Tanners 1 - 2 AFC Hornchurch

I am not sure if there was a murder on the Orient Express or a suicide yesterday as Leatherhead ran out of steam when facing 10 man AFC Hornchurch.

The ref made the game impossible for us to win as early as 10 minutes when he sent off a Hornchurch player.  It was seemingly innocuous; the ball was running out of play and the striker lashed out at the defender a bit.  He probably thought it was far too early in the game to be sent off for this, but he had picked on the wrong ref.

Regular visitors to the Grove will know playing against 10 men usually signal disappointment, but when we carved out a goal - a nice move down the left, low cross, fumbled into the path of Travis - we could dare to dream we could pull off the impossible.

1-0, playing against 10 men... no need to concentrate on set pieces, it will be fine.  Alas no, the defence being the sleepers in this instance to allow a completely free header to make it 1-1.

Into the second half and the ref took centre stage.  He started blowing his whistle for everything and booking anyone in sight.  Shaun was booked for persistently trying to get the ball, their no 2 booked for a two footed - two footed! - tackle, I was booked for inappropriate tweeting and some birds were booked for persistent migrating. 

Now, we only have ourselves to blame here.  Had we maintained our lead, or even built on it, the ref's breaking up of play would have been just the ticket.  As it was, it only added to our frustration and in doing so allowed AFC Hornchuch the space to score a second and take all three points.

Into the sidings then, until next Saturday.  The big one.  Merstham are coming...

AFC Hornchurch are coming

All aboard! Leatherhead's steam train, a metaphor that was blugeoned to death in the last interview, sets off again today.  It's picked up two more passengers (Christ, now I'm doing it!) and we're ready to face AFC Hornchurch.

Our guests sit 15 points behind us but have won their last two, one of which was the semi final of the League Cup.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Haringey Borough 0 - 3 Tanners

It is easy to say after a 3-0 win, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this North London community based club.  A wonderful atmosphere in a quirky little ground; like a visit to Dulwich Hamlet but without 1,500 quilted jackets and £8 burgers.

On the (3G) pitch it was equally enjoyable with two sides out to play attacking football but, with much of Haringey's first choice midfield out, Leatherhead proved to be too much for the hosts.

Haringey's 'keeper was a shadow of the 15-clean-sheet man the home supporters know.  When Travis danced passed a defender and shot the 'keeper only just about managed a dive as it bounced off of the back of the net.  Then in the second half when Olutade was through clear on goal, he failed to get a hand on a shot placed precariously close to him.  He is going to find it hard to reach the 24 clean sheets he managed last season.

Zaki by contrast, when called upon, kept the hosts at bay as Haringey seemed more up for the match at 2-0 down than they did at 0-0.

Leatherhead put the game out of the reach of Haringey when Shaun was brought down in the box.  The ref waved play on as the ball rolled freely towards the goal and a grateful Olutade.  He took his time while the ref pleaded for him to score which he duly did.  3-0.

Two point off of the play-offs now.  This is getting serious.

Travelling Tanners

A couple of months ago, the trip across London to watch Leatherhead play the top team in the league would almost seem unthinkable; a futile trip if ever there was one.  Now, with Haringey faltering and Leatherhead growing in confidence the New Ground Klaxon sounds louder than ever.

There is talk of a pre-match pub visit.  Keep your eyes open on the Twitter feed!

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

Tanners 1 - 0 Bishop's Stortford

Beating a couple of sides that were rooted to the bottom of the table gave our league position a boost, but to really keep us up there we had to overcome a challenge from a team slightly higher in the league.  Where we crumbled when we faced Corinthian-Casuals at home, this time we pulled through.

We were good value in the first half.  We calved out some good chances with Jack Skinner being always somewhere near the action.  He was presented with a great chance, and perhaps in his mind he had already scored as he approached the ball but his first touch let him down.

Our opening goal came from Olutade, striking the ball from an angle that lobbed the 'keeper.  This was assisted by a wicked deflection off of a defender that had moments earlier dished out cheeky grins as he got up from a "head injury".

Leatherhead were not quite the potent threat they were in the first half and at one point it looked like Bishop's Stortford could walk the ball into the net, but somehow we held on.  We could have made it safe with a couple of one on one chances deep into injury time but for once we were not punished for our failure to score as the ref finally blew his whistle.

All aboard for the trip to Haringey on Saturday...

Bishop’s Stortford are coming

Four points off of the play-offs and Leatherhead face a tougher challenge than they have in recent weeks to prove they are worthy of the chase.

An Amoo-bound Bishop's Stortford arrive to the Grove, one point better off than us.

The pitch has been passed fit for purpose, hopefully the team will do the same.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Whitehawk 0 - 2 Tanners

On a windswept night on the South Downs, Leatherhead took all three points to put them up into the top half and just three points - three points! - from the play-off places.

While Leatherhead dominated the game, we were no doubt helped by one man.  Yannis Ambroisine, no doubt wracked with guilt, was decisive in both our goals.  An instinctive prod of the ball nearly notched up an own goal for the paperwork-shy defender but their 'keeper blocked into the path of Salmon who slotted it away.  1-0.

A Bovril-less half time did not dishearten Leatherhead who continued to apply pressure.  So much pressure in fact that Yannis was forced to pull back Jerry at a set piece and a penalty was awarded.  Up steps Olutade to calmly make it 2-0.

So we start to get interested in the table again, but we've been here before only to get our hopes snuffed out by a club a few places higher than us.  Oh. It is Bishop's Stortford on Saturday...

Travelling Tanners

Someone at Bostik HQ must really hate us?  Who fancies a February, midweek trip to a clifftop in Sussex?  Not me, mate.  The footballing gods may have the last word as there is a pitch inspection at 2pm today...

If the game goes ahead, Whitehawk will be our hosts.  A side with big ideas a few years ago, but now sit bottom of the table, looking very sorry for themselves.

Our win, over second-to-bottom Wingate & Finchley, puts us tantalisingly close to being in the top half of the table... but we still look up and wonder how the 'eck Mertsham find themselves in third...

Kick off at 7.45 (pitch inspection pending).  Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 1 Wingate & Finchley

As the UK braces itself for one of the coldest nights on record, Nikki Bull can cuddle up to his three points well won today.  A stunning debut and a slice of luck enough to send Wingate & Finchley home empty handed.

As we have seen so often recently, Leatherhead got off to a great start.  In just the opening couple of minutes Shaun had a clear shot on goal, only for it to be pulled just wide. 

Jack Skinner was proving to be a handful down the left and it was through him we got our opening goal.  He burst into the box and, despite being pulled back, fired in a cross into Shaun he did enough to beat the 'keeper. 1-0

As we have also seen so often recently, Leatherhead fail to take advantage of their supremacy only to let the other team score.  This time just 15 minutes later, a mix up saw Zak way off his line and allow an open goal.  1-1. 

Leatherhead then went through a spell of riding their luck.  The ball smacking the wood work down onto the goal line and somehow cleared being the highlight.

Then the luck,  A lofted ball from a free kick saw two defenders compete with each other for teh ball.  It bounced off of one head onto another, up over the 'keeper and in off of the far post.  2-1.

Leatherhead could have made it safe but for an outstanding save from their 'keeper, which promptly signalled the need to time waste in the corner.  A task that we achieved to secure a win.

Off to Whitehawk on Tuesday then...

Fans’ night

A reminder there is a Fans' Night at Fetcham Grove tonight, starting at 7pm.

I understand Nikki Bull will be there, as well as discussing various fan based initiatives.