Canvey Island 3 - 1 Tanners

Oh to be in Canvey Island now that winter's here. The pretty Christmas markets, the stunning architecture, the cosy bars and restaurants, and the players inviting you to meet them after the game.

It didn't take long to count the supporters behind the goal because we both travelled in my car. It didn't take long for Canvey to knock two goals past us either, but it was the wind who will probably take the man of the match award. It was involved in every move and never looked like tiring.

We did rally after going behind and got a goal to bring us back to 1-2. For a while we looked like we might force an equaliser but we didn't adapt to the conditions as well as Canvey. I lost count of the number of balls that we over hit, the wind getting on the end of them and knocking them straight into touch.
We didn't show that much in the 2nd half and Canvey got a 3rd and saw out the game comfortably. However, we weren't awful and we kept up the effort throughout the game.

Let's hope for a morale boosting win over Carshalton in the Surrey Senior Cup on Wednesday.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead are on the road again and travel to Canvey Island in this league fixture.  Not a happy hunting ground for us and certainly may bring back painful memories of one of a few 4-4 draws we “enjoyed” in the early part of the season.

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

 

Met Police 1 - 0 Tanners

After three weeks off the travelling contingent hoped for a fresh start and for the first 45 minutes they got it. 

In the opening five minutes Leatherhead won a penalty when the ball struck the arm of a sliding defender when we tried to cross.  A tad unfortunate for Met Police but their luck was in when Vas stepped up to take it.  I don’t think he is a convincing penalty taker and this proved right when, after sending the keeper the one way he proceeded to put the ball the other way… to far the other way and it went wide.  Moments later Wells made a save at point blank range.  It could have been 1-1 in the first 10 minutes.

The rest of the half was played out in much the same pace and spirit.  Vas shooting just wide, as did Hughes-Mason when perhaps squaring to Vas may have been the better option.  The home side were not shy at going forward either.

0-0 and into the half time break and despite the lack of goals, a game worthy of my prediction of a cracker.  Into the comfy members bar to warm up and I wish we had stayed there as Leatherhead decided to show a remarkable lack of ambition.

It was looking like a 0-0 game until Met Police made the most of a fumble by Wells.  This is unkind on the ‘keeper as he did well to get something on the deflected shot that was heading for the goal.  He was perhaps worried any attempt to tip it over would in fact send it into the back of the net so he opted to palm it up in the air.  With Wells now on the ground and the ball headed back across goal there were two Met Police players unmarked competing to head it in.  1-0 to the Met Police.

The game then got tetchy.  First Smith won a tackle which a home player took exception to and a scuffle broke out.  Both got booked.  Then Josh came on and straight away launched into a tackle that I was amazed was not penalized with a red card.  The game played on and another Tanners player slid in on the loose ball which the ref decided was over the top but while on the ground he received a stamp and another fracas erupted.  The referee’s assistant decided he hadn’t seen anything and no further action was taken.

It ended 1-0 and while the new right back looked good and Vas tried hard there was little else to shout about.  This could be a long  cold winter.

Travelling Tanners

Association Football gets underway again for Leatherhead after three weeks off.  The winter break should see the team well rested but may need a quick refresher course on the laws of the game in case they have forgotten anything.

Tomorrow we travel to Met Police.  Just two points above us and generally this game has turned out to be a cracker.

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

 

Folkestone Invicta Are Coming

It hasn’t just been our cup form that blows hot and cold, Storm Abigail arrives overnight which might put pay to any action.  Let’s hope not as Folkestone Invicta arrive with the league’s best away record to the Westhumble Community Ground.

Leatherhead’s alternative XI are in fine form themselves.  No wonder when they boast the likes of Elliot Thompson, Kev Terry, Phil Page and Chris Boulter… I also hear one Rook has landed.

Should be a classic… Surrey v Kent… kick off at 3pm… see you there!

 

Tanners 1 - 5 Ks

Three cup competitions have come (over four games) and three opportunities pass with barely a whimper from Leatherhead.  This is exactly why I contemplated watching a different team yesterday in the hope of finding a group of individuals who cared.

I wonder what the team talk was… “Just go out there boys and see if you can keep it down to just 2 or 3”.  They couldn’t even manage that.  OK, Ks are a side that are in form and have realistic hopes of making it into the play-offs but this was unacceptable.  Again.

Leatherhead concede late into the first half by their recent standards… on seven minutes Ks break down the middle with Wells initially saving but his parried shot fell kindly and that was blasted home.  Ks were playing their part brilliantly.  Not getting involved in any personal spats, as they did Wednesday, but quietly winding in their catch.  Leatherhead lasted a further 11 minutes before the game was effectively put to bed as a free kick was turned in… and on the stroke of half time it was 3-0 with Ks finding that our defense, even with Walsh placed back there, was in a accommodating mood.

The second half and I imagine Brady’s half time talk went something like “OK boys, try and get at least one goal…” and they did rally but this did not last.  Hughes-Mason had a half shout for a penalty turned down with Ks playing on.  They launched a long ball down the pitch and Wells came out to punch but it only skidded off his glove to set up an open goal.  It was now 4-0.

The fifth goal was simply a ruddy shambles and now Guy, who had won the free entry but somehow forgot to claim this godsend at the gate, was feeling the unluckiest man in Fetcham Grove.  I was close behind as Knaphill beat Cray Valley 5-4 and looked infinitely more entertaining at half the cost.

A complete waste of my time and money and a reminder that I will never watch a Trophy game while this current cup ethos of rolling over and having your belly tickled is in place.  Leatherhead now have to wait until 21 November until their next game… a well-earned holiday for the supporters to try and forget this nightmare.