Travelling Tanners

You don't win the title in July and friendlies are more about the team getting minutes on the pitch etc. but I cannot help but feel there will be a certain amount of disappointment with the result on Saturday.  Our peers extended their 1-0 halftime lead to 3-0 before we responded with our only goal.

 

A chance to put that right tonight with a trip to another old friend, Corinthian-Casuals.  Having finished last in out league, in the previous season, they now are set to play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.

 

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas!

Travelling Tanners

After Leatherhead we beat Hilltop last week 8-0 – I did not think we would get more games than grounds, for this one – we now head towards familiar territory of Merstham.

 

Our old friends have been shuffled over to the Isthmian League South East Division and will provide us with a good test.

 

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

Travelling Tanners

Hilltop must REALLY want to play this game as, by my reckoning, we have had four venues for this. First there was Beaconsfield, Slough Town (although I cannot find this tweet, now) and the Middlesex FA ground (all new for me) and then a last-minute change to Burnham (home also to Slough where we go on the opening game of the season #muggedoff).

 

Leatherhead will look to get back to winning ways after a hard fought draw, in the week…

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Tanners 1 - 1 AFC Croydon Athletic

As we arrived at The Grove, Stormzy's Hide and Seek was playing so I took this to be a sign and searched for the grime star around the ground.  I gave up after looking in the wheelie bins and realised he had no come to see his side.  Onto the game then…  Full disclosure, I did not get a team sheet so I am flying blind a little bit here. 

 

The Dorking Wanderers game was never going to be a fair reflection of how the side is shaping up, but this game would be a good prediction of how we could fair against some of the better sides next year.  AFC Croydon Athletic; a well backed side, playing in claret and blue… practically Farnham in disguise.

 

What was clear form the outset was both sides have prioritised their defence for this game and so it wasn't the most electric affair.  We did look lively down our right-hand side (no 11) and a stocky midfielder (no 4) looked like he could hold his own in the centre.

 

After a first half goal was ruled out for offside, the game looked like a nailed on 0-0 draw until their striker shot from distance.  Our 'keeper might be a little bit disappointed with the goal as he got a hand to it but was perhaps a little slow to react and in it went.

 

Albeit a friendly, a 1-0 defeat would not be ideal to start rebuilding confidence so the equaliser must have been well received by the management team.  One of our strikers (again, sorry for the lack of details) beat several players by "stumbling with style" through their defence but had the presence of mind to slot in another striker who finished well.

 

Onto Saturday where we play Hilltop, not at their ground or the other one but another…

AFC Croydon Athletic are coming!

At least two former Leatherhead personnel arrive at the Grove tonight, with Jermaine McGlashan, as manager, and Olivia Boulton as physio.

 

Last year's Combined Counties Premier South Division Play-Off winners are well backed but I am not sure if any of their star-studded directors will be at the Grove tonight.

 

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 4 Dorking Wanderers

The Trophy heads back to Dorking again, after a comprehensive display from our visitors that left us chasing shadows for much of the game.

 

Like two years ago, we kicked off in away from the Edwards' Family stand but this time we avoided conceding before reaching the other end.  We even had time to stop and listen to ******* Marc ******* White give his ******* usual brand of ******* encouragement to his ******* players.

 

The goal did come soon after we settled into our spot behind the goal.  A simple pass released a player down the right-hand side of the box, who crossed in for an easy tap in.  Of to see Saka and Kane do that tonight… 0-1.

 

Our number 9 was played through on goal shortly after, but he stood on the ball so was forced to attempt a shot from about 15 yards out which just went past the far post.

 

As it turned out, a rare attempt at goal for Leatherhead and things got worse when a similar move produced the same result of a goal and the same celebration song from the travelling supporters.  0-2.

 

Second half, and Dorking controlled the game and people around me became more and more bombarded with tales of my recent holiday to Albania and the ceramic BBQ I had just bought.  There was little football to occupy the mind.  A well taken free lick made it 3-0 and I headed for the door.

 

I therefore missed Dorking's forth and our only goal of the game.  We followed up on a long range shot and got our reward.  The other talking point was the return of Chike Kandi, who could be a huge re-signing for us, albeit he looked a little off the pace yesterday.

 

Tuesday we welcome, Jermaine McGlashan and Wilfried Zaha to The Grove as Croydon Athletic play in our next friendly…

Dorking Wanderers are coming!

This year's Surrey Advertiser Trophy is played out at The Grove today, as our new manager puts out his new-look team against our newly relegated guests.

Two years ago we snatched a last minute winner but last year a late comeback was not enough to retain the trophy.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!