Our guests beat Guernsey in the week but had shipped seven goals in the two previous games against Marlow and Southall… but let's worry about that on Wednesday.
Kick off at 3pm. See you there!
Welcome to The Lip. Leatherhead FC's alternative "unofficial" website. Up the Tanners!
Our guests beat Guernsey in the week but had shipped seven goals in the two previous games against Marlow and Southall… but let's worry about that on Wednesday.
Kick off at 3pm. See you there!
Not even updating my spreadsheet to reflect my first visit to Rectory Meadow - *sigh* ground three hundred and thirty t-t-t-two… *sobs* - could take away the disappointed of yesterday's results. Marlow's trip to South Park was always going to be difficult and while Hanworth Villa are no pushovers to be eighth, there was hope we could seize the initiative and take second place.
Leatherhead never really looked likely to benefit for the draw being played out near Reigate. Tyler Cox, for one, appeared to be in a very deep role that prevented him from embarking on some of the runs that have entertained us so much recently. A tepid first half ended goalless.
Second half and the hosts started to enjoy their last home game of the season. We helped facilitate this by failing to clear a ball in the box and allowing their striker to smash it into the roof of the net, from close range. Things got worse moments later when a shot, from distance, through a crowded box found the back of the net.
Leatherhead did pull one back, on 75 minutes, from a Beanie penalty. Ibz brought down crudely from behind by their number 3, who was booked for his troubles. The ref reached for his pocket moments later when the same player aggressively prevented us from getting the ball back to the halfway line, but he realised that would mean a red card so put it away again.
Hanworth Villa forced the ref's hand on 90 minutes when a player did see a second yellow, just as nine minutes of stoppage time came up. To add to the pressure, an injury meant that Hanworth Villa were left with nine men as they had used all of their substitutions. Despite the two-man advantage, we could not get an equaliser and now need a Hanworth Villa to do us a favour, when they make the trip to Marlow on Saturday…
Hold the phone. I thought I had been to Hanworth Villa, but on checking I see the New Ground Klaxon sounds for the second time in three days.
Less than 48 hours ago, the Don't Panic Klaxon was sounding though as it looked like we were about to throw away 3 vital points. We held on and go into this game against 8th placed Hanworth Villa looking to keep the pressure on Marlow.
Kick off at 3pm. Directions can be found here. See you there!
This wasn't quite the message we wanted to send to Marlow, last night. A loud "we're coming for you", suddenly disappeared to the mosquito-hum of "we're still here", irritatingly.
The first half went, pretty much, to script though. Despite a slow start, which invited Badshot Lea to have a couple of good shots, we soon took advantage of tired legs and looked to blow the opposition away.
On 9 minutes, Ibz flicked on a corner and found Travis who did enough to get the ball over the line. One goal in 9 minutes and we were on our way needed to get the 9-10 goals needed to make the goal difference with Marlow remotely interesting.
On 24 minutes, Tyler Cox (who had dazzled defenders down our left wing) made space for himself and curled his shot through the hands of the diving 'keeper to make it 2-0. Three minutes later it was 3-0, when Beanie sent in a freekick and in it went. Ibz tried to claim he got a touch but "snicko" was inconclusive. A goal every 9 minutes… hold on…
Into half time where the Badshot Lea players were no doubt given talking to and, seemingly, a blood transfusion as they came out completely revitalised. We appeared to humour them by letting them have their fun, possibly believing they were never going to score, until the ref awarded a soft penalty, and it was 3-1.
We did try to rally, and perhaps we could have settled if the ref had seen an obvious pull on Tyler Cox which would have awarded us a free kick and let us compose ourselves… but it wasn't and within one or two minutes they made it 3-2. A cross from the left found an unmarked man and slotted it into an unguarded net.
This was worrying. Another substitution to try and control the game, which worked but there was blood in the water and Badshot Lea were up for it. They won a freekick about 40 yards out, sent on a unprepared sub, and then sent the ball too long and out for a goal kick which brought about the end of the game and a much needed three points. Marlow are still very much in charge of their destiny, but have a tricky away game at South Park this Saturday…
It had better be a good game of football, as I was all set for a night in with The Apprentice Final tonight. The disappointment will be masked by the joyous sound of the New Ground Klaxon as we finally make a trip into Wrecclesham.
Our hosts will no doubt be feeling a little leggy. They have nine games to play in April and have conceded 10 in the last three games. Meanwhile Leatherhead, who have score eight in our last tree games, need to dust off the disappointment of the trip to Southall.
Kick off at 7.45. Directions can be found here. See you there!