RPV 2 - 0 Tanners

On a night which brought out the big coat from the cupboard, Leatherhead were beaten by Raynes Park Vale in another friendly.

The first half was largely uneventful.  Jermaine was fired up and wanted something from the game.  Our number 3 was certainly fired up when he disagreed with the ref over an award of a foul throw.

Second half and there was more intensity from Leatherhead but it failed to produce a much needed goal.  Shots were blasted straight at either the nearest defender or at the 'keeper.

The opening goal was scored by Leatherhead... into their own net.  The second was beautiful as it was simple.  A lofted ball over our right back was chased and delicate chipped into the side netting.

2-0 it ends and to top off the evening I was, rightly, told off for eating the players' post match food...

Onto Basingstoke on Saturday then...

Tanners 0 - 1 Farnham

Still no goals for Leatherhead in a friendly played in fine conditions and a competitive spirit.

I was quite impressed with the turn out for this game.  The fine  weather brought in  a reasonable crowd to watch what was,on the whole, an uneventful game.

Farnham were taking this perhaps a  little too seriously when two fouls in quick succession on the same player saw him limp off.

Their goal was very much true to Leatherhead's form.  A powerful shot thundered  off of the bar only to find a player on the edge of the box.  With our 'keeper on the floor having committed to saving the first shot it only took a well  placed shot to beat him and any defenders trying to close the danger down.  1-0.

On to  Raynes Park Vale on Tuesday for another friendly with, hopefully, goals from Leatherhead.

Farnham are coming

Farnham Town arrive at The Grove for a friendly today.  A day off, due to an early Trophy exit, means we have a Saturday to try and learn how to score goals again.

I'll be there to install a new feature at The Grove and the bar will be open.

Kick off at 1pm.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 0 Southall

A Southall side that appeared to come for a draw go home the happier side as a game that was described, politely, as attritional  was played out last night.

I thought it was going to be very different when Archie Burnett made a darting run in the box and went over... the ref blew his whistle and I thought we got a penalty for the worst dive I have ever seen but it was for offside.  That was largely the action for the first half  done and dusted with.

Second half was harder to watch until a sequence that brought about three chances over 10 seconds.   Tarpey hit the post and the ball rebounded to Mitch who struck it low at the 'keeper.  Back to Mitch who then blasted wide.  A golden 10 seconds.

Southall created little but did force the best save of the game with a low dive to stop a ball that looked destined to find the bottom corner.

No game this weekend but there are rumours of a friendly at The Grove...

Southall are coming

After gaining a point away at Guernsey, a game that local press suggest we should have taken all three, we face new friends in the shape of Southall.

Southall sit just outside the play-off places with 8 points.  A win tonight will put us just one point behind them,  albeit at this early stage of the season.

Kick off at 7.45pm.   See you there!

Guernsey 1 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead weathered an early storm not to go into half time a couple of goals down.

If hitting the woodwork was a competition, we would be top of the league this year... but it isn't and we find ourselves near the bottom.

Therefore when Guernsey scored from a ball over the top those who made the trip must have feared the worst.  That was until Tarpey was brought down in the box and coolly slotted away the penalty.

A point on the road before we face Southall on Tuesday at home...

Travelling Tanners

After the disappointment of the FA Trophy, Leatherhead turn their attention back to the league and the trip to Guernsey.

The first time we played our hosts we lost our in form striker, due to new father duties, but still took a large travelling contingent.

This trip, the uncertainty over the date etc. will mean few will make the trip but all current strikers travel.

Kick off at 2pm.  Good luck fellas. 

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead face Walton & Hersham in the FA Sodding Trophy tonight in our third attempt to beat our hosts in the last 12 months.

Kick off at 7.45pm.  Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 1 - 2 Chichester

Leatherhead crash out of the cup after Chichester secured their first away win of the season.

Everything looked straight forward for much of the second half.  Our hosts didn't much on or off the pitch, so when we scored I felt the cup win was ours.  

We were a touch fortunate after the ball struck the hand of our player which allowed him to control and pass to Buchanan who smashed it home. The scorer went on to hit the post with a near header moments later.

The damage was done for Leatherhead two minutes either side of half time.  First it looked like Keane was fouled to allow the Chichester player to make enough space to shoot from distance.  

Then into the second half and they scored again.  Our 'keeper made an initial save but could not get to the 50:50 in time and the ball was slid under him.

Leatherhead looked lackluster and short of ideas but did somehow manage to hit the post another time.  McGlashan came on to increase the quality down our right and while the last 5 minutes saw us knock on the door, our shots were smothered.

Perhaps on another day the deflection that took our shot onto the bar goes in... but today it didn't and those that had flights to Guernsey booked can breathe a sigh of relief.

Onto next Saturday and the bloody waste of time that is the Trophy.

Chichester are coming

Chichester make their way up from the South East division, to play in this FA Cup First Qualifying Round game.

Our guests have only tasted defeat once this season,  losing just 1-0 to Lancing last week.  We, on the other hand, have not got off to the best start in the league BUT the FA Cup game was the stand out performance of the season so far.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!