Plastic Pitch 1 - 1 Tanners

A unnatural bounce took Zak by surprise and prevented us from taking all 3 points away from Sussex by the Sea.

A superb crowd of 906 weren't afraid to leave the in laws at home and came to watch the Levred.

Woody and Chloe had enjoyed a pre-match Cod and Chips on the seafront and all was going wonderfully until the 89th minute and that bounce.

Nevertheless this was probably our best performance of the season especially the first half when we were lively and creative. 
Wednesday's home league game has been postponed as Corinthian Casuals have a cup match.

Travelling Tanners

Today's game couldn't get much tougher.  A trip to Worthing is a tricky affair at the best of times, chuck in their form and plastic pitch and this could head south quickly.

Leatherhead have shown real progress though, and scoring a few goals in the FA Cup can only boost confidence.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Hanwel Town at home

The reward for getting through to the third qualifying round is a home tie to Hanwell Town.  A team going quite well (7th) in the Bostik South Central Division. 

The game is to be played on yet another weekend I find myself away!  6 October.

Haverhill 0 - 6 Tanners

This was a case of Men v Boys. The Men went to watch an FA Cup game at Haverhill. The Boys went to pick up in-laws on the instruction of the wife.

This was one of the easiest draws we could have got as Haverhill are at level 5 but that hasn't stopped us losing to teams at this level in years gone by.

Haverhill have a tidy ground and a superb pitch and slightly American Football style supporters with a silly drum and trumpet. Mostly they were here to enjoy the day and no one seemed that concerned when we opened the scoring through Sean on 8 minutes.

Man for man we were too strong for Haverhill despite their henpecking, and it never looked likely that we would be under the thumb for too long. Robert added a 2nd and we went into the convivial bar 2 up. 

We started the 2nd half with real purpose and soon went 3 up thru Elliott then 4 up thru Elliott. He then got promptly subbed. That will teach him to score 2 goals. He didn't want a hat trick anyway.

Travis made it 5-0 from the spot then scored again for 6-0 to complete a comprehensive win.  As a lucky omen, I also missed the game we scored heavily last year... Let's hope for a nice home draw in the next round.

Travelling Tanners

I'm not having the best of weekends.  After months of training, the 100 mile ride I was going to undertake (the Velo South) was cancelled due to bad weather.  In addition, my Brazilian family land from Brazil at 4pm and we need two cars pick them up, which results in me missing this tantalising game. 

That wouldn't have been so bad as I had an AirBNB booked for myself just outside Chicester by a country pub tonight for myself but I am not going there either ON ACCOUNT OF THE BLOODY RIDE BEING CALLED OFF!

...and breathe.  The new ground klaxon sounds as you lot travel to Haverhill of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division.  They sit near the bottom with only a win and a draw, but have played a couple of games less while they enjoy their progress in the Cup.

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

Potters Bar 0 - 1 Tanners

Everything about this game screamed scrappy. Arduous road conditions, the scrap to find a parking space... hell, it was so scrappy the lady in the tea bar needed to take a break 15 minutes into the game and shut up shop for 10 minutes.

On the pitch Leatherhead equipped themselves well and certainly were the better team in the first half.  Our goal came from Cullen, who struck his shot from just inside the area into the top corner after the home side failed to clear. 

We struck the bar from distance too but, on the whole , chances were hard to come by but we went off the happier side.  As Nikki Bull strode off I was impressed with his maintaining of the high line with regards to his tie; the point coming halfway down his chest.  I assume this is because he allows for some dramatic unloosening of it as the stress levels build in the second half.

Predictably it was indeed Potters Bar who came out firing and were now creating some clear cut chances; Zac earning every penny of his clean sheet bonus.

Nikki Bull's tie would have been nestling perfectly on his belt as Sean missed a one on one with the 'keeper at a time when we really needed the second goal but we held on to get a valuable win on the road.

FA Cup duty next week!

Travelling Tanners

Tomorrow we travel to newly promoted Potters Bar FC in the league after the distraction of the cup games.  Both clubs are safely through to the next round in the FA Cup while deciding that the league cup is too much effort and crashing out.

NEW GROUND KLAXON!

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

Tanners 0 - 1 Worthing

A smattering of 1st team players.

A modicum of interest amongst the supporters.

More than a hint of Autumn in the air.

A strong Worthing side full of confidence.

A weakened Tanners side with unfamiliar faces.

The predictable late Worthing goal.

The regular early League Cup exit.

Worthing Are Coming

The Velocity Trophy (!?) tonight and Worthing arrive to the Grove in fine form. Second place and going well.

The FA Cup will hopefully provide a boost to the team both in terms of the result and the draw taking us to pastures new.

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 0 Herne Bay

Leatherhead book a place in a bag to have Trevor Brooking fondle us into the next round.  Herne Bay are not enjoying life in the league below, so without form on their side they would just have to go toe to toe with us and in th first half we proved too strong. 

A great deal of possession and creativity, particularly from D'Sean, was rewarded when Sean tucked away a shot from close range via the post.

Second half and Leatherhead started slipping down the gears effortlessly.  From dominant, to comfortable to defencive to pensive.  It was at this moment I sensed it was the moment to give Leatherhead their important second goal by loudly announcing I needed the toilet.

It worked as a long ball and found Deacon on the wing; under pressure he moved past the returning defenders to power a shot into the bottom corner.

2-0 the game safe and everyone felt relieved.  The draw in Monday...

Herne Bay are coming

The "magic" of the cup comes to Leatherhead today at a difficult time for Leatherhead.  Any progress shown since the opening game of the season took a knock wih the defeat last weekend, where in the second half we looked rather lost.

Leatherhead have been boosted with the return of two of last year's FA Cup heroes, plus a further signing which will hopefully allow the side to bounce back.

Pulitzer prize winning interviews at 2.30; kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 3 Harlow Town

Disappointing.  Leatherhead fans probably went into this game fancying their chances.  We have shown some good signs of making progress, while our opposition is having a torrid time (albeit after just a handful of games).

Despite Harlow missing a free header, it was Leatherhead who started the game looking the most accomplished.  Harlow's defence was easily fooled and we pulled them apart like a well done chicken.  Sean forcing a good save before Robert had free range down the middle to slot home his first goal for the club.

Then, it all just started falling apart.  Our defence became disorganised; a good save from Bull was not followed up by our defenders and they scored from the rebound first their first while gifting enough space for Bull to be beaten near post.

Soon we became despondent, as what ever Bull said at half time failed to do the trick.  Harlow making it 3-1 just 38 seconds into the second half.  Later we were dishevelled as we missed a penalty.  A chance to make it 3-2 and the ball wrestled from Sean, never mind a player who score 40 goals last season he was the player most likely to score today.  The biggest player won the battle for the opportunity but his kick was obvious, wrong height and well saved.

Not even the spectacle of a drink break - a drink break! - could lift the home side that goes into the FA Cup tie against Herne Bay looking rather disillusioned...