Twittering Tanners

What he said...  SOCKER SOLSTICE is declared.

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

Carshalton 3 - 3 Tanners

When you go to one of the toughest defences in the league and score three, things must be on the up.  We would have taken a point at the start but come away feeling like it was a loss.

Leatherhead started brightly and looked like a team at last.  Pressing high, they forced Carshalton into an error and Bakare pounced on it.  There was still plenty to do but his precise finish gave the 'keeper no chance.

"Bakare can finish" was still ringing in my ears when he completely missed the ball on the edge of the box.  It bounced off of his standing leg into open space where two defenders tackled each other to hand the ball back to Bakare who, this time made no mistake.

Leatherhead have not had the best of luck in some instances and there was no change today.  A clear handball in the centre was missed and Carshalton's tricky no 11 (without him they would have no real threat) went on a solo run and scored.  Matt Bentley thought he had found the bottom corner but the 'keeper pulled of an amazing save.  Corner?  No, the ref gave a goal kick.

Second half and Carshalton started the better team.  We held on for 10 minutes before we regained composure.  Then Matt Bentley opened his account; cutting in from the left hand side and bending a shot in off of the far post.  3-1.  In the bag, surely.

Steve Brown started watching from behind the goal and this boosted the home side.  Only for a couple of minutes but enough to see the three points slip away.  Carshalton won possession in our half and fired in a cross for a tap-in.  Then the ref awarded Carshalton a freekick from nothing, albeit on the halfway line, and their long ball found a player out on the left who created some space and fired it in.

Walton & Hersham on Monday.  I was at training on Thursday and I made it quite clear just how important this game is for us.  I am promised a full squad with few changes...

Travelling Tanners

Another tough challenge today as we travel to Carshalton Athletic.  A well placed side lost to a revitalised Horsham in the week which will no doubt focus their minds.

Player turnover has been a concern for the fans, understandably, but there is hope that this is the last of the reshuffles…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 3 Horsham

There are two great reasons to watch Leatherhead at the moment. 

Firstly, you can sit on the terrace and finish your Music homework. Secondly, there is no better place to meet new people than the Leatherhead dressing room.

Horsham made it to the first round proper of the FA Cup and they took a while to adjust to our style of football. It wasn't until the 4th minute that they took the lead, and they failed to capitalise until the 19th minute. They made it 3 soon after and it looked like we were in for a good hiding.

However Micheal Bakare got a goal back before half time finishing with the style of a Sadio Mane, when he was put clean through with plenty of work still to do.

Bash or Q or Julien (or all 3) must had a firm but polite and respectful word at half time as the 2nd half was a far more competitive affair and we looked much better organised and composed. This annoyed Charlie Hester Cook so much that the referee suggested he leave the pitch 10 mins early.

Plenty of work for the coaching team to do this week in attempt to avoid defeat at Carshalton as it doesn't look like 8 points will be enough to stay up.

Horsham are coming!

This is the big one.  At the start of the season this would already have been one of our biggest games of the season.  Now that it is worth six points, it is twice the size...

Leatherhead have been busy and welcome five - five! - new signings while Horsham have bounced back from their league-lull with a 6-0 win.

Kick off at 3pm.  Advisable to buy online tickets to avoid queues.  Only the speed of my electrician is keeping me from this game so (hopefully) see you there!

Tanners 0 - 2 Corinthian-Casuals

The trouble with playing Corinthian-Casuals is even a confident Leatherhead, with a string of wins under their belt, could lose to our bogey team.  In truth we were totally outplayed and looked quite out of our depth.

As they lined up I fancied our chances.  Our guests did not look as physically big as our new crop of players and for the first 15 minutes we snapped away and dominated the game. 15 minutes.  That is where the positives end.

From them on our visitors dictated the tempo of the game and we chased shadows.  Our passing became more desperate and long balls played into space where no Leatherhead player had even thought it would have been a good idea to run into.

Their first-half goal was as brilliant as it was simple.  A pass pushed through the centre of the area into the feet of a striker who slipped the ball into the bottom left while under pressure.

Second half and we were completely at sea and I often look to the bench to see if any direction or encouragement is being given.  Nothing.  You couldn't see them for their massive long jackets that you only see in non-league football.

Leatherhead then went on to concede their 233rd penalty of the season to make it 2-0.

Horsham arrive on Saturday.  A side free of the distraction of the FA Cup and who scored 6 against relegation rivals... massive improvements needed.

Corinthian-Casuals are coming

Another big game tomorrow as Leatherhead look for their first home win of the season.  A touch of revenge too as they knocked us out of the FA Cup.  This may allow us to see how far we have come under the new management team as we didn't lay a glove on them in the replay.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 2 Cheshunt

The night could not have started better for me; chilli, chips and grated cheese was new on the menu and it was a sensation.  The game, too, got off to a good start.  We looked lively and when their 'keeper fluffed a clearance straight to Aderi, he was sharp enough to get a shot away and make it 1-0.

Leatherhead had a determined look about them and maintained a highline and kept our guests in their own half.  As the game wore on, much like the world record line in swimming, that line edged closer to our own goal and so our defending became a little more desperate.

Ser pieces were ultimately our downfall.  In the first half a corner evaded our defence and was prodded home and the second half it was a free header from a free kick.

We gave a good account of ourselves up until the second goal but as the game went on we lost any kind of attacking formation and it became more comfortable for Cheshunt to control.

The first home win of the season still eludes us but two key games are on the horizon...

Cheshunt are coming!

Midweek football returns to the Grove with eighth place - yes, eighth place again - Cheshunt making the journey from the top of the M25.

Saturday's win brings us fresh confidence, but confidence can be a fragile creature.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

East Thurrock United 0 - 2 Tanners

Hold the bloody phone, Tanners notch up their first win since the opening game of the season and keep a clean sheet to boot!

After a pretty stale first half, Leatherhead came out with more purpose in the second.  As time ticked on things were getting nervous, we've all been here before, but then on came a player to make a name for himself.  Arthur Aderi.

In the 84th minute a ball was swung in from the right and met at the back post.  This was saved but the ball spun on the line and our new man pounced.  For once there was no offside flag or an official seeing a non-existent handball.  In it went and those that made the trip went wild.

 1-0 up with 6 minutes to go is no sure thing for Leatherhead but our man popped up again and made the game safe.

Now we welcome Cheshunt to the Grove on Tuesday, as we play a side in 8th place...

Travelling Tanners

If Southampton can win two games in a row there is hope for any side looking for their first win since the opening game of the season.  Today's game could not be bigger; a six pointer if ever there was one.  East Thurrock are one of only two sides, other than us, who have a goal difference in the negative 20s and sit just two places above us.

I can't make this game and my son turns seventeen - seventeen! - today and, strangely, he hasn't named a trip to Thurrock as something he wants to do.

Kick off at 3pm.  Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

Leyton Orient are coming!

While Leatherhead crashed out of the FA Trophy, Leatherhead Youth U18s provide some excitement in the FA Youth Cup tonight in the First Round Proper.

Both the bar and Tea Bar will be open.  Entry £6 adults and £4 concessions.  Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!