybe ten minutes earlier. In fact his first touch seemed to indicate that as he ran onto a ball and calmly lofted it over the ‘keeper but it bounced painfully wide.

Tooting went on to score two more through some smart pieces on play and seal our fate. Now on to Molesey where things are shaping up to be a real six pointer!

Tooting & Mitcham Are Coming

Finally I am in a position to say there will be a game at Fetcham Grove today. My son and I have done an inspection of the back garden and while the areas infront of the sheds is a little boggy it should maintain its integrity for 90 minutes.

Pitch has been inspected and is playable, if a little boggy in parts. Think Boxing Day conditions and you won't be too far wrong. Hopefully it will be a better game than that but we'd settle for a point against the league leaders wouldn't we?

What is more, the talisman is back... Stevo!

Kick-off at 3pm, see you there!

Cray 2 – 0 Tanners

Tanners look like they have failed to have built on what looked like two great results a few weeks ago. Gone are the cool passes out of defence and back to the long ball game that saw us groaning against Whitstable and Molesey.

We did have our moments though with Billy Marshall again shining upfront and perhaps we even edged possession but after a spell of pressure Cray got their breakthrough. Cray got the ball in the box and there was a bit of a scramble, a player went down, the ball squirmed out to a Cray striker who smacked it into the open net.

The second half got a little worse in my opinion. Gibbs for one found himself playing out on the left but he is right footed, amazingly so in fact, so when any pass was put out there for him to chase down he lost the advantage by having to cut back.

When the left footed Boosey did come on it was too late. Yet another mysterious incident which saw our ‘keeper on the floor and another tap in.

Leatherhead could have scored a few of their own with Martin through on goal but opted for near post and their ‘keeper pulled off a good reflex save. Also a lofted ball in was dropped by the keeper and the header back was cleared off the line up into the air, down onto the bar and into the arms of the grateful ‘keeper.

Probably the best moment of the game came when a hopeful ball was pumped to the far post. It was met by Tommy whose athletic jump took him over the barrier such was his desire to get to the ball.

So Cray go on to their inevitable play-off disappointment while Leatherhead must look to scrabble around for some points to make the table more comfortable to read…

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow (although the rain may have a say in this) we travel all the way to Bromley to play our old friends Cray. These games have always had something about them… the easy chants at three nil up and then nearly losing it… ah those were the days.

For Leatherhead it is a chance to bounce back from the loss of the weekend which many we should have won. See you there!

Directions

People have got lost before trying to find this place. Get a SatNav and drive in the future! In the mean time…

From the M25 Junction 4, head towards Orpington. At the first major roundabout, take the third exit. Continue going straight ahead at all roundabouts, At the second set of traffic lights, continue straight on. Continue going until you reach another set of traffic lights. Here, turn left. Follow the road through the width restriction and round the sweeping left hand bend. The ground is on the left in a concealed entrance just after a mini roundabout.