Dorking 2 - 4 Tanners

As predicted on the message board Dorking applied themselves well tonight giving us a scare or two along the way. 

I am not sure how Brady will feel about tonight's performance.  Careless at the back to allow them to score and at times wasteful up front.  To prove the point their opener came on 9 minutes when there was a bit of a mix up between keeper and defender allowed Smith to strike a fine low shot into bottom left corner.

Leatherhead did respond well with Andrews scoring with Tommy adding to the tally to take the lead on 25 minutes.  Dorking coming close somewhere in middle of our two goals themselves.

Hutchings scored a third on the stroke of half time and that gave us perhaps too much confidence in the second half as we became a little too wasteful against a purposeful Dorking.  On 60 minutes it sounds like Chico created some classic magic to concede a penalty and set the nerves jangling.

Ryan Thomas came on and exploited his pace to get us the forth on 88 minutes and put the game to bed.  On to the next round then...

Travelling Tanners

 

Surrey Senior Cup action tonight and a trip to our most local of local rivals Dorking.  It has been a shame that the annual summer trophy has been placed on the back burner, especially considering the "mouthwatering" opposition we had lined up this July.  So tonight is a great chance to renew acquaintences in a more prestidious competition.

 

Should anyone not know how to get there you can find directions here.  Kick off is at 7.45.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 0 - 1 Lewes

There was a certain amount of confidence in the Lewes display even before the game had started.  No sooner had they shaken hands they then went on to perform a dapper River Dance routine on the side line... then to further test the boundaries set by the ref they then joined a prolonged huddle.  Boundaries set then.  Lewes ruled the roost.

The game was a turgid affair though.  Little entertainment but certainly Lewes having the greater share of possession with Leatherhead having to soak up pressure and then give the ball away.  Perhaps our best chance of the first half was a short back pass that we picked up but with the ball at a tight angle we looked to pass and it was cut out and the chance gone.

Second half and the lack of entertainment made it look like it could transpire to be a 0-0 draw and a point.  The only thing to cheer about was Lewes' ability to cling to when they were a conference club and bring out their own electric sub board.  It shone like a little pretentious Christmas tree...

The sucker punch came when Coyle jumped to meet the ball but leaned on a striker outside the box.  The free kick found its target, top left, with Chico not getting enough on it to keep it out.

We did rally.  Perhaps a trip in the box?  No.  It ended 1-0 and another defeat.

Tanners 0-1 Lewes

River Dance. Christmas lights. Syrup climbing a rope.

Not a great game and a loss due to a well taken free kick. Report to follow...

Lewes Are Coming

 

Fifth place Lewes are coming to The Grove tomorrow to play, dare I say it, an improving Leatherhead.  Lewes are a friendly bunch who once lent us their away kit for a game we played at their place... and who can forget THAT game... three all and you mucked it up... or something like that.

 

Kick off is at 3pm.  See you there.

Fixture Updates

 

A couple of fixture updates from you (via the message board).

 

In the Fourth Round of the League Cup we have the joy of a midweek trip to Sittingbourne to play Maidstone.  Week commencing Mon 5th Dec.  Bollards.  That is all I have to say on that.

 

More pressingly however is the next round of the Surrey Senior Cup.  The Tanners will travel to Dorking next Tuesday, 29th November.  Kick off 7.45pm.  This means that the League match against Concord Rangers will have to be re-arranged to a later date.

Tanners 3 - 1 Wingate & Finchley

Why oh why can't we do this in the league?  Perhaps you could argue the visitors were not up for it or were caught off guard as we raced to a two goal lead.

Kev Terry opening the scoring from 20 yards on three minutes with a 20 yard screamer.  While he enjoys his starting place in the team, Ryan Thomas is making it clear he wants than an unofficial pen picture on the message board.  He scored our second.

The visitors did not see this coming and were clearly rocked while Leatherhead held firm until they scored a third deep into the second half through Coyle.

A smart through ball and a fine finish for the visitors gave them something to cheer about but Leatherhead retain the Charity Shield.

Wingate & Finchley are coming...

 

Charity Shield action tonight.  Wingate & Finchley won the league cup last year were kicking their heels after Sutton didn't fancy it so Leatherhead stepped in as current holders.

 

A chance for some silverware?  You'd be a fool to miss it...

 

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck Tanners

Robins 1 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead won the opening exchanges where Macleod forced a good save in the opening minutes.  The visitors won a penalty shortly after which Tommy calmly dispatched for his first league goal of the season.

From then on the game appeared to be a little stale.  The Robins snatching a goal before half time.

Little action until the last dying minutes when Leatherhead felt all three points were up for grabs.  Kev Terry had a chance cleared off the line as the game drew to a close for the points to be shared.

Off the bottom yes, but 6 points from safety...

Travelling Tanners

 

Leatherhead are on the road again in the league, we're off to play the Robins.  What a difference a few goals make.  Carshalton have scored a couple more and let in three less and they sit 12 points better off up the table.  That said we are now back to the bottom of the table having lost at the weekend and been in cup action on the Tuesday.

 

Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 0 Rocks

First piece of news that upset the visiting supporters was that Chico was rested to allow our No 2 (name escapes me so apologies) a go.  He and our left post performed admirably together as three times that combination kept the visitors out.

So much the same as Saturday but in reverse.  The visitors creating some clear cut chances only to put in a poor back pass for Macleod to run onto and slot it home in the last few minutes of the first half.

Early in the second half Elliot Thompson scored a great solo effort to ease the nerves as Bognor pushed hoping for their luck to change.

"Fake Chico Ramos" keeps a clean sheet and we progress to the next round.  Back to the league then...  away trip to Carshalton anyone?

Bognor Are Coming

 

League Cup action tonight and the visit of Bognor Regis Town in the third round.  Bognor will no doubt fancy their chances tonight as they sit proudly in third place in Division 1 South.  My review of twitter shows they are looking forward to catching up with Chico again too.

 

The League Cup is in a punchy format this year.  No overtime if its a draw.  Straight to penalties.

 

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck Tanners.

Harrow 2 - 0 Tanners

A frustrating day for Leatherhead. We could have played until midnight and still not scored and on another day the score would have been 2-4 but is was not meant to be.

Harrow dominated the first quarter of the game and had several scoring chances, finally taking the lead in the middle of the first half. The goal came from a corner where our near post defender failed to clear, it fell to their Delgado (I always think of Southampton Tin Man when I hear that name) who impressed all game and gave Ramos no chance.

From then on Tanners picked up and created chances and were on top for virtually all the second half. However hard we tried though we couldn't get a goal.

On two occasions their keeper made top class saves from wickedly deflected shots that on another day could have found the back of the net.  When we beat the keeper there was a defender on the line.  Kev Terry did find the net but it was ruled offside after the 'keeper could only parry it into his path. Tommy hit a couple of scorchers not too far wide, headers went over from close range.  Not our day.

Then just as we thought our luck couldn't get any worse Harrow got their second near the end of the second half from a breakaway that had more than a suspicion of offside.

Oh well.  League cup action Tuesday to take our minds off of the league.  Again.

Travelling Tanners

After our first away win of the season we travel to Harrow looking to build on this while ignore a certain FA competition at the same time.  Harrow are nine points better off than us although they have conceded exactly the same number of goals.  21.  Fact.

Directions can be found here.  England play at Wembley at 5.15 so I am not anticipating too much disruption for our game.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Friday night football

My good friends over at Guildford City are trying something NEW and EXCITING.  Football on a Friday night.  What is more you get in half price with a Leatherhead Season ticket.  Crazy stuff but we just have to let them try it I guess...

Full details can be found here.

Hendon 1 - 2 Tanners

I have to say I was worried about this game.  So often a team that exhibit such heroics in a cup competition can crumble after they taste defeat but we were not disappointed today.

That said it was not plain sailing.  Early in the first half a Rob Hill hand ball gifted them a penalty to open their account.  A disappointing way to start you league campaign in earnest.

Leatherhead's response was absolute though and their local twitterer sensed the danger.  Leatherhead drew level through a spectacular Kev Terry 30 yard screamer of a volley.  Their 'keeper never stood a chance.  The poor 'keeper stood even less chance when a Simmo shot was deflected moments later to give us the lead.

From then on Tanners were firmly in control.  Hendon mustered some chances in second half but Leatherhead saw the game out for three valuable points that start making the league look a little different... we are two places off the bottom!

Travelling Tanners

 

What a strange weekend.  I can accept that the odd fixture needs to change and it makes perfect sense we play a game on a Sunday given Hendon ground share.  This turns out to be the day of my son's birthday and so I can't go.  Never mind, I'll go watch Guildford City... hold the phone... they are playing on Friday night at Colliers Wood.  The whole natural order of the footballing world is down the pan.

 

My ramblings aside there is a more technical preview on Hendon's fans site here and is well worth a look.  It doesn't have the same level of deliberate grammatical / spelling mistakes as my site so if you can put up with that polished look then give it a go.

 

Remember.  They ground share with Wembley so to see the game you need to travel with these directions.

Tanners 2 - 3 Sutton

The eleven goal thriller draws to a close with Sutton going on to host The Poppies in a little over a weeks time.  Leatherhead can bow out of the competition knowing they have done the fans proud.

On the train over to The Grove I had a sudden bout of confidence.  I could see us nicking this providing we could settle quickly.  Alas this was not to be as in the time it took me to walk from the bar to behind the goal we were one nil down.  A ball worked into the box was prodded home at close range.

Leatherhead's counter punch was well timed, just before half time.  Kev Terry made a lively dash into the box and was brought down by the keeper after tapping the tempting the ball away at the last second.  With contact made he went down and got the spot kick and a yellow card for the 'keeper.  Greg Andrews powered the spot kick home to silence the visitors and make the wonder how secure Doswell's guarantee of not giving away cheap goals was going to be.

The second half and Sutton were again looking dangerous at set pieces.  Building up play, drawing a foul or forcing a corner then whipping the ball on the box.  Leatherhead's possession was fleeting but would often result in a swift move up field.  That said Sutton's pressure appeared more telling and with 13 minutes to go again they scored from a set piece.  Chico got something on it and there was a desperate struggle to keep it off the line but over it went.

Surely at 2-1 the game was finally over.  Injury time was signalled and people started to drift out despite Leatherhead piling on their best pressure of the two games.  Then Tommy got his breakthrough.  Jack Macloed worked some space and found Tommy in the box who made no mistake with his left foot, nutmegging the hapless 'keeper in the process.  Extra time was on.

Leatherhead could now dream of going for the kill but as with the first half the opening 3 minutes did not go well.  Sutton got pretty much their 5th identical goal of the tie.  Size in the box making the telling difference.

Leatherhead dug deep.  Greg Andrew's hit the side netting to create a celebration in the bar area where they thought he had scored.  Liam Pestle had a couple of long range efforts well saved.  Finally the ref brought proceedings to a close and the dream was over.

A great run and something for the players to take into the league.  The club has done well financially and my message board has been blooming too.  May be next year though...

Levred 2 - 3 Sutton

A valiant effort but Leatherhead lose in extra time. Greg Andrews from the spot and Tommy in the last minute force extra time but early goals were the undoing of Leatherhead.

More to follow. Great effort though...