Work party

Your club needs you!

Tomorrow at 9am the club is looking for you and your friends to come to The Grove to help with the clear out.

A foot of water made it up into the bar leaving silt behind. Debris sits on the pitch so bring your wheelbarrow, mop and bucket.

Chipstead 0 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead helped themselves to some festive cheer away at Chipstead to help lift the spirits after a devastating few days.  Not since an away day at Lewes have Leatherhead had to play in a foreign kit but the floods had ruined uniforms so a borrowed sky blue was on show.  It did not unsettle the visitors.

Parkinson opened the scoring with an early goal.  Then Bradbrook chipped just minutes before the end of the first half.

Leatherhead were comfortable and when Bradbrook added his second of the day it was time to enjoy Boxing Day before heading back and assessing what needs to be done at the club house... details of how you can do the same can be found here.

Hopefully the bad weather forecast for tomorrow can spare the club further damage...

Travelling Tanners

No new information about tomorrow's game as to the state of the Chipstead pitch but it is on high ground and the lack of rain could make this playable.
If it is on it is at 3pm and the directions can be found here.
Meanwhile the clean-up operation goes on at The Grove...

Happy Christmas

After seeing the scenes at The Grove everyone here at The Lip wishes the supporters and players a safe, dry and Happy Christmas!

Ramsgate off

You have to feel sorry for Ramsgate you made the trip up to Leatherhead only to be turned back after the referee called it off.

Ramsgate will now have to return with their coach on a Wednesday night. 

Ramsgate are coming

Ramsgate arrive to a festive Fetcham Grove that is boasting a “happy hour” before the game as well as the football on the big screen.  Ramsgate though are not feeling as festive as I thought they would as they sit in 8^th.  At one point I thought they would be up there in this lead pack with us but there is still time for a revival.

Hopefully Leatherhead can find their scoring boots to provide some festive cheer on the pitch after a goalless draw at Corinthian-Casuals deprived us of the “Jingle Bells” song away fans love to sing at this time of year.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Corinthian-Casuals 0 - 0 Tanners

This game was played in much of the same spirit as last week but this time the hosts offered a little more than poor Herne Bay.  We were creating chances, few really troubled the 'keeper but were in control.

Draycott came the closest in the first half.  Running on to a lofted ball into the box, fired past the 'keeper but found the crossbar and the ball bounced to safety.

Second half and perhaps it was Corinthians in the ascendency.  Certainly the ball spent longer in our half as it did theirs.  Leatherhead will come away feeling that all three points should be ours though.  Two penalty shouts went up with both not given.

The first with Draycott about to shoot he was barged off the ball with no real attempt at a fair tackle.  Then Mo used some trickery in the box and went down, albeit theatrically, as he was caught by a careless flick of a tackle.

A couple of headers on target too could have won the game, one from Coyle really should have more of a challenge for the keeper rather than straight at him, but as it was it remained goalless.

The chance to go top was missed, not helped by Peacehaven giving Worthing a good thrashing.  On to the weekend for the chance to make amends and enjoy a "happy hour".

Travelling Tanners

The last away game before Christmas so drop the missus off at the Bentall Centre and pop back for this encounter.  Leatherhead face Corinthian-Casuals tomorrow in the league knowing that a win COULD take them to the top of the league as Hastings play on Monday and Peacehaven have a tricky game against Worthing. 

It is not necessarily easy for us.  While we have our hit man in Bradbrook they have their own threat in Jamie Byatt who has notched up double figures this season so far, an ex-Tanner in Steve Barilli  … and let’s not mention the bogey ground!

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

Leatherhead 1 - 0 Herne Bay

Not a classic but it had its moments.  The first half was perhaps shaded by the visitors as they had the clearest chance but they were making enough mistakes to give us hope of a break through in the second half.

A break through eventually came when Draycott fired in a perfect curling ball into the box for Parkinson to latch onto.  The header looped over the flapping keeper.

Before that Tom Bradbrook, who had bossed the game, nearly got his goal when a low free kick bent around the wall only to see it hit the near post, then the far post and then out.  The 'keeper was a mere spectator until the ball bounced in his direction.

Herne Bay then did look the most likely to score but we saw it out for the three points and to climb to third.

Herne Bay are coming

Leatherhead return to league action tomorrow and face another Kent side, Herne Bay.  Oddly we played Herne Bay roughly this time last year on a frosty December and came through 1-0 winners.  After a stressful encounter at Folkestone last weekend I dare say we would take that again.

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

 

Tanners 1 - 0 Molesey

Leatherhead go through to the third round of the Surrey Senior Cup after a close encounter with Molesey last night.  A game played in good spirits both on and off the pitch was won thanks to a first half Leroy goal.

The first frosty game of the season and a game without Bradbrook.  We opted for Leroy upfront and why not?  He is scoring and proving to be a handful so a further chance to build on that.

Leatherhead were dominating the first half and had the edge when it came to splitting the defence with a killer pass.  First Draycott was clear but the 'keeper got to it first then Leroy took his chance by just getting a toe to the ball to sneak it past into the far corner.

Second half and we started to labour a bit while Molesey grew in confidence.  Leroy could have made it two by lobbing the keeper but his attempt lacked the power to evade the covering defender who made the important goal bound clearance.

In the final 10 minutes, while we did blaze over at close range, was mainly Molesey attacking and those with light socks were fearing extra-time... but we held on for the win.

Herne Bay Saturday, and the return of the goal machine?

Molesey are coming

Second round of the Surrey Senior Cup comes to the Grove on Wednesday night and the visit of old friends Molesey.  Once the inspiration for the song “Can we play you thrice a week?” they have been through some hard times, sinking into the Combined Counties League but now they sit in 6^th and going well.

Kick off at 7.45.  Hope to see you there.

Folkestone 2 - 0 Tanners

Leatherhead accused of failing to show up yesterday as they lose bring their impressive run to an end.  Two first half goals were the difference with Leatherhead offering little by the way of chances.

Leatherhead have a chance to redeem themselves against another Kent side on Saturday with the visit of Herne Bay on Saturday after a midweek Surrey Senior Cup tie against Molesey...

Travelling Tanners

So, I think I know where we are tomorrow.  Leatherhead travel to mid-table Folkestone Invicta hoping to keep a firm grip of the top spot they have earned over the last six games.

Their boss seems up for it.  We're up for it.  Should be a great game.  Directions can be found here, kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Walton Causals 2 - 4 Tanners

A game of three halves tonight!  Leatherhead took the form we have seen over the last few games into this top of the table clash and caught the hosts cold.

Leroy with a start made it 1-0 in the opening 15 minutes.  Josh Hill, on his debut from Dartford, made it 2-0.  With Bradbrook getting yet another goal just before half time it all looked too comfortable.

So into the second half which took a dramatic turn.  A subbed player took the advantage of the dressing room facilities and turned on the showers only to trip a fuse (allegedly) to send the ground in darkness.

Thirteen minutes later, and after some motivation from Tony Gale, Walton Casuals came back out firing.  First they won a penalty then soon after it was getting close at 3-2.

However, when you need a goal Leatherhead can turn to Bradbrook and he delivered.  4-2 and it was comfortable again.

This weekend we are off to Folkestone...

Travelling Tanners

Another big game for Leatherhead tonight.  Early pace setters Walton Casuals are set to entertain us tonight and further warning signs that this could be a tough game were issued when they announced two new signings.

Two ex-Leatherhead players line up tonight for the hosts.  Gabriel Odunakie, who seems to have a knack of scoring on his debut and Mo Maan in goal.

Kick off at 7.45 down by the Thames.  Good luck fellas.

 

Tanners 3 - 0 Sittingbourne

Now that the, albeit welcome, distraction of the FA Cups has passed Leatherhead have found a new rich seam of form that has seen us climb into the pack of title chasers rather than appearing like mere play-off hopefuls.  Winning the big games is one thing but consistently beating those in the lower half of the table has been an Achilles heel but perhaps now have we cracked it?

Certainly when you have two players in form as we have in Draycott and Bradbrook we have a chance.  Those two notched up a goal apiece in the first half we were on our way.

Second half and Tom Bradbrook made it Leatherhead 3-0 Sittingbourne after rounding the keeper and finishing well to further add to his impressive tally.

On to Tuesday.  A big one again with a trip to one of the best pubs outside a non-league ground and second place Walton Casuals.

 

Tanners 2 - 0 Guernsey

Leatherhead put in one of their best performances to topple a side that have not lost since the end of August in the league. They had only lost two matches since then, both to higher level opposition in the FA Cup and the Trophy.

 

Leatherhead got off to a good start.  Draycott opened the scoring in the opening ten minutes.  Bradbrook must have been disorientated from the boots mix up as he was not his usual clinical self as he missed two one on one chances.

 

Leroy made the game safe at 2-0 in the second half to gain three points that makes our place in the top four a lot more credible.  On to the weekend then and a visit from Sittingbourne… 

Guernsey are coming

Southampton, Eastleigh, Guernsey.  Three massive clubs that have had the joy of Matt Le Tissier playing for them and one of them are coming to The Grove tonight.  The new high profile new addition to the league have stumbled a little bit with some draws but they are still creeping up the league.

Rod has broken the forum fatwa and announced a curry is on offer, so get to the Grove early and enjoy some pre-match sustenance.

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas!

Three Bridges 1 - 4 Tanners

Quite a different performance from that was on show on Tuesday night as Three Bridges' defence was tested for much of the 90 minutes.  Luckily for the Leatherhead's forwards the service to them was better than that of the tea bar or they would have been restricted to just one or two chances.

Leatherhead were in an attacking mood.  Kev Terry, Draycott, Eisa and Bradbrook all probing for the first goal.  The first goal game from Smith when he ran onto a ball that cut the defence in half, slotting it past the stranded keeper.  The chances kept coming but as the goal went begging the fear of a 1-1 draw was at the back of a few supporters minds.

Certainly this seemed to be the case where perhaps the hosts dominated the opening 10 to 15 minutes of the second half.  It was Bradbrook that came to our rescue.  Indecisive over which boots to where but clinical with his head.  Heading back across the goal to beat the 'keeper.

Then Leatherhead won a corner when Eisa was bundled over but the penalty (taken by Smith?) was well saved.  This was a brief respite for the 'keeper after Draycott was hit hard in a tackle that deserved a red.  He got his own back by curling in a low fast freekick right onto the head of Bradbrook and he does not miss those.

Eisa managed to get his goal with a low hard shot in the box after Bradbrook fed the ball to his feet.  The clean sheet bonus was saved when Three Bridges scored in the dying minutes but they were well beaten today.

Onto the visit Guernsey on Wednesday who slipped up today...