Tanners 3 - 2 Ks

29 March used to have the special meaning for me as my wedding anniversary: 21 years today.  Scrap that, it is now 0 years since we scored in the 97^th minute to beat Ks and keep our chances of finishing in a play-off place alive.

 

It did not look like it was going to turn out that way from the first 20 minutes as we started much like we did against Farnham; like meek rabbits caught in the headlights.  Any hopes of blundering our way through it faded when a ball into the box took a wicked deflection off Cameron Black and went in on just six minutes.

 

Leatherhead did not take the early punch well and staggered about on the ropes for a further 14 minutes until something clicked.  Suddenly Leatherhead were relentless and sending in shots from all over the place.  The opening goal came from a brief period of head-tennis and eventually Cameron Black was at hand to head home to atone for his own goal.

 

Just two minutes later our pressure resulted in another goal.  Some nice build-up play down our left got the ball into Alfie Huckle in the box who sent in a powerful shot into the bottom right corner.  A defender dived and used his hand to try and save it, but it found the side netting to spare him a red card.  We should have really scored more but we ended the half 2-1.

 

Second half, for 40 minutes was a fairly even and tame affair.  Then it all happened.  Ks had been growing in the game for some time now but we had largely managed to hold them at bay.  Then we found ourselves with a player one on one with the 'keeper to make it 3-1… his shot was too near the 'keeper not once but twice and the chance was lost.

 

As we entered stoppage time, Ks launched what they hoped would be the last attack of the game as the referee saw a foul and signalled a penalty.  Wheeler guessed the wrong way and at 2-2 it looked like our season was over.  The referee allowed play to go beyond the four minutes signalled to allow Leatherhead to attack from the restart.  After a couple of false starts we broke with the ball down the middle… that went left and then right to Everitt who smashed it into the top right corner.  3-2.  Limbs.

 

When the whistle came, more wild scenes followed as our players – Uxbridge, please take note – celebrated in front of their supporters rather than goad the away support.   Onto Saturday then, when we reacquaint ourselves with Uxbridge again…

Ks are coming

Former-tenants Ks come to the Grove today for this Surrey derby. The club lost to their current hosts in the week, so no doubt they will be looking to bounce back strongly.

A closely contested away game ended 1-1 earlier in the season.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 0 - 1 Uxbridge

Leatherhead's good form came crashing down, last night, as Uxbridge did a bit of number on us.

 

Overall, Leatherhead looked quite good.  We were attacking but Uxbridge always managed to stick out a foot and block a shot for crucial pass, to snuff out any chance we had.  The best coming from a corner, where a deflection seemed to beat the 'keeper to score an own goal but there was a foot to save the defender's blushes.

 

Uxbridge's goal was therefore disappointing.  It appeared we had dealt with an Uxbridge attack, only to lose the ball again and set up a shot from the edge of the box.  It was a speculative as it was under hit but its accuracy was enough to beat the diving Wheeler.

 

The second half spung into life and the referee tried his best to give us the win with a sending off and a soft penalty.  The player that won the penalty celebrated a bit too much, it hadn't been scored yet and the sheer size of the 'keeper must have been daunting.  As soon as Kane hesitated in his run up, the 'keeper already had half a glove on it.  He guessed correctly and saved with ease.

 

Down to ten men, Uxbridge seemed to suffer a series of head injuries that needed treatment and for the game to stop.  So prolific was their misfortune, Sir Chris Whitty was seen setting up for a press conference to explain the sudden pandemic and what could be done to stop the spread of the condition.  Ultimately blowing the final whistle was enough, as their players we able to robustly over-celebrate in front of our supporters rather than acknowledge the travels of their handful of fans that made the trip.

 

Onto Saturday, where we face K's who had their own taste of disappointment last night…

Uxbridge are coming!

I couldn't make Saturday's game, away at Badshot Lea, as I was taking my daughter to an "experience day" at Winchester Uni.  While this made me feel my age, an early goal helped keep the grey hairs at bay as we went on to win 4-0.

 

Tonight, will be a very different challenge as third place Uxbridge come to The Grove.  They come eighth in the form league, having lost 4-2 to Rayners Lane at the weekend.

 

Kick-off at 7.45pm.  See you there!

Travelling Tanners

Non League Day brings a trip to bottom-of-the-table, Badshot Lea. Looking at the other fixtures, this could be quite the opportunity to put even more pressure on fifth spot… or a massive banana skin…

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas!

Hanworth Villa 0 - 1 Tanners

Ian Selley did his homework for this game and was awarded a distinction by teacher as Leatherhead smashed and grabbed 3 points at the division's in form team.

Villa had won 6 of their last 7 league games using various housery tactics such as banning supporters from behind one of the goals for no apparent reason, and removing all grass from the playing surface such as to resemble a test match wicket at Faisalabad.

With only 9 games left and 8 points behind the hosts this was a must win, but the gaffer set out with a seemingly must not lose 5-5-0 formation. This restricted both sides to very few chances with a lot of head tennis and hoofing. 

There were no health scares in the first half and thankfully we were still all clear at half time. The most entertaining moment coming when Martin Lewis, on TV in the club house, advised everyone on the best savings rates. Monument Bank 4.75% per annum max 3 withdrawals per annum.

In the second half, the referee continued to look like he had been called up from the local Sunday league with a series of incorrect decisions. Just as it looked like no one would score if we played all night, Ian Selley pulled a rabbit out of the hat and changed formation with the introduction of Ruben with 15 minutes remaining.

Suddenly we were all over Hanworth and had 3 good chances but it was the old warhorse "Pearcy" who leapt like a salmon at the far post on 93 minutes. Absolute. Limbs. Even Mick sounded upbeat during the post match interview.

Our next match is against the bottom side whilst Hanworth and Hartley both have tough fixtures. 8 games left 5 points adrift. Dare we dream…………

Travelling Tanners!

A trip to Feltham awaits tonight, for what is surely a drink at the Last Chance Saloon. For a second we were within four points, then you blink and the table looks completely different.

Our hosts, Hanworth Villa, are sitting three points better off than they were on 89 minutes, at the weekend. Two late goals push them up into the coveted last play-off place.

Kick off at 7.45. Good luck fellas!

Tanners 1 - 0 Sutton Common Rovers

A well worn out cliché would be to call this a game of two halves.  If you're a Leatherhead supporter, you may be forgiven fall calling it a game of just one as the action of the first half all but evaporated in the second.

 

From the off, we were looking like we were in a scoring mood.  Our midfielders were finding space and time on the ball, giving our guests plenty to think about.  We scored early, but the ref saw a little too much physicality from Cameron Black and gave a foul.

 

Our goal was a thing of beauty.  Ruben put through Akinnibi who ran on with only the 'keeper in front of him.  How many times would we have seen a Leatherhead player panic and hit it straight at the 'keeper?  Not Akinnibi, who calmly pushed the ball past the shot stopper and slotted it into the back of the net.

 

Leatherhead supporters now settled in for a goalfest as surely the floodgates will open now.  This was a gross miscalculation and the rest of the game, the second half in particular, became very hard to watch.

 

I cannot stress enough how bad the second half was.  Absolutely resolute in defence, which is to be applauded, but I was pleased it was all over.  Meanwhile Hanworth Villa spoilt our party with two goals in the 90^thand 95^th minute to win and stretch the play-off places to eight points…  that will come to a head when we play them on Tuesday…

Sutton Common Rovers are coming!

Today we face Sutton Common Rovers on a sodding cold Saturday, as we look to keep pressure on the play-off places.

Luke Tuff's Ashford couldn't repeat their heroics of beating RVP against Hayes & Yeading, so the gap is now 9 point with 10 games to go.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Redhill 0 - 0 Tanners (Tanners win 5-3 on penalties)

History told me that this game had all the elements to be a painful watch.  A cup game, against lower-league opposition, on cold night and away… and I was right.  Not even the last minute discovery that the New Ground Klaxon was sounding for me could numb the sense of impending doom I felt.

 

The mood was raised on the arrival of a Fish and Chip van, but the act of stuffing my face and subsequently having to wash it meant I missed the only real incident of the game.  The Redhill 'keeper dived to smooth a ball and Ty got their late and stamped on the shot stopper.  Straight red.  60 minutes of even harder to watch football now on the cards.

 

Leatherhead simply couldn't do anything right.  Pump it long and they won the header and back it came.  Attempt to pass it around on the ground, and the bobbly pitch also played straight into their hands.  We were pegged back and had to clear off the line on a couple of occasions.

 

Last ten minutes we did get some form of foothold in the game and apply some pressure but in all honesty, we were relieved to get to penalties.  For once we held our nerve and made all of our attempts count, while Redhill missed their fourth, to send us into the semi-final.

 

Now onto Saturday where we return our focus on the league and the visit of Sutton Common Rovers…

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to the wonderfully named Kiln Brow tonight, to play Redhill in the Surrey Senior Cup.

Our hosts won't make this Quarter Final easy for us, as form must count for something; they sit on top of the Combined Counties.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Raynes Park Vale 1 - 1 Tanners

game was every bit as hard fought as you would expect it to be and, on balance, a point was probably a fair result.

 

Raynes Park Vale had the better of the first half and it wasn't long before they opened the scoring.  Omarr Lawson saw sight of goal, on the edge of the box, and drove his shot into the bottom corner.

 

We nearly equalised in spectacular fashion when Ruben chased a long bouncing ball under pressure from two defenders.  He improvised a lob from over his shoulder, which beat the 'keeper but struck the top of the bar.

 

We built up a bit of pressure from a string of corners and someone must have said something to Tyler Cox as he took the bait.  It wasn't so long ago we were at this ground to see him rotting on the bench for Ks, before we gave him a chance, but that counted for nothing as he hurled insults back.

 

Then our goal.  It was a bit scrappy, and I thought the chance had gone when Ruben's initial shot was smothered by a defender, but the ball ricocheted around the box until Kane could smash it into the bottom corner.

 

The second half started and at times it was hard to see the goal at the far end through the smoke from the tasty BBQ chicken stall.  Despite our players inhaling the best part of a chicken thigh each, they went on to have the best of this half in terms of pressure.  Our best chance fell to Ruben, who opted to cross rather than take a shot on goal from an angle.

 

The final whistle eventually came and I am not sure how much good a point does either side… but we will have to worry about that next week as we have the Surrey Senior Cup to concentrate on with a trip to Redhill on Tuesday…

Travelling Tanners

The big one. It was already a big game but throw in Hayden's arrival - followed by many ex-Leatherhead players - it got slightly bigger.

The reverse fixture saw an ex-Leatherhead player score against us in a game we were largely bullied. Today, if they score it will be difficult to find a player that didn't used to play for us to do it.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 1 - 0 Guernsey

A very different game to the one on Saturday, where Guernsey arrived from Gatwick airport and parked their coach on the edge of the penalty box.  Huff, puff and controversy were the order of the day…

 

Leatherhead worked hard for this win.  It was clear that they were not going to have the freedom they had enjoyed at the weekend, but in the first half they tried to get a breakthrough but rarely threatened.  We got a bit lucky too, with corner decisions, as we were awarded one that came off of our player and Guernsey were denied one that seemed to be kicked out from our defender.

 

Any good will towards the officials for their awarding of corners soon evaporated when they gave Pearce a straight red for violent conduct.  A replay does not show any significant contact, but the referee saw an elbow so we were down to ten men.

 

Guernsey now grew in confidence and wanted to return to the island with all three points.  This created a bit more space for our attacking players and we too went on the hunt for a goal.  

The goal came via a penalty, when our player drove into the box and was caught in a clumsy pincer defence where two players attempted to tackle but missed.  Despite the 'keeper guessing the right way, Kane's shot was too powerful, and the ball hit the back of the net with fragments of glove on it.

 

Guernsey upped their push for a goal even more, and when Ruben was retreated to the bench we had no real outlet so the ball kept coming back to us for the last six minutes of stoppage time.  Finally, the referee blew his whistle to signal a fine win and for once results went our way, to leave us just four points behind.  Saturday just got bigger…

Guernsey are coming!

The plane took off, so providing they didn't miss it we are good to go tonight.

An interesting array of games being played tonight, so no doubt people will be looking at their phones… hopefully the team will concentrate on the three points.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Tanners 3 - 0 Ascot

Ascot simply didn't turn up at the races today, as Leatherhead notched up an impressive 3-0 win today to take us to within seven points of the play-off places.

 

Leatherhead opened the scoring quickly and decisively, when Kane brought the ball down in midfield to evade his defender and find Rhys out on the right.  Rhys rode his luck on beating his marker, but expertly bent a shot into the side netting.  1-0.

 

It was soon 2-0, when a corner found Pearce at the back post who headed back into a dangerous area where Akinnibi could smash it into the same corner as we had scored moments earlier.

 

The third goal could have come on four occasions in the remainder of the first half; the closest where a cross became a Ronaldinho lob but hit the bar.  Ascot did finish this half strongly but Sonny was largely untroubled.

 

The second half and it was only six minutes before we did get our third and ultimately made the game safe.  The ball popped up in the box with Ruben in close terms with the 'keeper but his improvised shot sneaked into the goal.

 

At this point Ascot decided it wasn't going to be the day and both sides decided to tread water until the final whistle.  A fine win which takes us into Tuesday when Guernsey hope to make the long awaited trip to The Grove… expect low-flying fog then…

Ascot are coming!

The reverse fixture ended in controversy when a provoked moment of madness cost us all three points, at a time when we were stringing some wins together.

Our guests have gone on to be in a good position in the playoff places while our chances look to have faded. Could a win change that today…?

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!