Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Faversham are coming

OK; the prospect of hosting Faversham isn’t away to South Park exciting, but it is exciting all the same. 

Tonight Dorking Wanderers host our old friends from Kent in the Ryman South play-off semifinal.  Early tweets suggested it would be advance ticket only but I am sure if you get there early enough you may be in luck.  I have my ticket: so there.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

 

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Harrow 2 - 2 Tanners

A second half of open, devil may care football was on offer to the few that braved the Harrow traffic today.  With both sides comfortable with their positions in the table it could have been quite a stale affair, but it appeared both teams wanted to end the season on a high.
Leatherhead had a bright start and could have scored a couple as Ryan proved hard to handle.  It was the hosts who opened the scoring from a lovely move that Leatherhead appeared to halt on three occasions but they persevered and steered it into the goal.
The first half had some tempo to it but it was in the second half it picked up.  Tomi opening the scoring with a powerful finish as we were leaving the bar.
Then Mahal used his pace to get a one on one, for him to have the composure to lob the 'keeper.  2-1 and we were above Merstham and all was well with the world.
Then Harrow bounced back.  A lovely free flowing move down their right, a cross and a one touch finish that was steered in off the post.  2-2 and we finish the season below newly promoted rivals, Merstham,.  Disappointing, but survival was achieved and on to next season... where we do it all again...

Travelling Tanners

So, here we go into the last game of the season.  Leatherhead, 10th and can climb no higher, play 17th place Harrow (who can climb one place) in this exciting fixture. 

Operation Merstham is still very much in own hands though as we are two points ahead, but with an inferior goal difference so a point won’t do.

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

Monday, April 18, 2016

Tanners 0 - 1 Farnborough

Leatherhead lose their last home game thanks to a swift move from the visitors and poor penetration from the hosts.

The game pretty much had the same pattern all the way through.  Leatherhead built attacks through the endeavor of Mahal but all too often there was no support in the box to pose any threat.  Farnborough probed but on the whole we looked comfortable.  Wells was forced into a couple of fingertip saves and their goal was a powerful finish from a purposeful run to the byline.

The only thing that changed was Farnborough were keen to time waste at every opportunity once they took the lead.  Who can blame them when a double relegation looms over them.

The introduction of Walsh did boost our presence in the box but the telling touch still eluded us.  1-0 it ended and good luck to Farnborough with their great escape.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Farnborough are coming

Leatherhead have the grim task of potentially delivering the final blow to Farnborough’s hopes of “survival”.  They are relegated no matter what it seems but relegation from this league will mean the punishment will send them into the Combined Counties.  That stand behind the goal looked rather empty when we visited, I dread to think what it will look like when Epsom & Ewell visit!

Leatherhead meanwhile continue to aim for tenth place.  It looked unlikely but a midweek comeback has put us in with a chance.  Hopefully The Lip’s Player of the Season, Ryan Mahal, can show some of the good form that won him the votes to secure three points today.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Last chance to vote

We are entering the last few hours to vote for The Lip's Player of the Season.

Twitter users get on it!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to Harrow based Hendon for tonight’s league encounter.  After giving themselves Saturday off, Leatherhead should be well rested for the game.

Hendon are in a group of three teams on 48 points who will be looking nervously over their shoulder at Farnborough.  So they should do to, they haven’t won since February.

Kick off at 7:45.  Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

 

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Bognor 5 - 0 Tanners

We really should have phoned in sick.

This was a dreadful effort from Leatherhead. Bognor had lost 3 of their last 4 games and this was their 15th game since March 1st. But we turned up like we were away to Barcelona with only damage limitation on our mind. Bognor were all over us from the start. We barely entered the Bognor half and had not a single shot in the first 30 minutes.

On 28 minutes Adam Green was shown a straight red by the referee who couldn't wait to appease the baying Bognor crowd behind the goal. The offence was outside the box but Adam was adjudged to have fouled the last man and he was off.  Mr Sandmann patted Adam on the back as he left the field which was rather strange as even before the foul we were getting murdered. 2 goals followed before half time and 3 after but Bognor could have had as many as they liked.

Worse things happen at sea.

 

Travelling Tanners

Despite being fourth they can still mount a challenge for the title with two games in hand, although they would need Hampton to slip up at least once.

For that challenge to happen they need to win all their games so Leatherhead can expect a tough afternoon.  Beating Billericay was a much needed boost and a reminder of what the team are capable of.  Operation Merstham is back on…

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

Thursday, April 07, 2016

Tanners 4 - 1 Billericay

It was Leatherhead who were finally able to break out into brainless pub songs after we destroyed a hapless Billericay 4-1.

The Essex side's season has ended in disappoint after having flirted with the play offs and they were a shadow of their normally combative selves tonight. From the start we were all over them and we blasted 4 good chances wide in the first 15 minutes. A well taken free kick from Frannie gave us the lead and Jerry made it 2 when he forced in a cross at the far post.

We started the 2nd half as we normally do - really badly. Ricay got a goal back after a period of pressure but failed to capitalise on it and then started to wilt. Toni fired a goal through the bearded keeper's legs to be followed by Mahal who lobbed the keeper from distance.

It was the demure Craig Edwards who was made to look an "idiot" and "big time" today...

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Billericay are coming

Billericay arrive to the Grove in a fixture that needlessly has become somewhat heated.  Ever since Richard Brady pointed out, with some justification, the team’s winning anthem was a bit crap they took this to heart and have gone on to beat us in every game.

Will tonight be any different?  On the evidence from Saturday, unlikely.

Kick off at 7:45.  Good luck fellas.

 

Saturday, April 02, 2016

Tanners 1 - 3 Met Police

Met Police and Leatherhead have nothing left to play for this season other than pride, which meant the home side were in trouble from the start.

In fact, Met Police added to the end of season feeling by letting one of their players' dads go in goal for the day. The 46 year old Scott Tarr was very largely relieved that his creaking knees only got dirty twice as the rest of our shots were fired at a more comfortable height or wide.

We went behind after 3 minutes due to a sleepy defence and soon after we lost Watt to an injury which meant that Walsh had to put on his other hat. We forced a deserved equaliser late in the 1st half when a good cross was well taken header by Bodkin.

The 2nd half, and we were looking the more likely to score until the player of the season papers were handed out around the ground. Louis Wells was being written down by a couple of people around me which immediately led to a very rare howler as a weak shot bounced off his body into the goal. After that we dissolved into a bit of a shambles and conceded a late goal to make it 1-3.

Only 5 more end of season games to go...

Met Police are coming

Today is a game I have been looking forward to for a while, East Allington host Kingskerswell & Chelston in the South Devon League.
Meanwhile Leatherhead host Met Police with a new bolstered striking line up... Tomi is back...
Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.