Welcome to The Lip. Leatherhead FC's alternative "unofficial" website. Up the 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!
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…
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!
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…
No promotion for Leatherhead, as second-place Marlow proved to be too much for us in the second half. A gutsy first half couldn't be replicated, and three quick goals finished us off.
There was something rather blasé about Marlow before the game. They were far too relaxed in the bar for a game of this importance and Leatherhead came out and , seemingly, took advantage of it. For the first time in three games, we were in control and putting them under pressure. The poor-man's Ben White certainly didn't like it and tried some "housery" of headbutting Ibz then going down himself while holding his head.
Despite the pressure no goal came and we went into the break feeling optimistic of the next 45 minutes. Little did we know disaster had just turned off the A404… due to a misunderstanding, my son was unaware today was the final and asked my wife to drive him there from Guildford (thus nullifying my environmentally friendly route of bicycle, two trains and a lift share). I did not expect my wife to join him and as she looked excitedly into my eyes, I knew in the pit of my stomach we were about to lose. After celebrating 20 years of marriage only 10 days before, I have had plenty of experiences of Southampton collapsing from far superior positions for the mere act of joining me on the sofa, so in person this effect could only be magnified.
Our hold on the game lasted barely ten minutes. Their left-hand side was already a major problem and when they got a corner on the same side, they were well drilled and capitalised. The next ten minutes was an absolute nightmare. We had no response as they smelled blood and went to add to their lead. A freekick. Boom. 2-0. Then the ref joined in, overlooking a foul on us in a dangerous position and letting Marlow tear down the other end to get a corner. Boom. 3-0.
Hayden rang the changes, bringing on Trevan, and we tried to make a game of it. On 87 minutes Trevan turned in a cross from close range, and had Ollie Cook's header not gone just wide it may have created some genuine concern but Marlow had more than enough left in the tank.
On the final whistle, their 'keeper opted to return some of the pleasantries he had received from some of our newer supporters. Why he didn't opt to run to his supporters first, I do not know. Perhaps they were too hard to find as of the 1,500 in attendance we had brought the lion's share… but the footballing gods care not for this and Marlow, finishing impressively in second place, win the final.
So, another season comes to an end and I have just realised it concludes the twentieth – twentieth! – season of The Lip! having started this back in preseason of 2003. Onto next season then…
This is it then; the whole shooting match. Leatherhead travel, with two coaches, to Marlow tomorrow for the play-off final.
Plenty to think about with this game. Not least the 6-0 aggregate scoreline they have over us… we are the third best away team in the league while Marlow are only the 6th best home side. Marlow are the highest scoring team in the league, while we have the joint best defending record. The things you look up while trying to distract yourself the day before a final…