Marlow 3 - 1 Tanners

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…

Travelling Tanners

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 6^th 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…

 

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

Tanners 1 - 1 Southall (3-2 on penalties)

Leatherhead progress to the final the hard way, winning on penalties in front of over 1,000 supporters last night.

 

The away encounter showed what a difficult side Southall could be to beat, but defeat came only when we were down to 10 men so there must have been belief we could win this semi-final.  It certainly looked like they had belief, as we took the game to Southall for the first 35 minutes.  Ibz and Trevan probably having the best of our chances.  Then Southall won a corner and it seemed they managed to keep the ball in our half for the remainder of the game.

 

Into the second half and Southall scored early.  Alpha could not have anticipated the quality of the pass that went over his head and into the path of a player down the left wing.  The Southall player advanced into the ball and appeared to cross the ball but, by all accounts, it took a deflection and found its way into the bottom corner.  Given the events of Saturday, the Southall fans took a vow of silence, and we didn't hear a peep from them.

 

Predictably, Southall attempted to go into timewasting mode.  Their 'keeper, who had previous in the away game, "accidently" kicked the ball into the corner while picking the ball up.  The ref spotted it and warned him.  Moments later, Southall kicked the ball away after a foul was awarded and issued a yellow card.  This refereeing limited their "housery".

 

We needed a response and got one.  Tyler Cox danced past two players and fired a curling shot into the far corner.  Mr Tyrannosaurus Rex arms couldn't reach it and into the corner it flew.  For the next ten minutes, momentum was well and truly with Leatherhead.  Dan Hector headed onto the post and a freekick for a back pass on the 6-yard line hit a defender onto the post and bounced down and was cleared.   A goal did not come in that period and soon both teams wound down for extra time.

 

Extra time was nervy for both sides and fruitless so onto penalties.  We missed our opener, but I have noticed the following penalty seems the hardest to score in these situations and Amadou saved.  The next two rounds of penalties were scored to make it 2-2.  Then we stepped up to make it 3-2 and Amadou again saved to mean all we had to do was score.  Jerry stepped up and approached the penalty like Paul Pogba; an age passed as he tiptoed up to the the ball, and it was saved.  A chance for Southall to equalise but Amadou was simply too impressive and made another save to set up a final, away at Marlow…

Southall are coming!

Over the three games Southall and Leatherhead have played this season, Leatherhead edge this 5-3 on aggregate but all of that counts for nothing tonight in this play-off semi-final.

 

A big crowd is expected, so it may be wise to buy tickets in advance.

 

Kick off at 7.45pm.  See you there!

Tanners 3 - 0 Hartley Wintney

Leatherhead secured their place in the top half of the play-offs in style as they ran out 3-0 winners against Hartley Wintney.  In front of a big crowd, Leatherhead turned a slow start into a comprehensive win that sets us up for the week ahead.

 

Perhaps our players sensed there was a queue outside as the game kicked off, that they decided to hold off on attacking until we were all in.  The signal to attack was made by Ollie Cook, who hit a long range piledriver that the 'keeper did well to keep out.  Ibz forced a good save from a header, too, moments later.

 

Then the opening goal.  A lose ball in the box was pounced upon by two players, but Sow beat Robinson to it and slotted it past the keeper.  1-0.

 

Diallo then won a penalty.  For about 10 seconds he mesmerised his defender with an array of stepovers, before bamboozling him enough to force a clumsy tackle.  Masikini's penalty found the side netting, leaving the 'keeper no chance even if he had guessed the right way.

 

Half time and the bar was lively and getting ready for the party.  So busy that I missed the Ibz goal to make it 3-0.

 

Onto the play-offs and there is doubt on who we will play as the Southall v Chipstead game was abandoned.  Hopefully confirmation will come soon….

Hartley Wintney are coming!

Barring a huge shift in goal difference, Leatherhead are fighting for third place today with a point being enough to keep Southall at bay.  Across the three other teams that will be in the mix, they have lost just one game across 18 games between them… but let's worry about that on Wednesday.

 

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!

Hanworth Villa 2 - 1 Tanners

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…