Tanners 0 - 0 Lewes

A nice clean sheet to build towards the season tonight.  Not an overly exciting game but certainly we were on top in the early exchanges.  As Lewes grew into the game so it drew to a stalemate but Richard Brady can certainly go home the happier of the two managers. 

Sadly a lack of team sheet means I cannot add a great deal of value.  Rod was clearly showing preseason nerves and failed even to name the substitutes on the bench.

Bradbrook looked hard to handle for certainly the first.  Tait got a start tonight.  Oh, we had another youth team player in goal who did well.

Thamesmead on Thursday then…

 

Lewes are coming

The pre-season was looking a little bit skewed towards away grounds until this hastily arranged game was thrown into the mix to give us something to watch.  Leatherhead have done well so far, although the first real test with a full squad only came last Saturday.  This was won 3-1 against opposition at our level.

Tonight we face Ryman Premier opposition as Lewes make their way up from the south although the narrowly avoided relegation last year.

Kick off at 7.45.  No ideas about the prices I am sad to say.  See you there though.

VCD Athletic 1 - 3 Leatherhead

A well-rested Leatherhead side came out and gave a good account of themselves at VCD Athletic today.  More of the first team as we would expect to see them were on show today with a starting lineup of Ibrahim, Pezza, Jezza, Coylie, Jenko, Semakula, Hobbsie, Tommo Parkinson, Smithie, O'Flaherty, Kev Tezza.

Leatherhead’s first half performance was simply too much for the home side.  Goals from Hobbs, Smith and finally one from the local talisman Kev Terry.  It was certainly a relief to hear Kev made it past Merstham without getting hauled in.

VCD pulled one back but Leatherhead’s first half dominance meant the damage was done.

Next up.  A visit from Lewes.  Yes.  A game at The Grove!

VCD Athletic

Leatherhead’s preseason continues tomorrow with a home from home trip to Dartford as we face VCD Athletic.

The Ryman Division 1 North side should be a good indication how we are preparing for the season although the Alton Town game indicated we are still without some key players for various reasons.

NOTE Kick off at 1:30pm.  An early kick-off.  Make sure you leave by 1pm.  Route planning stuff can be found here.

Alton Town 1 - 4 Leatherhead

Leatherhead ran out easy winners tonight beating Alton Town 4-1.  More details to follow.

Alton Town

Tomorrow we travel to a club I have a certain soft spot for.  I was picking up a bulky item I won on eBay and found myself and in their neck of the woods to took in a FA Vase game which they drew in the dying minutes. 

A few months later they were under threat of eviction and asked for people to come to one of their last home games to support their plea.  I am pleased to see we are returning to that ground tomorrow.  I would love to be there but sadly I will find myself in Basel…

So far this pre-season campaign the club has hosted sides like Bognor Regis and Godalming and have lost 2-0 and 3-0.  Should be a good chance to see the new team take shape.

Directions can be found here.  Kick off at 7.45.

 

Fixtures are out!

At last, they’re out.  The Ryman League fixtures were issued today which sets up with an away tie to Ramsgate on 10 August.  As usual we miss out on any kind of glamour Bank Holiday fixture with Chipstead visiting in August with us returning the favour on Boxing Day.  News Day is Red Hill and Easter an away trip to Faversham.

Get your passports ready for 1 March 2014.  We are off to Guernsey,

AGM tonight

Don’t forget tonight is the AGM where you can hear all about the club’s ambitions for the season.  It starts at 7.30 and you need to be a member to participate but I understand you can sign up on the night.

With the club issuing statements over Tommy and Dartford over the last few weeks it could be an interesting one…

Romford 2 - 0 Leatherhead

Leatherhead lose on the road to Romford 2-0 last night.  The game has been put down as “one for the fitness levels” and was mainly a team of trialists by all accounts.

If you’re interested their goals came from Aime Blessing and Jamie Dicks.

Romford away

Another friendly for you tonight and this time we are off to Romford.  Be sure you go to the right place though.  My sources tell me it is at the Newbury Park venue (described here) and not at Ship Lane where they usually play.  Also be warned it is a 7pm kick off!

Hopefully I will get more details of this game…

 

Corinthians 2 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead get their preseason of to a winning start with a 3-2 win over the Kent based Corinthians.  They were not pleased with the two sloppy goals they conceded but happy to come through a game played in hot conditions.

Not much news on our scorers other than Reggie Yembra got one on his debut…

First friendly

Saturday Leatherhead face their first friendly away at Corinthians.  Not the Surrey based side, but the local one in Kent.  This is the kind of game I would turn up to (new ground for me) but alas my daughter’s birthday party has scuppered this.  I will be hoping for some match reports from someone though…

No directions available on their website but the address is here.

A decade of The Lip!

Today, well there or thereabouts, marks 10 years of The Lip!  It started all those years ago when the then webmaster went to Bangkok never to return and I stepped in with an unofficial message board then the blog we know and love today.

Oh the memories.  Here’s to another 10 years..?

FA Competitions

Well.  Not the kindest of draws for Leatherhead this year!

In the FA Cup, Tooting & Mitcham travel to The Grove in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, tie to be played on Saturday 31st August.  If we get through that we will be a home against Carshalton Athletic in the First Qualifying Round, tie to be played on Saturday 14th September.

The FA Trophy is equally as cruel.  First up is Harlow Town in the Preliminary Round with the winners travelling to Lewes.

First training session

It was the first training session over at Dartford and initial reports coming out are positive.  The new team seem to be getting on well.

Colin Ward’s money is safe though with Surrey bound players taking more than the stated 30 minutes…

Hayden speaks

The Ryman Official site runs an article where Hayden denies an increase in budget.  Well, he laughs it off anyway.

He should mention, however, his love of Leatherhead players both past and present.  In addition to the “Leatherhead three” Steve Sargent joins him, as does Jack Macleod and Greg Andrews.

There is a fella called Craig Tanner joining him too…