Hornchurch 2 - 1 Tanners

 

For completeness Leatherhead lost 2-1 away at Hornchurch over the weekend.  Hornchurch opened the scoring on 20 minutes but were pegged back on the stroke of half time.  Their class showed an and they got the win in the second half.

 

Leatherhead therefore fail to grab the Top of the Flops place for the one known reprieve slot and now must surely prepare for life in Ryman Division One South.

Travelling Tanners

 

So, we're not relegated yet?  Some algorithms at work but IF we win tomorrow we MAY stay up when compare to other sides at the same level.  Exciting stuff.  Would have been more exciting to go into the game to stay up in our own right but beggers can't be choosers. 

 

Hornchurch is going to be a tough one though.  They are looking to finish second and take home advantage into the play-offs.  Play-offs.  Remember those?

 

If you're not going by coach directions can be found here.

 

Good luck fellas.

Tanners 0 - 2 Ks

 

A shambles of a season comes to a close (albeit with an away fixture remaining) with us relegated at the hands of our local rivals.

 

Hastings had the easier day of it.  Their opposition 'keeper suffered an injury and so an outfield player had to take over.  Although Hastings were under some pressure at times they won easily switching the focus onto just us and Harrow.

 

Leatherhead had some early chances and could have taken the lead through Tommy but his lobbed effort went over.  All in all though it was a disappointing first half.

 

In many ways I wish the two goals had come in the first half as perhaps a revival may have happened but they didn't and they came in the second leaving Leatherhead little time to get out of the rut.

 

Some hope of a team merging etc for us to stay up perhaps but all in all it is a bit of a mess that needs sorting out before next season...

Ks are coming

 

Not much to say about this one.  Local rivals.  Three points needed to survive.  Iain Hendry Appreciation Society.  Its all there.

 

While I travel to Vietnam Leatherhead have their own battle to contend with but they'll probably be too beered up to care if they take the advice on the messageboard.

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Canvey Island 3 - 1 Tanners

 

A plucky Leatherhead go down 3-1 away to Canvey thanks to an own goal and an offside goal.

 

First half we were clearly the better side and deservedly took the lead through Elliot's sheer persistence in closing down a defender and then picking himself up from the tangle to slot into an empty net, but right on HT we were pegged back when a corner stopped dead in the wind and a forward nipped in in front of Chico to head home.

Second half we were making all the running, but the defining moment came when Vernon Francis nicked the ball away from the keeper but it just wouldn't drop in time and virtually from the clearance a Canney cross saw Deano head past Chico when trying to clear the ball.

More pressure saw Kev volley inches over, Elliots looping header beat the keeper and bounce off the top ogf thebar; then Canvey broke again and with what seemed like only their second effort on target wrapped the game up with the scorer was in acres of space just 5 yards out and Chico was furious when there was no offside flag.

K's on Saturday...

Travelling Tanners

 

Tricky game this.  An away trip to below sea level to try and keep our own heads above water.  It is a bit like supporting Southampton in the 90's!

 

A nice run has put us in a great place but any slip up could prove fatal.  Our hosts sit just two points from the play-offs so will be keen to push on but will the game against Colchester United in the Essex Senior Cup prove to be a distraction..?

 

Directions can be found here.  As ever, good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 1 Horsham

 

A nervous affair which Leatherhead managed to see out 2-1 winners thanks to an early Hutchings goal and a second half Simmo penalty.

 

The game did not go smoothly as Horsham equalised thanks to an unlucky ricochet in the box which fell to a grateful Horsham player, who looked to be offside, to tap in.

 

Meanwhile on the South Coast Lewes managed to hold on to the three points despite a late charge from Hastings to keep them in the bottom four.

 

Out of the relegation zone.  All to play for then...

Horsham Are Coming

 

Sorry for the lack of updates.  Again I find myself in Malaysia with access to the internet a premium.  I did follow the action where I could though and was pleased to hear of the 2-2 draw but with Harrow winning it makes today's game rather crucial.

 

Sadly our old friends Horsham were relegated a number of weeks ago.  They were joined by Aveley so the threat of the drop is ever increasing as those beneath us have their fate sealed.

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Last nights scores

 

Leatherhead slip back into the relegation zone after Harrow thrash East Thurrock 3-0.  Hastings lose meaning we now have two clubs in our sites for the run in...

 

Bury Town 2 -2 Wingate & Finchley

 

Carshalton Athletic 2 -1 Metropolitan Police

 

East Thurrock United 0 -3 Harrow Borough

 

Hastings United 0 -2 Wealdstone

 

Midweek Fixtures

 

Dare I compete with the match day programme to bring you up to date info?  No way.  I'll better be back on 10 April or something.  Anyway, in the meantime here are tonight's midweek fixtures.  Some of them MAY be of interest to us...

 

Bury Town  VS  Wingate & Finchley  

Carshalton Athletic  VS  Metropolitan Police

East Thurrock United  VS  Harrow Borough    

Hastings United  VS  Wealdstone

Tanners 2 - 0 Aveley

 

Tanners overcome their opening nerves to win this crucial game 2-0.  The first 30 minutes was something of a horror show but a Le Tissier-esque volley from Tommy Hutchings settled us down and from there it was pretty much one way traffic.

 

Tommy later turned provider to set up Greg Andrews who got his goal on his return to the Grove.

 

Out of the bottom four and Folkestone await while midweek games may see us hold our fate in our own hands from then on...

Aveley Are Coming

 

Tomorrow see's Aveley come to the Grove in this crucial relegation run in for both clubs.  On a warm September's day Leatherhead managed their first point of the season away to Aveley with a Simmo penalty.  With Harrow a tantalising 3 points ahead we must aim for all three this time.

 

Its Sport Relief at the Grove.  Not sure how that helps our plight but be sure to throw some money in a bucket or something.

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Cray 1 - 2 Tanners

Two first half goals enough for the win. Andrews sets up Ottaway then Hutchings doubles the lead.

Cray got a late goal and with 9 minutes of added time it was hearts in mouth stuff.

Can we?

Travelling Tanners

 

Don't forget.  It is not today but tomorrow.  Leatherhead visit an old stomping ground over at Hayes Lane to play Cray Wanderers.  A club that is nestling in the play-off places which is quite an achievement given it was not long they were in the Ryman South.

 

Leatherhead need to grab some of what Cray's success has been built on and try and get something form this game.  A goal would be something.  It has been three games since the opposition 'keeper has had to pick one out the back of the net.

 

Directions here.  Good luck Tanners.

Lewes 1 - 0 Tanners

 

What?  Wait.  There was a game last night.  Being away and relying on the Official Site meant I was blissfully unaware of last nights game.  I woke up to see we suffered another defeat without scoring.

 

Lewes by all accounts did not play well.  They are on the edge of the play-off places (held off by Cray Wanderers where we go Saturday, I think) and did just enough to keep us at bay.  Which appeared to be very little.

 

Lewes did have some late scares with Elliot hitting the woodwork and Tommy being denied by the 'keeper but it was not to be.  We now find ourselves 6 points behind with a game "not in hand" with only 7 games to go.  So.  Who is going to Cray then?

Tanners 0 - 2 Billericay

 

Two nil represents the perfect result to me.  A goal to take the lead.  Hold on and keep the opposition at guard then attack and get the all important buffer.

 

Pity it was us that suffered this result against an impressive Billericay while Leatherhead we found wanting.  Billericay finding the net in the first half and then into the second while keeping us at bay.  From all accounts we lacked the edge to offer anything this game.

 

This game would never be done as a must win at the start of the season but given our predicament and their injuries we could have hoped for more.

 

Just a small matter of an away trip to our favourite place then.... Cray Wanderers anyone?

Billericay Are Coming

 

Us Leatherhead fans seem to have split allegiances these days with The Met Police accounting for some results we need to go in our favour.  I too will be joining this emergency service support by watching Singapore Armed Service FC in the S-League tonight.  If it kicks off I know who I will be supporting.

 

It is going to be a tough game.  Billericay sit proudly top of the table and any element of surprise we may have probably went out the window when we beat them in the FA Cup.  I doubt they will make the same mistake of underestimating us again.

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

 

Margate 0 - 0 Tanners

 

Not sure how to look at this draw.  Margate's form has been even worse than ours recently so we could have gone there with a realistic chance of making it a double over the Kent based club and back to back wins.

 

Leatherhead certainly had the better of the opening exchanges.  Hutchings' shot getting deflected wide on 12 minutes and Simmo forcing a save on the half hour mark.  A good chance went begging shortly after at the other end which perhaps acted as a wake up call and the game was shut down. 

 

Not a great spectacle until the last 15 minutes where, with fresh legs, Margate stepped it up and forced Chico into a couple of great saves.

 

A point it is then but no change to the table with Harrow getting a point.  Billericay next week then...

Travelling Tanners

 

This was the game I was most disappointed to miss.  A new ground was always made it an attractive trip but throw in the prospect of the importance of it makes it even more attractive.

 

After a win against a rather limp Harrow, Margate will prove stiffer opposition although they do only have 1 point from the last 7 games.  A chance to get out of the bottom four?  Or have I just jinxed it?  Lets see.

 

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

Tanners 2 - 0 Harrow

Leatherhead grab themselves a life line today with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Harrow.  A reverse of the score line where we felt hard done by.

The opener came from Vernon, a towering header where their keeper stood no chance.  It was then a nervous affair from the home support.  Defending these slender margins can be hard work.

But defend we did and when new boy Holness came on like a young Jamie Mackey to score the second we could start looking at the table in a new light... well... a glimmer anyway...

Well done Leatherhead...