Tanners 3 - 0 Merstham

'o sole, o' sole milo, sta nfronte a te

Finally the sun was upon Leatherhead yesterday and particularly upon the face of Sole who put in a match winning performance to score 2 goals to secure our first win of the season.

Merstham have had a similarly difficult start to the season and they had nothing to crow about after this one which will have been hard to swallow for Hayden Bird who was left raven mad after two swift early goals left him with plenty to grouse about. Sole had showed his free kick potential in earlier games and on just 4 minutes he smashed one into the net off the underside of the bar.

Merstham couldn't handle Jerry at all in the box from set pieces, and on 14 minutes the referee blew for a fowl after a Merstham defender pulled Jerry off in the box. Sole strode up confidently and converted the penalty on 14 minutes to further ruffle Merstham feathers.

Merstham had plenty of possession and lots of energy but rarely created goal scoring opportunities. On 44 minutes it was Jerry's tern to score when swooped on a corner to send us into the break 3-0 up.

In the 2nd half we should have had a 2nd penalty when a defender handled the ball to prevent a goal-bound shot but the referee followed the unwritten rule of only one penalty per side per match. The win moves us out of the bottom 4 and gives us a much needed boost for the trip to Hythe and the chance of FA Cup glory.

 

Harrow 3 - 1 Tanners

A Leatherhead capitulation in the second half made way for yet another defeat on the road after having the better of the first half.

Harrow should have opened the scoring perhaps.  A cross was met in front of goal with a firmly placed headed but it went narrowly over.  Leatherhead were in an attacking mood with Calum, Sole and Tomi looking the brightest.  It was through those three that the opening goal was scored.  A Calum cross, Sole flick on and Tomi on hand to strike it into the back of the net.  1-0 and all was well with the world.

Well apart from the ref.  Booking our player for taking too long to take a throw in while their ‘keeper could tell his player to leave it in the corner and take a slow goal kick.  We were booked for jumping in front of a ‘keeper kicking it out of his area yet an elbow to the head warranted only a talking to.

Second half and I don’t know what Sandman said to them but I can only imagine it was said with Sade playing softly in the background.  Right from the off Harrow wanted it more and we had no answers.  First minute of the second half a cross was put away.

Leatherhead appeared to believe it was just a formality and showed no real sense of urgency.  Calum nearly proved that thinking right when he slid in to tap in but went all Paul Gascoigne and the ball rolled just beyond him.  Shortly after their striker was through and powerfully struck in his second.

What is so frustrating is seeing Ryan Mahal, last year’s player of the season, stuck at right back when he was such an attacking threat.  Especially when you have Hughes-Mason being asked to do a job out on the left that he is clearly not enjoying.  Yet while we were impotent down the wings we did very little to change it, waiting far too long to change what was so bleeding obvious.

So we made a change which, to be fair to Sandman, made very little difference so I can imagine that is why we waited so long.  To add insult to injury the centre back and ‘keeper decided not to talk to each other but mime the desire for a hopeful ball down the middle.  As a result no one collected except for the hat trick hero who walked it into an open net.

A complete shambles watched by only a handful of travelling supporters.  On to Merstham on Monday…

 

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead go into tomorrow’s game looking for their first win.  Unlucky at home and outclassed away has been the early tone of the season.

Harrow Borough hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us, not helped by MCS who always seems to score against us, but they are not far away from us in terms of points.  A win could make all the difference.

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

 

Tanners 1 - 1 Worthing

For the second home game Leatherhead have thrown away a 1-0 goal lead to pass up a chance to grab their first win.  It lacked the same convincing dominance that we demonstrated over Grays but we had headed ourselves in front and conspired to throw it away.

The first half started brightly for Leatherhead.  Sole having the best of the chances but never really troubled the ‘keeper.  Worthing grew into the game and ended the half looking the keener.

Second half and Leatherhead got their goal.  A corner swung in and the ‘keeper seemed to get boxed in with Lloyd Harrington at hand to head in off of the bar.  Worthing seemed to hurry up as up until that point in the second half they appeared to settle for the draw.

Then the moment that disappointed me the most.  A 50 50 ball down the right wing saw Worthing’s winger confronted with an oncoming Semakula.  If ever you wanted a player to be in that position it would be your defensive midfielder.  Inexplicably though he backed out, much to the surprise of the winger who kept the ball in play; swung in a cross; and from the resulting play the ball was struck in off of the post.

Worthing then slowed up the play and we failed to get the winning goal, despite some good free kick taking from Sole.

So it is a trip to Harrow Saturday and a chance to catch up with our old mate MCS…

 

Worthing are coming

Tonight sees our old friends Worthing come to the Grove after their sabbatical in the lower league comes to an end. They have started well: we haven't started well.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there.

Canvey 3 - 0 Tanners

Leatherhead were blown away at the weekend with a disastrous trip to Canvey Island.  The hosts won the toss and with gale force winds blowing towards one goal they opted shoot with the wind to their back and place Leatherhead under early pressure.  That early pressure told after just 8 minutes when we conceded a penalty.  Martin Tuohy stepping up to put away the spot kick. 

Tuohy got his second as the half was drawing to a close to create the cushion they were looking for in anticipation for Leatherhead’s turn to use the wind…

Leatherhead, with the wind forcing Canvey deep into their own half, had the lion share of the possession but did not quite have the quality to create good chances.  The host’s ‘keeper perhaps making two or three saves.  To add insult to injury Canvey proved it is possible to score upwind and made it 3-0, Tuohy getting his hat trick.

Not a great day but time to focus on the surprise league leaders.  Worthing are coming Wednesday!

Travelling Tanners

Two sides go into Saturday's game like looking for their first win, with Canvey Island just one goal better on goal difference.

We played a tough side midweek, let's hope to bounce back with our first win.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Havant & Waterlooville 3 - 1 Tanners

This game puts the draw against Grays into perspective a little as we looked less creative against a side that are favourites to win the league.  The endeavour we saw down the wings were replaced with hopeful balls over the top that were largely gathered to safety.

The home side did not need to wait long for their goal.  A ball was lofted to the far post and our right back completely lost his man to allow a free header.  Leatherhead were not without their chances though.  New signing Sole tested the ‘keeper and had Tomi been more aware he may have latched onto to a corner moments later.

Second half and the hosts controlled the game with us barely having a chance but for the last 10 minutes where the damage was done.  Their second goal coming from a corner and headed into the back of the net.

The third goal showed the gap between the two sides.  In the first half Paul Semakula was through on goal and his shot from the edge of the box was weak and hit towards the near post.  Havant & Waterlooville brought on an ex-Pompey player who in a similar position hit a powerful shot that flew in off of the far post.

Leatherhead did rally with only pride to play for and Calum Davies made enough room to fire home a consolation goal.  Perhaps he should have been put on sooner rather than some senior players…

On to Canvey Island where you can book your coach travel by looking for the details on the message board.

Travelling Tanners

I am quite looking forward to this fixture tonight.  It is not a new ground for me but Havant & Waterlooville are good club (albeit a bit too close to Portsmouth for my liking) so it’s great to be in the same league as them.

Their opening game of the season did not go well.  Having made the long journey to Leiston they were soundly beaten 3-1.

Kick off at 7.45.  Directions can be found here.  See you there!

FA Cup Draw

Leatherhead will face Sittingbourne or Hythe Town away in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round. 

Game to played on Saturday 3rd September… good draw for us?

 

Tanners 1 - 1 Grays

Leatherhead put up a spirited performance that deserved more at the weekend.  On the back of everyone’s mind was how the reduction of playing budget would affect the squad but the early signs show they can be competitive and put on an attacking display.  The first half Leatherhead dominated and really should have scored but somehow the final touch seemed to elude them.

The start of the second half could not have gone any better.  After discussing Tomi in the bar as being a potential source of goals he popped up to score a sensational goal to allay the fears of any doubters.  The ball sat up nicely for him on the edge of the box and he put his laces through it to send it dipping over the stranded ‘keeper.

Leatherhead pressed on and we felt we could have had a couple of penalties.  One for a trip that was conveniently adjudged to be on the line; the next for a handball when a sliding defender appeared to prevent a cross with his arm.

We then lost our way and invited Grays to press.  They got their goal from a low cross that perhaps should have been cut out but our ‘keeper was beaten to the ball and it was prodded in via the near post.  Grays then went on to celebrate like they had won the league.  Given they were only 60 minutes into a new season it perhaps indicates they feel they are in for a hard ride.

Leatherhead responded with the best chance falling to Hughes Mason.  A spectacular side bicycle kick that was hit with power but straight at the ‘keeper.  The only thing left to do in the game was moan at the ref for seemingly being unable to count out ten yards from free kicks.

Not a bad start but a trip to Havant & Waterlooville is just around the corner…

 

Grays Athletic are coming

A new board of directors and a new season as we welcome Grays Athletic to the Grove tomorrow.  Pre-season results have been good where most of the noise has been of slashing of budgets.  This season could go one of two ways…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Faversham are coming

Like an idiot I didn’t check Twitter before making the journey to South Park and therefore turned up to find the place in darkness.  I think “waterlogged pitch” was a slight exaggeration, but understandably the hosts did not want their pitch cut up in a friendly.

Without the midweek game that just leaves one more friendly to prepare for the season and that is the visit of Faversham on Saturday.  The Ryman Division One South side having enjoyed a credible run of results in their own pre-season friendlies.

Kick off at 3pm.  Consult the Official site for prices etc.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead return to the scene of the crime tonight.  A trip back to South Park where we put in one of the worst FA Cup performances of all time last year.  Second perhaps to the replay where our hosts thoroughly outplayed us and deservedly went through.

So, can we visit South Park and get a positive outcome?  After an 1-0 win against AFC Hornchurch and a draw against Maidstone perhaps we can…

Kick off at 7.45.  Directions can be found here.