Tanners 1 - 1 Chipstead

In the preview I was somewhat concerned about the weather and inadvertently typed we were hoping for the next rain.  How prophetic, as there were times in the first half I hoped for the heavens to open and get this called off.

The first 20 minutes of the first half did not reflect the table as we looked rather tentative and leggy, while I guests took the game to us.  Their opening goal was fully deserved as a shot was fired through a crowded area.

That did kick start us a little and our passes became a little more forward looking, instead us just purely lateral, and eventually we got an equaliser through a Splatt cross to allow Robinson to glance his header past the 'keeper.

In the second half we looked more threatening and had the ref added more time on for the two players who went down injured while the ball was out of play the pressure may have told... 

Ibz probably came the closest.  Heading and shooting wide, but the winning goal didn't come and the chance to go just one point behind Marlow slipped by.

Onto Saturday, when we face Luke Tuff's Ashford Town...

Chipstead are coming!

After the fine win against RVP, at the weekend, it is absolutely crucial we maintain the momentum with another rain tonight.

Our guests sit one place above the relegation places, albeit with a seven point gap.  With Southall not playing tonight, a win could take us to third.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

RVP 0 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead secured all three points and a double over play-off rivals, thanks to a last minute goal from our new signing.

Leatherhead can, at times, be considered patient in their play.  Maintaining possession in lateral passages of play.  With a player like Ibrahim Otulade, we suddenly start looking purposeful again.

Leatherhead took the first half by the scruff of the neck and could have opened the scoring from any of the three headers that came our way.

The game seemed to be heading for a, not totally unwanted, draw but in the last few minutes Trevan found some space down the right and crossed into Ibz who made no mistake.

1-0 and some breathing space in the playoff places...

Travelling Tanners

A big game for Leatherhead today, as we travel to Raynes Park Vale to face a side that is, no doubt, looking for revenge.  

While we have had our pants pulled down by the likes of Marlow and Chertsey, the pullee became the puller when we met at The Grove a few weeks ago.

Leatherhead have added a formidable striker, by the way of the returning Ibz, to help boost our chances for the run in of the season.

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

Tanners 0 - 2 Marlow

If Chertsey signalled their claim on the league title in the recent win, then Marlow did the same with the route to promotion via the playoffs.  6-0 they win on aggregate and we really haven't laid a glove on them.

Leatherhead set out in their familiar style of play.  Marlow were quite happy and could have watched us pass it from side to side all day.  Then the goal.

A ball was poked through the middle for Dave Tarpey to run onto and a clinical finish found the bottom corner on just 11 minutes.

Away in October we were 3-0 after 20 or so minutes, so it was encouraging to keep it to 1-0 until the end of the first half. But in added time the ref saw a mere coming together of something more and awarded a penalty.  Rogalski added to his impressive tally and made it 2-0.

I thought we had scored early in the second half, but it went just wide of the post.  Perhaps we could have add a goal towards the end, but Marlow by now were happy to see the game out.

No game on Tuesday but on Saturday we travel to Raynes Park Vale...

Marlow are coming!

Marlow arrive tomorrow and with them they bring Dave Tarpey.  I can't think of a player that has so many contrasting opinions... should we have resigned him, let him go or even signed him at all?  The fact I called my Leatherhead FC Quiz Team, Tarpey's Tiki-Taka Trivia should tell you something and that he will deserve our respect tomorrow (particularly from our defenders) as he is banging them in.

As if having the league's second highest scorer wasn't enough, Marlow also have the top scorer, Dawid Rogalski, with 28 goals to his name.

Tuesday's win may not have been overly convincing but the three points and a clean sheet were very much needed.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 0 SCR

There was plenty of drama before the game.  First there was an ever-increasingly desperate Rod to get a team sheet as they seemed to evaporate before his eyes as they were circulated.  

On getting one he casually asked about a player's availability which caused enough concern to see a change of pace from John Loveridge, to establish if there was a mistake, that hasn't been seen since someone told me the TSC were serving free food by the club shop.   It was confirmed all was well.

Then there were reports of a squirrel falling from the stand roof onto a supporter.  With so much drama off the pitch it would have been selfish to believe there would be some off of it as it was Leatherhead that was squirrelling around for a goal.

A very different Leatherhead today.   More direct; more attacking even, but somehow that did not translate to a good game to watch, despite their efforts.

The goal came in the second half (which was better than the first, admittedly) when a cross was met by Trevan but his looping header found the crossbar.  The rebound fell to Lawson who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.  For a heart stopping second, it looked like it was going to fly over but relief when the net bulged.

Raynes Park Vale got a last minute winner, so these three points were very welcome.  Especially with the visit of Marlow on Saturday and the return of in-form Tarpey...

Sutton Common Rovers are coming!

Flippin 'eck!  If the rain stays away, we have a home game tonight with the visit of Sutton Common Rovers.

Our guests sit in 14th place but are unbeaten in three games, including a very credible (and welcome) draw against Westfield.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 4 South Park

Something told me South Park would kick us out of the cup. I didn't think it would be to the tune of 4-0, the score line we enjoyed at the weekend, but we have slipped on this banana skin before.

Of course, conceding two penalties in two minutes didn't help.  Twice a South Park player was brought down by our 'keeper (with some assistance from a defender for the first) and twice the penalty was calmly put away.

Half time came and the home fans hoped for a response but a determined South Park side kept us at bay and added to our woes by making it 3-0 on 52 minutes.  A South Park player was able to dance through our defenders and fire a shot into the back of the net.

If two penalties in two minutes was bad, Dan Hector decided to up the ante and get two yellows in one.  Back chat and a bad tackle in quick succession saw him take an early shower.

South Park made it 4-0 on 76 minutes to finish off a sodden night.  Out the cup and onto Badshot Lea on Saturday where the NEW GROUND KLAXON sounds to drown out last night's disappointment.

Tanners 4 - 0 Uxbridge

Given Football Web Pages had the scoreline at 3-1 after just three minutes, I cannot work out whether ending up at 4-0 is disappointing or not.  

The error showed us scoring three goals in the second minute, which didn't feel as far-fetched as it sounds as we raced to a 3-0 lead.

The opening goal came after just 90 seconds.  Uxbridge played an ambitious high line, and Trevan took full advantage of this by running onto a long ball and cooly lobbing the standard 'keeper.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0.  Alechi burst down the left side of the goal and was one on one with the 'keeper.  Much like a golfer approaching the green, he deftly swung his left sand wedge through the ball, over the 'keeper and into the back of the hole... I mean goal.

We then missed a couple of good chances.  Trevan just wide and then Tyler Cox blasted high when he had an open goal.

Tyler got his goal on 28 minutes when he received the ball in the box.  His first touch looked too heavy but the 'keeper was slow to react and Tyler prodded the ball under him.  3-0.

The second half and Leatherhead were happy to casually sniff out chances while Uxbridge looked like they would rather be anywhere else but The Grove.  Tyler got his brace when he received the ball on the edge of the area with his back to goal.  Then on the turn sent a lofted-curling shot into the top right.  4-0.

An impressive score line, showing our players knew both where the goal was and, judging by some of the social media posts, where the cameraman was for their celebration.

Onto Tuesday, and the slippiest of banaskins, when South Park come for the Surrey Senior Cup...

Uxbridge are coming

Midtable Uxbridge come to The Grove today, as we try and shrug off the disappointment of conceding a last minute goal to Chertsey.  

Our guests will have their own demons to deal with when it comes to Chertsey, as they recently lost to them 6-0.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!