Tanners 1 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals

Leatherhead's winning streak was brought to an end by a Corinthian-Casual side that could flit from being streetwise to phsychotic with gay abandon.

The first half was a proper game of football.  End to end stuff with Leatherhead probably carving out more chances.  Charlie gave their 'keeper a warning sign when his long range shot had him scrambling across goal to only hit the side netting.  Moments later Amoo danced past a defender to slot him home via the near post.  A few weeks ago those chances would have gone out for a throw-in.

The ref played his part.  With the look of a P.E. teacher he trotted around given silly little fouls in order for him to find an excuse to run somewhere and then run back again,  As a supporter of the losing it is needless to say he was completely biased towards the visitors and it was from a very dubious foul Casuals launched the final attack of the game that made it 1-1.

The second half was a very different kettle of fish where the tone changed largely due to the ref.  He awarded a very dubious penalty... well... it wasn't a penalty at all.  The defender clearly won the ball and the visitors went ballistic, so ballistic the ref at one point turned to the crowd looking for help.  I didn't know where to put myself so suddenly found an email on my phone to attend to.  Travis stepped up and with Corinthian spirit struck it directly at the 'keeper.  Sporting.

From there on we were bullied by a side in full crazy mode as the game descended into a Sunday league style street fight.  On saving the penalty their no 10 was quick to offer a fight with any supporter who would care to listen.  He was back when they scored a tap in from a slip in defence with his excessive goading earning him a yellow card despite Casuals trying to get him subbed off.  We continued to attack and after a header went wide our attention was drawn to a Casuals player who started to violently threaten the assistant.  It took a red card and all his team mates to get him to leave the pitch under the supervision of two stewards.  The cause of the unrest was allegedly due to a comment about the player's grandfather... keep your Werther's Originals comments to yourself in future, officials!

Charlie was sent off too a few minutes later for two clumsy challenges and thus allowed the ref to tick the "evened it up" box in the unofficial law book.

So, players subbed off instead of being sent off; players sent off for attacking an official; I said something happened "more quicker"... utter chaos.  Hopefully we can all re-group and site down and ask what our mothers' would think of this all and try again Saturday with a trip to Lewes...

Corinthian-Casuals are coming

Storm Diana may have the final say on this one.  Persistent rain could well see this one being called off.  Hopefully a delay will not dampen the spirit in the Leatherhead team which sees us in fine form. 

Four wins all season looked unlikely a month ago but we have strung and impressive string of results against some of the best teams in the league.  Keep an eye out for possible pitch inspections etc...

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there.

Tonbridge Angels 0 - 2 Tanners

Two sides who have had a remarkable turnaround in form met at the Longmead Stadium on a murky day.

Tonbridge have scored just 1 goal in 4 league games and couldn't score today for all the tea in China. In contrast we are on fire and have scored 11 in 4 league games.

Tonbridge is a very pleasant place to visit:

- Not too far to drive
- Ample parking
- Great burgers with imaginative names
- Civilised supporters
- A neat ground without a ludicrous numbers of stewards (ahem)
- And not a single high viz photographer in sight to spoil the view

Often that is where the hospitality ends but today the home side were subdued. We started well enough and were awarded a penalty when Amoo was bought down by the 'keeper. He converted it himself low into the corner. D'Sean added a 2nd just before half time with an accurate strike from the edge of the box.

The 2nd half saw a barn door placed behind our goal but despite countless attempts Tonbridge failed to hit it. Dan Gallagher was our man of the match today for his tireless tackling and distribution and he helped to ensure that we held on for a 2-0 win.

We now sit in 12th place and can start to look around us. There are no teams to fear in the league this season. Least of all Dorking.

Travelling Tanners

After a string of home games, Leatherhead hit the road and travel to Tonbridge Angels who sit in second place.

Despite our run of form, this will be a tough game and I predict plenty of nervous trips to the Tea Bar.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Tanners 3 - 0 Burgess Hill Town

Whilst Sammy Moore's Dad's Army of Old Pros are starting to groan and creak on a remote marshland, Nikki Bull has been carefully building a young side full of enthusiastic players with their best years ahead of them.

This was our 3rd win on the bounce, and the team that could scarcely score a goal a couple of weeks ago are now brimming with confidence and have scored 9 goals in 3 games.

Jeremiah Amoo opened the scoring on 19' with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. The rest of the first half was closely fought and we were happy to go in to the break with a narrow lead.

We had the better of the chances in the 2nd half but it wasn't until 80' that Sean put us 2-0 up with a well taken header. A Burgess Hill sub who had only been on 2 minutes earned a straight red for a flying 2 footed challenge and Burgess Hill were finished. Jeremiah made it 3-0 whilst defenders stood around looking at each other in a feeble attempt to play offside.

There were great scenes of celebration around the ground at the final whistle but not just because of the result. It was because news had spread that the photographers and cameramen finally had enough shots of the crowd and would be moving on.

Tanners can travel to Tonbridge Angels on Saturday to see if we will maintain our progress.

Burgess Hill Town are coming

Nikki Bull broke all records after our stunning win 4-1 over Enfield Town on Saturday when he sneaked his first smile into a post match interview. 

There were joyous scenes as the players left the pitch and no one will slope off if we win tonight. We have the chance to leapfrog 4 places into 14th leaving us just 6 points off the play-offs with a game in hand.

First we have to find a chink in the armour of Burgess Hill Town who beat the yellow men of Merstham so convincingly at the weekend.

Tanners 4 (four) - 1 Enfield Town

A truly outstanding attacking display in the first half marked this down as the performance of the season.

The Enfield Town players must have awarded themselves the three points before they got into their cars this morning. They were strangely lacklustre and looked annoyed that we had forced them to travel 60 miles around the M25. By the time they realised we were much better than the league table suggests it was too late. They were 3-0 down and there was only 17 minutes on the clock.

Travis had opened the scoring with a cool finish at the near post. The pace and width of Travis and Jeremiah were a handful all game and Enfield had no answer. Charlie fired in from a corner for the 2nd, and Sean got the third with a powerful header. Fetcham Grove was buzzing to the sound of an Enfield drum as went in at half time 3-0.

The second half was a more even affair but we were still creating chances. Shaun Okojie has had a frustrating season at times but he was outstanding today, full of energy, and winning every header. A stunning finish at a tight angle gave him his 2nd we were 4-0 up. An uncharacteristic error gave Enfield a consolation goal. 

Passengers flying B.A. to China were delighted to find that 17 cameras around Fetcham Grove were streaming the game live on the inflight entertainment. The cabin crew waived away complaints from one particularly awkward passenger that most of the coverage was of the supporters behind the goal.

Our fifth and final home league game in a row sees the visit of Burgess Hill Town on Wednesday. They had a good win today over the ever bitter Merstham so we can expect a tough game.

Enfield Town are coming

Another home game pops up and we entertain Enfield Town.

While a fine comeback and a win will boost the confidence, our guests sit in fourth place so will be a tougher test.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Tanners 2 - 1 Ks

This was a very similar performance to the games v Bognor and Margate except this time the footballing gods could bear it no more and smiled down upon us.

A very early goal by the homeless Ks left the Tanners fans shaking their heads and reaching for the Valium, but Travis came to the rescue just a few minutes later with a well taken goal.

The rest of the first half was fairly even and it wasn't until 51 minutes that D'Sean showed why Jimmy Bullard played him as an attacking midfielder (to be fair Jimmy played everyone as attacking midfielders). Sean made room for himself on the edge of the box and bent the ball into the corner of the net.

The ref had seen the league table and didn't like the scoreline one bit. He proceeded to try and get a equaliser by booking 3 Leatherhead players for very little reason, and giving free kicks to Ks at every opportunity. He did his best but this time we held out for the 3 points and clawed out of the relegation zone.

The dream of scoring 3 goals in a league game lives on but for now this hard fought win will do.

Ks are coming

After only having three home games they have come thick and fast.  While this was just one explanation as to why points were hard to come by the recent run of results does not reflect home is necessarily where the heart is.

Ks come to the Grove having come to terms with their new Tolworth home and sit in 10th place.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 1 Margate

Another disappointing defeat yesterday as Leatherhead failed, yet again, to take advantage of their superior possession.

The One That Screams for Margate was practically an air raid siren as raid after raid on the visitors' goal was either wasted or thwarted.  None more so in the second half when he hit the bar for the third game in a row (at least).  Leatherhead are practically relying on luck to get a goal now.  We need the 'keeper to through it in the back of the net or a mole to pop up and head it home...

The second half was tricky as we were debating when we would start shouting at the ref that the game should be abandoned, such was the deluge at half time which left a large puddle in the goal mouth.  Our claims were made weaker when the ball skipped through the area perfectly into their 'keepers hands and weaker still when we conceded so late in the game.  After 80 odd minutes of diligent defending a moment lapse let a player break free with the ball and was crudely brought down to give away a penalty.  It was coolly dispatched to ruin a day that was only mildly ruined by again people dicking around with cameras behind the goal.

Ks on Wednesday then... buckle up!

Margate are coming

Margate come to The Grove in this rearranged fixture. I feared for this one going ahead after last night's deluge, but no news is hopefully good news.

A second half performance, akin to the one we saw at Carshalton, but for 90 minutes will do the trick.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Carshalton 2 - 2 Tanners (3-2 on penalties)

In a bid to concentrate on the league, you have to admire Leeatherhad's dedication to the cause.  To be out of all cups - three on the first time of asking - by 5 November is a truly outstanding effort.  This master plan was nearly ruined last night when a second half saw us come back from 2-0 down to take the game to penalties.

The first half was a terrible affair.  A real pre-season friendly feel to it, with both sides going through the motions.  There game was there for the taking for any side that really wanted it.  Arguably we had the most chances but it was Carshalton that were more clinical.  A cross and a thumping header for the first and some individual skill, a flick over the head of a defender and a cool finish, for the second while we hit the bar and went wide.

Second half it was a very different kettle of fish.  Leatherhead wanted something from the game, even Carshalton wanted to win, and the game was better for it.  Our opening goal came from a ball driven low into the back post, tantalising in that neither defender nor 'keeper knew who was going to deal with it.  Luckily Sean knew what to do and slipped it past the stranded 'keeper.

We pushed for an equaliser and and after seeing the ball strike the bar and then go narrowly wide we thought we had missed our chance but the ref saved us.  He was a players ref.  No bookings, full of smiles, taps on bottoms, jokes etc. and he didn't want to blow the whistle when a side was in possession and attacking.  This allowed us one last cross and Sean was at hand to score the kind of header that is a joy to watch; powerful, back across goal, unstoppable.

The ref immediately blew his whistle after the restart so momentum was truly on our side.  Memories of Hanwell were fresh in our minds; there was no way we were going to muck this up...

So it seemed when their centre back stepped up first and Zak saved.  Sean then stepped up and a small conversation broke out as to whether this goal would constitute a hat trick or not... this matter was resolved by his attempt going wide.  0-0 and my job of keeping count was being made easy.

The next two were made (1-1) and then Carshalton took the advantage (2-1).  The shoot out took a sudden twist when Zak then stepped up to take one.  While you have to admire his courage, you can't his technique as it was blasted into orbit.  Zak did make amends by saving the next one.  D'Sean scored to make it 2-2 and then into the crux of the matter... the sudden death of the fifth penalty.  Carshalton scored and then with our fifth it was all over.  Such a poor penalty would be hard to find.  For this attempt to score the 'keeper would have needed to dive the wrong way, boil an egg and then slip on something.  As it happens he guessed right and saved it with ease.

Back to league duties then, with the visit of Margate on Saturday!

Tanners 2 - 2 Bognor Regis

Leatherhead fans needed to see signs that the club was back on the up yesterday and for much of the game they got that.  No more so in the first half where Leatherhead looked by far the most comfortable of the two sides.

Our opening goal came from Sean, a swivelling strike with a hint of miss hit that did enough to beat the 'keeper.  By contrast a similar yet more cleanly hit strike from Travis deserved a goal bu twas well saved.

On the stroke of half time we had an open goal but missed our chance... where have we seen that before...

The second half was a marked contrast.  We were absolutely hopeless for about 20-25 minutes; long enough to allow our guests to score from the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.  The reaction of the Leatherhead supports was captured in High ruddy Definition as no less than three people in high-viz dicked around with three cameras; sticking them in peoples faces when really we would just like to watch the bloody game we had paid to watch.  PLEASE DO NOT REPEAT.

Leatherhead did respond.   The changes that Nikki made seemed to unsettle us, but soon they clicked and Cullen in particular lead the attack.  His classy pass fed in the newly signed Olutade who squeezed his shot under the 'keeper.  2-1!

Bognor Regis fancied their chances and piled on the pressure, narrowly going wide just before they got their goal.  Deep into stoppage time, their player danced past three tackles before finding room to shoot.  His fast feet must have allowed him to think he was Neymar as he pulled the trigger and found the top corner from distance.  A great goal, but a massive blow to Nikki Bull.

On to Carshalton and the inevitable cup exit on Monday night...

Bognor Regis are coming

After all that unnecessary distraction of the FA Competitions, Leatherhead can concentrate on the league after freeing themselves from these shackles so brilliantly last week.

Bognor Regis will be the dose of smelling salts and a slap in the face to bring us back round; they sit in fifth place.  A raft of signings come in to help us compete at this level.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.