Tanners 0 - 0 Tonbridge

After going practically 75% of the season with only two clean sheets to their name, they have now doubled that tally in the last two games.  The latter a credible draw against a side pushing for the play-offs in Tonbridge Angels, thus completing a mediocre double of drawing both games against them.

If there is hope for our survival it won’t come from this draw alone but the change the style we are now playing.  No more inviting pressure by constantly overplaying it from the back; Louis Wells can now get his boots dirty and pick out a player further up the pitch.  The endless sideways movement around the box has been replaced with more purposeful attacks, giving the other team something more to think about.  The end result is a more entertaining game and a few points on the board.  Pity it took until nearly March to work this out.

It could have been more though but for the visiting ‘keeper who pulled off two fantastic saves.  Kadell looked like he had scored in the first half when he picked out the top corner from a powerful volley but the ‘keeper responded and tipped over.  Then in the second half Jerry prodded a ball into the bottom corner but again we were thwarted.

Wells was called into action notably once to keep us level and take us within two points of Sudbury.

Dulwich will have a replay in the Trophy to contend with so that trip will have to wait.  Just Bognor Regis to look forward to on Saturday then….

Tonbridge Angels are coming

The stark reality of the situation is starting to hit home now.  We are going to need to pull off some stunning results between now and the end of the season if we are going to stay up.

There is no better place to start that Tonbridge Angels tomorrow at home.  Last time we played them it was an entertaining 4-4, but I doubt our visitors will be as charitable tomorrow.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

 

Tanners 2 - 0 AFC Sudbury

In the bar before the game a fellow Leatherhead fan reeled off a few stats.  Up until this game we had only kept two clean sheets, both against the same team Merstham.  Not a good indication that you will stay up if you can only prevent one other team in the league from scoring against you.  Further analysis showed AFC Sudbury are the only side we are realistically likely to pip to the post for the safety spot so a win today was crucial.

Leatherhead certainly approached the game slightly differently.  It appeared less show-biz, slightly more direct and purposeful.  AFC Sudbury, perhaps jaded from the long mid-week journey, had little in response but of course we had our scares.

Our opening goal came from a long ball down the middle (at last!) and the pace of Nana who rounded the ‘keeper and had an open goal in front of him.  All he had to do was tap it in; tap it in with his left foot and this is where the fun began.  He took his time, switched it to his right, took an extra touch and then another to avoid the returning defender. 

“I don’t believe it!” I heard myself say amongst the panic behind the goal.  A Victor Meldrew moment born of so many frustrating moments watching Leatherhead cock it up this year.  Thankfully he composed himself in time to get his goal but his left foot became something of a theme.  There was a good shooting chance in the first half that was shunned and in the second half there was a mix up in the AFC Sudbury defence that saw him in front of goal with the ‘keeper and two or three defenders all stranded… all stranded just to the right of him.  Rather than switching it to the left and rolling into another open net he opted to go right and then right again as he ran into more and more trouble.  Let’s leave the Nana bashing there; he worked hard and got the goal but it was a surprise he didn’t hop off when substituted.

Back to the game and the second half where we lived in fear it would all go wrong again in this end to end game.  We should have been comfortable but for some reason the chances were being missed.  Then came our salvation.

Callum Davies swung in what looked on first inspection an innocent looking cross but he picked out the run of Kadell Daniel who volleyed superbly past their ‘keeper to make it 2-0.  Of course, Leatherhead being 2-0 at any point of the game does not guarantee anything but AFC Sudbury looked suitable wounded that a fightback seemed unlikely.

On to Saturday and the visit of Tonbridge Angels…

AFC Sudbury are coming...

I looked online for the odds and AFC Sudbury are about 3-1 for tonight.  I am not sure if that is for them to win or to turn up as this fixture has been plagued with misfortune…

…which leads us nicely into our year so far!  2017 has been nothing short of a disaster so far and with Harrow winning 4-0 last night the picture is looking increasingly bleak.  Oh for a win tonight!

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there… I promise!

Travelling Tanners

Advance clearance was needed before considering making this trip to Lowestoft Town.  This could be six hours of driving with only 3-1 beating to break up the journey if recent performances are anything to go by.

Let’s look at the positives though.  It’s a new ground… and… well, we did play well at Tonbridge Angels where we went thinking it would be a wasted trip so this may be the kind of game we bounce back.  There is a coach going, so the travelling support should be in good voice too.

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

Tanners 1 - 2 Burgess Hill

Under Sandmann we were ill-equipped and lacked the players to cope with the Ryman Premier League.  Under Jimmy we have the players but lack the motivation and / or defensive discipline to win the important games and look certain to slide into the Ryman League South if 2017 form is anything to go by.  Start planning your trips to Walton Casuals.

The performance in the first half was workman like.  Not too gung-ho but we showed enough about us to carve out two good chances; forcing the ‘keeper into a good save and clipping the bar from a deft lob.

Then the warning sign.  When under no pressure we give the ball away in our third of the pitch and presented an open goal.  Wells came to our rescue and we can only hope they had learned their lesson.

They didn’t.  Into the second half and we over play it at the back and pass it straight to their striker, whose powerful shot beat Wells near post.

Leatherhead did get one back.  Some smart work from the sub Nana set up Carr in the middle of the goal who had to dig it out of the mud a little but found enough power to find the back of the net.

Then Leatherhead make the same mistake again, giving the ball away in a dangerous position and presented another open goal.  2-1.  This disheartened the side and really we were treading water for the rest of the game with no spirit.

Burgess Hill players embraced when the final whistle went; they knew how big the game was.  Pity no one told Jimmy and our players that.

Burgess Hill Are Coming

Another crucial game and hopefully the weather or traffic conditions won’t get it called off.

The one thing we could not hold off any longer was the three point deduction which has put us back in the chase for relegation.

Kick off at 3pm (please check twitter and the RAC for updates).  See you there.

AFC Sudbury are coming

AFC Sudbury make the long mid-week trip to Fetcham Grove in this crucial encounter.  They sit just one point behind (or two ahead) and with a game in hand.

For the game against Canvey the first half showing was so poor that Jimmy must have laid down the law in the dressing room and let them think about it, as he waited outside the bar with a face like thunder.  I hope he will not need to play such mind games tonight as drawing these games is becoming increasing unacceptable.

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas.

Tonbridge Angels 4 - 4 Tanners

Well.  How to write this lot up?  Trying to recollect the events of tonight is going to be practically impossible as there is only so much you can take in during a 90 minute game of football.

The first thing I recall is the ease in which Tonbridge opened the scoring in the opening minutes of both half.  Both goals shots from distance catching Wells off-guard.  Tonbridge were in an equally charitable mood and gifted Leatherhead their first goal.  A long ball down the middle was misjudged and allowed Hamons to run on unmarked and slot past the ‘keeper.  The goal was awarded to Carr, I’m not sure why.

Then a wonder strike (or a lucky cross) when Daniel who fired in a lofted ball to the far post and in it dipped.  Ty Smith added to the joy by being afforded too much space in the box and his powerful – yet placed – shot found the side netting.

3-1 up at half time and we went into the bar to contemplate the state of Jimmy’s coat and the prospect of a 3-3 draw.  This looked ever more likely when another audacious lob was attempted and scored by Tonbridge from distance in just the opening couple of minutes.  Their third goal I don’t recall.  I think a player dashed into the box and fired into a corner.

Their forth was a real eye opener.  I have no idea what is taught in training but I wonder how much time is spent organising the defence.  I say this because we have Jerry (former player of the season) and Howe (non-league player of pedigree) at the back there but to allow their striker so much space to head a goal is shocking.  No organisation nor awareness of the danger and it happens all too often.  Jimmy was incensed and got sent to the stand.  Perhaps upset that the move came from the ref getting in the way of a Leatherhead pass and inadvertently chesting it into the path of a Tonbridge player.

We were not done yet and Ty Smith scores another goal I can’t remember.  It escapes me as we could have won the game.  Daniel Carr went on a hell of a run – Michael Owen and Argentina springs to mind – and was through on goal.  We rushed to the barrier assuming a match winning cuddle was imminent but he opted for the surprise element of shooting near post instead of the inviting far post where the goal was gaping.  Three Leatherhead supporters, two Dulwich supporters (!?) and a players father stood a gasp.

Very much a game of what could have been and now a weekend without a game to dwell on it…

 

Travelling Tanners

Tonight we travel to Tonbridge Angels.  I don’t need to write much about tonight; they have done an excellent job in this post here.

Kick off at 7.45.  Directions can be found here.  See you there.

 

Tanners 1 - 1 Canvey Island

In the early moments of the game the ref asked for “nothing silly” from the players while defending a corner.  Wishful thinking as the usual slapstick defending was close at hand.

This corner came during a period of Leatherhead pressure.  By pressure I mean playing the ball horizontally about 30 yards out with the occasional shot at goal.  Pretty to watch but without much threat.  The fateful corner was won just after 7 minutes and was swung straight into the impressively tall ‘keeper.  His confident catch resulted in an equally confident kick up field where we came up short.  A wild swing of the boot hit only air allowing their striker to run through on goal and put his shot away.  This was pretty much the theme for the remainder of the second half and, but for Wells, the guests could have been three or four up.

Somehow we managed to stumble into the second half just one goal down and it took us about 10 minutes to truly find our feet.  Then we did start to play by opting for a more direct style of play and using our pace to stretch the team who have a goal difference of -35.

On the hour mark we levelled.  Some smart work down the left allowed our player to pick out a clinical pass just wide of the post.  It fell to Carr who had the simplest of jobs to tap in.  He was through one on one with the ‘keeper moments later but his low shot was well saved.

This was a game we had to win but, as we have with other teams around us, we only managed a draw.  Off to fifth place Tonbridge Angles on Tuesday night then…

Canvey Island are coming

A mild night should allow the frozen pitch to thaw so we can get this game played tomorrow, but a freshly thawed pitch may create the sticky conditions that will make our punchy passing game difficult.  Not a bad thing based on recent results.

Canvey Island are a side we simply have to beat.  They sit in the relegation zone and are five points behind us so, given the three points could be coming off imminently, it is a nine pointer of a game.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

GAME OFF

A frozen pitch has put pay to tonight’s game against AFC Sudbury. 

Hopefully better luck on Saturday when we host Canvey Island. ..

 

Wingate & Finchley 2 - 1 Tanners

I misread text made me believe the game was called off and by the time I realized it was too late to get there.  A lucky escape.  Despite Leatherhead’s coveted strikers and one man advantage we simply lacked the application, leadership and desire to get a win.

Wingate & Finchley have strung together a few nice results.  Since Boxing Day they have drawn 1-1 with Havant & Waterlooville and Dulwich.  They have beaten the sides around them.  We on the other hand have only managed to draw with the sides near the drop zone and lose to those above.

It does not help when you cannot keep a clean sheet and it is no wonder why.  A long ball from the ‘keeper sends their winger on an almost free run down their right.  A cross into the box and an unmarked player taps it in.  Hopeless.

On the half hour mark, the ref decided Leatherhead needed some help so asked a Wingate player to take an early shower.  The old adage of it being harder to play against 10 men suddenly comes to the fore as for the remainder of the first half.

Leatherhead did rally for the second half but you could hardly describe their second as a “sucker punch”.  From a throw-in Wingate moved the ball around the box with ease; Leatherhead standing there like statues with no commitment to close anything down.  The invitation was accepted and the shot was rifled into the roof of the net from some distance. You see them end up in the car park but we got what we deserved.

A goal by Carr may have offered some excitement for the 99 people in attendance but it was too little too late.  Back to the Grove Wednesday for the all-important game against AFC Sudbury.

Travelling Tanners

If the frost spares us we could be travelling to Wingate & Finchley tomorrow, a side that is unbeaten in eight games: we are unwon in five.  It has not been a good post-Christmas period for us having accumulated -1 points.  Our only two draws were against fellow relegation sides that we would have hoped to beat going into Christmas.

I went to the fixture and was rather impressed with the ground there.  It was also the debut of Lenny Pidgeley, an altogether unnecessary signing but a good bloke to have around.

Keep an eye out for pitch inspections.  Directions can be found here.  See you there… I hope…

 

Game off

A 2pm pitch showed the pitch still to be frozen and gave the travelling players and fans enough notice to prevent them from starting a futile journey.

The future date, probably shoehorned into January somehow, will be announced shortly.

 

Tanners 2 - 3 Ks

The Chairman was speaking in the carpark before the game, stating he was hoping for a clean sheet and then laughed – nervously – as there has been little evidence that this is possible recently.

To get clean sheet you do at least need some help from the ref, but it wasn’t forthcoming at either end of the pitch.  When the Ks player planted both feet on the ground and dived over the ball I wrongly assumed the ref would see through this obvious ploy but I was wrong.  If the awarding of the free kick was fortuitous there was nothing so about the finish.  A wonderful free kick that soared into the top left corner.

The rest of the half made me question some of my lifestyle choices and whether I should take up hardcore drinking.  A bottle of absinth would just about take the edge of the tepid display and only watching Jimmy muddy his coat due to low traction winkle pickers on the touch line made for any entertainment.

I am pleased to say Leatherhead responded well in the second half and it turned into an exciting game.  Daniel Carr got beyond his man after being played in and was pulled back by the defender.  An obvious penalty and when the ref waved play on it was a sobering reminder that today was not going to be our day.

Ks got their second through a powerful run into the left hand side of the box and firing in a low shot using the outside of his boot.  The ball bent enough to clip the inside of the post.  Leatherhead responded quickly, a ball into Kadell was chested down and his pivoted shot sent goal wards.  The ‘keeper anticipated it but his hand not strong enough to stop it and it rolled over the line.

Back into the game, well so we thought.  Leatherhead fail to deal with a cross into the box from the right and a free header gifted them the all-important third.

Daniel Carr, when allowed to run freely without someone holding on to his waist, broke free and fired a low shot beating the ‘keeper near post.

The ref then found time to miss two obvious handballs, one of which was in the box, to round off a terrible performance that also saw him run away from a nasty head injury to a Leatherhead player with even the Ks player signally for instant help.

Folkestone arrive to the Grove Wednesday.  For the sake of Jimmy’s dry cleaning bill, I hope we don’t slip up again…

 

Ks are coming

My goodness, I was busy doing something else and I nearly completely forgot to write the pre-match preview for tomorrow’s game.

Our old, well stewarded, friends arrive at the Grove tomorrow having turned their season around from the difficult start they had.  They now sit in 9^th having just beaten Staines.

The disappoint of only drawing against Harrow, given we were so dominant, will hopefully focus the mind for tomorrow’s game.  Defeat could see us slip firmly back into relegation contention.

Kick-off (subject to pitch conditions) at 3pm.  See you there!

 

Woking 2 - 0 Tanners

Despite a spirited performance, Woking had a bit too much about them last night and strolled out 2-0 winners.

The first 15 minutes were uncomfortable for Leatherhead as Woking pinned us back into our own half.  After a spell of retaining the balls through about 50 sideways and backward passes we grew in confidence and started to counter attack.  Daniel Carr, who seems to have a new lease of life since leaving behind Dulwich for a couple of months, looked the most likely to score as he stretched the host’s defence. 

The first goal was therefore disappointing, certainly in the manner it was scored.  Wells did well to save a point blank header and a goal mouth scramble with two further attempts were made.  On the third attempt, the defender whose job it was to clear was busy doing something else and then forgot so as a result we suffered a one goal deficit…

Second half and Leatherhead did fairly well I have to say.  The game could have swung firmly our way with a red card for a Woking player but the ref showed cowardice not once but twice.  First of all their no. 7 went in two footed on Ty Smith.  A nasty high challenge that was worthy of a straight red in its own right which saw the influential midfielder go off injured.  The ref gave the player a yellow and a stern talking to.  The ref’s words were soon forgotten however as only moments later the same player mistimed a tackle from behind, not a dangerous tackle but a tackle that would see yellow in normal circumstances but the ref took no action.  The net effect, we lose one of our best midfielders while they play on at full strength.

And play on they did, as they strode into our box and fired a powerful dipping shot that gave Wells no chance.  At 2-0 the game was all bought and paid for with little hope of us getting anything from it.

Another trip to Woking ends in defeat.  On to Saturday where we host Ks.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to Woking tonight in the Surrey Senior Cup, who promise to put out a strong side.  I just hope the side we put out is all correctly accounted for to prevent further disappointment after we suffered yet another point deduction this week.

I can’t remember a successful result against Woking.  Typically this is all done and dusted by half time, but perhaps we can hope for more under new management.

Kick off at 7.45.  Directions from the station can be found here.  See you there!