Phoenix Sports 0 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead safely made their way into the Qualifying Round Proper, following the kind of professional performance that was called for on Saturday.  From the start, Leatherhead controlled this game with the hosts missing only one clear chance.

 

We were still guilty of squandered opportunities ourselves.  Early in the game, Lukas was put through on goal for a one-on-one chance but could only find the post.  There were several other chances that were blocked or saved until we got our breakthrough.

 

Nathan Hogan has really impressed over these two games and both of his goals were things of beauty.  The ball came to him at about thigh height, but he still managed to get the perfect touch to both beat his man and allow for a clear shot at goal.  Their 'keeper appeared to have had one less Red Bull than he had had on Saturday, so could only get a slight touch on it and couldn't prevent it from hitting the side netting.

 

Half time and I pictured Ian Selley sat in Linekar's Bar having just finished his Full English and sending his team talk via WhatsApp.  No need for the second jug of sangria, as Sam De St Croix eased the nerves by firing a shot through a crowded box and it found the back of the net.  It took a massive deflection from a defender, but I can confirm it was heading into the bottom corner with the 'keeper well beaten.

 

Nathan Hogan doubled his tally with a fine piece of individual play.  Chasing a ball down the left, he dragged it back, changed direction and opened up for a left footed shot into the far corner.  He ran off to the corner flag for a well-earned celebration.  The hosts were not happy with this as they felt one of their players was fouled in the build-up, but they had cried wolf a number of times and the ref had waved play on.

 

So, now we face Westfield.  A side we will get to know a little better when we face them on Saturday in the league…

Travelling Tanners

Not only are we in a round sooner than we'd like, but we're playing the replay a day earlier too!  Tonight we travel Bexleyheath to face Phoenix Sports.

Saturday was hard fought, and we learned quite quickly bee can't simply trot around and get a win.  Hopefully they won't make that mistake again.

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

Tanners 2 - 2 Phoenix Sports

To lose this game, this early in the season, would be unthinkable but somehow we rushed to a two nil deficit to make it look like our season was over before it even started. 

 

Phoenix Sports came out and bossed the game from the start, playing in confident triangles and bullying our players as we hardly laid a glove on them.  Meanwhile, they capitalised when Sonny dropped a low shot for a tap in on six minutes.  Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 when they managed to flick on a corner to the back post for another easy finish.

 

I was so distraught at halftime, I burst into the dressing room announcing my research was all wrong.  They didn't finish comfortably 16^th in the Isthmian South East, as their website suggests, and were in fact relegated to the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.  The look of relief on their faces allowed Ian to then resume his team talk and they came out a different side.

 

It only took three minutes for us to start the comeback.  There was a coming together in the box as well as a handball, so the ref gave one of them and Breckon calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner.

 

On 60 minutes, the comeback was complete when we broke free and had the composure to square the ball to Nathan Hogan who finished at the near post.

 

Both sides appeared to accept their fate of a replay as neither wanted to lose the tie, so off we go to Barnehurst on Monday with the NEW GROUND KLAXON ringing in our ears…

Phoenix Sports are coming!

Ominous dark clouds formed overhead as I completed my cycle ride and I turned my attention to our early entry into the FA Cup. I was told it was our earliest entry since 1935 (unverified).

Our guests come from the Isthmian South East, finishing 16th last season BUT they have a new club owner so who knows how they'll turn up today.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 1 - 4 Farnham

Not so long ago, this pre-season friendly made perfect sense, and I was looking forward to it but now, due to the FA's new coefficient, we are just a few days before the extra-preliminary round it didn't look so appealing.  The players seemed to agree as they tentatively saw out this game out, while Farnham played with more freedom.

Another reason to hold the friendly may have been to cash in on their large supporter base, but it appeared the only person who came to watch Farnham was Marc White as he prepares for his friendly against them soon.  Marc did not have to wait for Farnham to open the scoring when they were awarded an absolute stinker of a penalty.  Hardly any contact but he pointed to the spot and it was 0-1.

Farnham soon raced to a three-goal lead when twice Sonny rushed off his line to close down a pass, only to be beaten and the ball calmly rolled into an empty net.  0-3 and half time.

To be fair, Leatherhead did come out and for the first time looked really committed to get into the game and got their reward from penalty.  Sam De St. Croix stepped up and obviously felt bad about scoring against his old team so sent the 'keeper the right way and it was saved.  He scored on the follow up for this penalty, but when we got awarded another one for handball, he sent the 'keeper the same way and it was saved.

Farnham made it 1-4 from a nice move down the right to finish us off.  That concludes the preseason friendlies, and now we get stuck into the FA Cup and the visit of Phoenix Sports on Saturday…

Farnham are coming!

Leatherhead welcome last year's champions, as Farnham come to the Grove for the last preseason friendly of the season.

Love Island will have to wait. Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 5 Tanners

I sat with Rod before the game as he marked off his team sheet, and he looked quite despondent about the number of players that were still unavailable.  I don't recall a season where we have yet to see a full team, so close to the start of the season.

 

We did not need to wait long for our first goal.  As I walked around the ground, I had just heard a fan complain over the dark-arts of the long throw when one was sent in, flicked on and James Richmond scored with a header on just 40 seconds.  1-0… This was going to be easy… The home side equalised with a brilliant 30-yard free kick into the top corner three minutes later.  1-1. Oh.

 

Leatherhead look like they have been working on their corners.  Hogan sent in two corners, and we scored twice in quick succession.  Hedley and Stepney with the headed goals.  3-1.  Just before half time, Nathan Hogan scored from close range just before halftime, increasing the lead to 4-1.

 

The second half had less goals but did not lack drama.  Corinthian-Casuals were given a penalty, for a clumsy tackle form behind in the box.  This made it 4-2 but still felt safe.  Well, until we failed to hold onto a cross and the fired in from close range.  4-3.

 

Our dominance from corners restored our two-goal cushion, when Stepney fired into the top corner when our hosts failed to clear.  5-3 and all we had to do was calmly see this out.  Alas, a Corinthian-Casuals player had other ideas by crashing into one of our players and then insisting he have a fight with anyone who fancied it.  Sonny Wheeler does not need a second invitation, and charged out of his box to join in.  With Ascot still fresh in our minds, a club fine is needed every time he leaves the area as the ref was in a friendly / charitable mood and only sent off the main protagonist.

 

A piece of silverware in the bag and now we get ready for the visit of Farnham on Tuesday…

Travelling Tanners

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention our impressive six nil win over Merstham in the week. I'm not sure what was happening with our visitors, as they named a complete squad of trialists; from Trialist A to T.

Hopefully we will face a more settled Corinthian-Casuals, to give us a stiffer test, in the Harvey Hill Trophy.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there.