Travelling Tanners

So, I think I know where we are tomorrow.  Leatherhead travel to mid-table Folkestone Invicta hoping to keep a firm grip of the top spot they have earned over the last six games.

Their boss seems up for it.  We're up for it.  Should be a great game.  Directions can be found here, kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Walton Causals 2 - 4 Tanners

A game of three halves tonight!  Leatherhead took the form we have seen over the last few games into this top of the table clash and caught the hosts cold.

Leroy with a start made it 1-0 in the opening 15 minutes.  Josh Hill, on his debut from Dartford, made it 2-0.  With Bradbrook getting yet another goal just before half time it all looked too comfortable.

So into the second half which took a dramatic turn.  A subbed player took the advantage of the dressing room facilities and turned on the showers only to trip a fuse (allegedly) to send the ground in darkness.

Thirteen minutes later, and after some motivation from Tony Gale, Walton Casuals came back out firing.  First they won a penalty then soon after it was getting close at 3-2.

However, when you need a goal Leatherhead can turn to Bradbrook and he delivered.  4-2 and it was comfortable again.

This weekend we are off to Folkestone...

Travelling Tanners

Another big game for Leatherhead tonight.  Early pace setters Walton Casuals are set to entertain us tonight and further warning signs that this could be a tough game were issued when they announced two new signings.

Two ex-Leatherhead players line up tonight for the hosts.  Gabriel Odunakie, who seems to have a knack of scoring on his debut and Mo Maan in goal.

Kick off at 7.45 down by the Thames.  Good luck fellas.

 

Tanners 3 - 0 Sittingbourne

Now that the, albeit welcome, distraction of the FA Cups has passed Leatherhead have found a new rich seam of form that has seen us climb into the pack of title chasers rather than appearing like mere play-off hopefuls.  Winning the big games is one thing but consistently beating those in the lower half of the table has been an Achilles heel but perhaps now have we cracked it?

Certainly when you have two players in form as we have in Draycott and Bradbrook we have a chance.  Those two notched up a goal apiece in the first half we were on our way.

Second half and Tom Bradbrook made it Leatherhead 3-0 Sittingbourne after rounding the keeper and finishing well to further add to his impressive tally.

On to Tuesday.  A big one again with a trip to one of the best pubs outside a non-league ground and second place Walton Casuals.

 

Tanners 2 - 0 Guernsey

Leatherhead put in one of their best performances to topple a side that have not lost since the end of August in the league. They had only lost two matches since then, both to higher level opposition in the FA Cup and the Trophy.

 

Leatherhead got off to a good start.  Draycott opened the scoring in the opening ten minutes.  Bradbrook must have been disorientated from the boots mix up as he was not his usual clinical self as he missed two one on one chances.

 

Leroy made the game safe at 2-0 in the second half to gain three points that makes our place in the top four a lot more credible.  On to the weekend then and a visit from Sittingbourne… 

Guernsey are coming

Southampton, Eastleigh, Guernsey.  Three massive clubs that have had the joy of Matt Le Tissier playing for them and one of them are coming to The Grove tonight.  The new high profile new addition to the league have stumbled a little bit with some draws but they are still creeping up the league.

Rod has broken the forum fatwa and announced a curry is on offer, so get to the Grove early and enjoy some pre-match sustenance.

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas!

Three Bridges 1 - 4 Tanners

Quite a different performance from that was on show on Tuesday night as Three Bridges' defence was tested for much of the 90 minutes.  Luckily for the Leatherhead's forwards the service to them was better than that of the tea bar or they would have been restricted to just one or two chances.

Leatherhead were in an attacking mood.  Kev Terry, Draycott, Eisa and Bradbrook all probing for the first goal.  The first goal game from Smith when he ran onto a ball that cut the defence in half, slotting it past the stranded keeper.  The chances kept coming but as the goal went begging the fear of a 1-1 draw was at the back of a few supporters minds.

Certainly this seemed to be the case where perhaps the hosts dominated the opening 10 to 15 minutes of the second half.  It was Bradbrook that came to our rescue.  Indecisive over which boots to where but clinical with his head.  Heading back across the goal to beat the 'keeper.

Then Leatherhead won a corner when Eisa was bundled over but the penalty (taken by Smith?) was well saved.  This was a brief respite for the 'keeper after Draycott was hit hard in a tackle that deserved a red.  He got his own back by curling in a low fast freekick right onto the head of Bradbrook and he does not miss those.

Eisa managed to get his goal with a low hard shot in the box after Bradbrook fed the ball to his feet.  The clean sheet bonus was saved when Three Bridges scored in the dying minutes but they were well beaten today.

Onto the visit Guernsey on Wednesday who slipped up today...

Travelling Tanners

A trip Crawley way to visit our new friends Three Bridges.  They are finding life in this league a little hard and while they sit outside the relegation zone they only have four wins to their name.  They have landed a new striker though so their fortunes could well change.

I have heard Tuesday night was a hard game to watch and we offered little.  I hope we improve in time for my return to these shores…

Kick off at 3pm.  Directions can be found here.  See you there!

Burgess Hill Town 0 - 0 Tanners

Two points dropped or a point gained?  Given we played out the last 16 minutes with 10 men you could say we came off quite happy but given our promotion aspirations the inability to concentrate on the league is disappointing.

From reports received it was Burgess Hill who controlled much of this game.  Hitting the post once.   

A trip to Three Bridges on Saturday to help focus the mind…

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead face Burgess Hill Town tonight in the league.  No news on their site as to whether the pitch is in trouble.  I assume it is fighting fit and well rested as they have gone after nearly three weeks without a game.

An early kick off for you tonight.  It is at 7.30pm.  Directions found here.  Good luck fellas!

Leatherhead 1 - 0 Merstham

Hayden’s season isn’t getting any better.  His team of ex-Leatherhead players failed to make themselves at home as Draycott’s second half goal proved to be the difference.

Leatherhead climb into the play-off places and a trip to Burgess Hill on Tuesday to see if we can climb further…

Merstham are coming

Tomorrow (weather permitting) will see Merstham arrive to the Grove.  The Merstham team reads like a Who’s Who of old Leatherhead favourites and friends.  Hayden Bird also comes to the Grove with his Merstham side that are failing to live up to the promise they did in the pre-season when there was a revolving door stationed on the Epsom Road with many players heading to our old rival.

They are having a terrible run but represent a wounded animal to a side that can now “concentrate on the league”…

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

 

Dulwich 3 - 0 Tanners

Leatherhead fail to upset the form book and lose 3-0 to the Ryman Premier side.  Despite looking good for the first 30 minutes Daly got the home side on their way.

Second half and the ref jumped to give a penalty after two tangle in the box.  2-0.

The game got worse when Semakula was sent off and Daly made it a brace shortly after.

The FA Trophy run over for Leatherhead but at least those with unduly long memories go home happy.

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow Leatherhead play in the second round of the FA Trophy and a chance to meet up with our old friends Dulwich Hamlet and key cheerleader Dessie. 

If Richard Brady needs to motivate the players then all he needs to do is place a few of his tweets on the dressing room wall.

Dulwich Hamlet have more than settled in the Ryman Premier League.  They are sitting in second place behind Maidstone.  This is going to be a tough game despite the obvious motivation of the petty abuse the Leatherhead faithful have received.

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