Terrors 1 - 4 Tanners

Hutchings helped by some good Manners

At the bottom of the table two clubs came together hoping to build on a recent change in fortunes.  Both had scored four goals in their previous game and with home advantage Tooting certainly fancied their chances but were unable to contain a striker in form and backed up by goals from midfield.

Tooting took the lead though but were soon pegged back by a goal from Manners.  Tommy then put us into the lead and the outlook started to look better from the travelling side.  Tooting were not helping matters, a defensive howler let in Manners for his second.

Tommy was at hand moments latter to slot in his second and notch up our second 4-1 win of the season.  While only 19th we have a game in hand on two of the sides above us within three points and our goal difference is beginning to be worth half a point...

Met Police Monday it is then...

Travelling Tanners

OK.  I'm late with this update but parking isn't an issue so I think I'll get away with it.  Today we're off to play in yet another 6 point down at the wrong end of the table.  Although come the end of the season I don't think it will be that close as if one team will regroup (and perhaps refund) it will be Tooting.

That may have already started. While we put 4 past struggling Horsham they put four past Carshalton in a 4-3 thriller to maintain their 3 point advantage over us.  Its going to be quite the battle today...

Directions can be found here.  Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Horsham 1 - 4 Tanners

At the bottom of the table the whippees became the whippers as Leatherhead strolled out 4-1 winners against a struggling Horsham.

Leatherhead could boast some new players, notably Jack Pallen from Dartford up front with Greg on the bench.  He could put himself about a bit and trouble a Horsham defence that can fall apart at the merest pull of a thread... and Tommy was pulling nearly all the threads today.

It was from him burst into the box and tempting cross that the 'keeper flapped at and Kev Terry headed home for us to take the lead.  The lead was short lived though.  The ball seemed to get stuck in our area in a rare Horsham attack and a stuck out foot powered the ball into the back of the net.

Leatherhead only took a couple of minutes to respond themselves.  A powerful low cross and Tommy shaped to flick it on but ducked under it.  This deceived the defence and the ball was allowed to drop to Vernon's foot and in it went.  Tommy later volleyed to draw an amazing save from their 'keeper.

Leatherhead were growing in confidence and it seemed the job was done when Billy Manners strolled into the box and shot into the bottom left corner with the keeper opting to dive the other way.

While Horsham did come out with some spirit Tommy had more than enough.  Twice more he was through on goal with his favourite left foot primed only to be thwarted by the keeper. It was fourth unlucky for the man between the sticks though when Tommy was put through the middle to get what he deserved.

New boy Jack was subbed and did enough to get an applause from the travelling faith and so the game drew to a close with Leatherhead climbing to 19th...

Travelling Tanners

I've flirted with the fact we have a game today but lets just out it out there.  We're off to Horsham!  It could have been worse.  Horsham were once ground sharing with Worthing so could have been quite a trip for us now but now we are back with the A24 derby.

I used to work in Horsham and so if I enjoy online banter with any club it is this one.  What is more it is rare that we face a side below us in the table so I am really looking forward to this game.

Parking appears to be an issue.  It was always trouble for the YMCA if you got there after 2.30 and with a bigger fan base Horsham are stating it is for Season Tickets only.  A guide of where else to park can be found here.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Happy Christmas!

The carrot and mince pie is by the mantelpiece so all that remains to be said is Happy Christmas to all you Tanners where ever you may find yourself around the world.

Have a good day then brace yourself for the big one... its Horsham away Boxing Day!

Boxing Day

 

A Christmas Cracker of an article in the Your Local Guardian this week featuring a preview of the big match on Boxing Day, which is away to Horsham.

 

A six pointer, irons in fire and a ding dong match.  They're all there!

Tanners 1 - 1 Wealdstone

For much of this game I am sure I was not alone in wondering why those at the club made so much effort to get the game played.  The second half in particular was hard work with Wealdstone keeping us at bay comfortably.

It did not start out that way though.  Tommy Hutchings' left foot shot crashed against the bar and his powerful follow up went straight to the keeper in the opening minute.  Four minutes later we were one nil down as a cross driven low and hard across the face of the goal was turned in as the central defence seemed caught out.

Wealdstone then added to our frustration by completing 80 minutes of time wasting.  The ref too did not make Dickie's birthday feel any happier when in the first half he brandished the yellow card four time to Leatherhead players while a quiet word was all that was needed for the visitors.

Then in the last few minutes the introduction of some pace worried Wealdstone and we grew in confidence.  A low cross through the area found Tommy whose shot found the back of the net this time.  On came Leatherhead with Kev Terry hitting the bar and a move similar to the one that opened the scoring at K's nearly paid off again with Vernon just failing with the telling touch.

A valuable point.  Enjoy your turkey and see you at Horsham...

(PS No, I don't know you ruddy Swanny76 is!)

11am pitch inspection

The Wealdstone site indicates an 11am pitch inspection.

The frost was light but here comes the drizzle.

Pop back in a couple of hours for an update.

Wealdstone are coming?

I'll keep this short as tomorrow's game sits very much in the balance.  I could forking all night to save this one ready for the 6am inspection.

The snow and rain have not come in the biblical amounts forecast Tuesday but it has been steady.

Keep an eye on the messageboard for updates...

Game off

 

Last nights downpour has left the pitch waterlogged and with worse weather forecast for tonight the game against Wingate & Finchley has been postponed.

 

Keep an eye out on the message board for yet another update on rearranged fixtures.

K's 0 - 3 Tanners

A home fan confidently declared he had the smell of goals in his nostrils to his friend as I walked past.  How right he was.  18.75% of our tally this season to be precise.

Leatherhead had to do more of their fair share of defending with K's having most of the ball (until the third goal anyway) but Leatherhead could break.  The warning signs were there when Greg volleyed wide when put in from a lofted ball (he was also offside).  On 16 minutes however Vernon was not offside as another lofted ball found his boot to chip a stranded 'keeper.

Kingstonian went for the equaliser and it was all out pressure until a clearance found Tommy alone on the half way line.  There were plenty of defenders to cope with this but they kept backing off until he was in range and his powerful shot beat the 'keeper on the stroke of 45 minutes.

K's started the second half confidently after probably getting a right telling off from the manager who walked off with a face like thunder.  Leatherhead really needed a third goal and for once we got it.  A sweeping move from Macleod down the left found Vernon in heaps of space in the middle of the area.  His powerful shot down the centre of the goal beat the 'keeper who guessed incorrectly and dived off much to his embarrassment.

A crushing defeat for the local rivals and an early tweet tells me our visitors Tuesday receive this result with more than just a raised eyebrow... batten down the hatches... its Wingate & Finchley and its going to be blowing a gale...

Travelling Tanners

 

Quite a game in store this weekend at The Cherry Records Stadium this weekend with the visitors hoping to blow away the opposition.  If however you cannot make AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanely then you can watch us take on Kingstonian on the Sunday too.

 

Despite some changes being made, Wednesday's 3-0 defeat could not have done much for the confidence and now we have to face our local rivals away.  They sit in 10th but there is hope at they have a negative goal difference as they have conceded 36 goals this season, 10 more than us.  We've only scored 13 though...

 

Directions can be found here.  Kick off at 3pm (on Sunday).  See you there.

Maidstone 3 - 0 Tanners

Leatherhead were given a lesson in football tonight by Maidstone. They scored twice in the first half and made it safe in the second.

Just 6 minutes it took for the writing to be on the wall. I have no news on what team we put out but with no goals the worries continue.

K's away anyone?

Travelling Tanners

 

Sorry for the delay.  You know what is happening anyway.  We are off to play in the next round of the League Cup against Maidstone and to do that we find ourselves travelling back to Sittingbourne and those ruddy bollards.

 

Maidstone are sitting nicely in the play-off places in our old league and have scored 34 goals on the way.  Meanwhile Leatherhead struggle in front of goal and will hopefully use tonight as a chance to get going without the pressure of the league hanging over them.

 

Directions can be found here.  Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 0 - 1 AFC Tuskchapel

Leatherhead suffer the late sucker punch again in a 1-0 defeat where we had shown some late signs of adventure.

After spending most of the first half in our half we came out with some purpose in the second.

Chances came and went but at the death the visitors remembered their scoring touch and knocked in the winner.

Is it me or is this season actually getting longer?

AFC Hornchurch are coming

 

If the game against Lewes was a bit of a test, what with them being 6th place, it steps up even more with the visit of AFC Hornchurch.  I don't recall hosting this club in recent years so a chance to see some new high flying opposition.

 

We've been a bit goal shy lately so hopefully tomorrow we can get back to goal scoring ways.

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.