Hendon 2 - 0 Tanners

Second place Hendon see us off 2-0 despite being a man down for 35 minutes.
They have settled well in their new stadium, winning this their second game. With a crowd of 184 the Conference South must be licking their lips at the prospect of this side winning the play-offs...

Travelling Tanners

Another tough game today as we travel to second place Hendon.
We travel with three players committing to next season and Rook moves to 'King 4.
Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Leatherhead 1 - 1 Maidstone

A large travelling contingent turned up at Fetcham Grove in an expectant mood but went home with only a point after a robust performance from Leatherhead.

Leatherhead gave a debut appearance to Phil Page.  A powerful looking striker that certainly put himself about a bit and was booked for repeatedly doing so by a ref who spent more time doing up his shoe laces than officiating the game.

Our opener came from Vas.  A long ball down the middle should have been dealt with but the defender hesitated to raise a boot and allowed Vas to head it on and run clear on goal.  A composed finish beat the ‘keeper who is not relishing the thought of long distance travel next season.

Maidstone’s equaliser came about from a spell of poor refereeing.  No question about the powerful headed finish from the corner, but that corner came from a spell where the ref failed to remember Dembele had been waved off the field of play after receiving treatment after being fouled.  Despite screams from the physio the ref allowed play to go on with Dembele on the side lines and allow Maidstone to build an attack down their left.  While our right-back was allowed on it was not in time to prevent the cross from which we conceded the corner.

The halftime discussion was mainly over why Leatherhead did not build an extra tea bar for the visiting supporters.  Surely we should have known so many would come, the attendance at Harrow was a massive 372 after all…

Second half and the ref managed to get a grip of his laces but not the game.  He certainly failed to control the Maidstone players as they tried to haul Vas off the floor, and sneak in a crafty kick, as he was booked for diving.  A tad harsh.  While there was no trip, Vas was undoubtedly pulled back in the box to deny him a shooting opportunity.

The remainder of the half was a lively yet even affair.  Maidstone are undoubtedly worthy champions elect but Leatherhead should take heart from a well-earned point.  No need to shrug this one off…

 

Maidstone are coming

While some teams have struggled with form  our visitors, Maidstone United, have just steadily got on with things and now sit at the top of the table in a rather healthy position to go on and win the league.   Home they are getting 2,000 yet away the crowds are not as spectacular as one would hope.  Certainly a bus load of Belgians could make a larger impression.

Time for us to get over our defeat and get used to playing football on a Saturday…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

 

Enfield Town 3 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead found life hard on the road over the weekend and were soundly beaten in front of a boisterous crowd that may have played its part in getting their second.

From the kick off it was clear that the Belgian visitors were (and perhaps had been since the small hours) out to enjoy themselves.  A party atmosphere was created at the far end long into the first half when in truth there was little to celebrate.  The ref got involved a little too early for everyone’s liking.  Booking one of our players for being slightly late on a tackle on just 3 minutes.  Moments later a high boot caught Rook in the face so the yellow came out again.  Dembele had our only shot on goal, curling just over while Enfield perhaps had one or two shots themselves.

Second half could not have started worse for Leatherhead.  Straight from the kick-off they rampaged down the middle and slotted the ball past the diving Wells with ease.  Dank u wel!  It was not long before one of their players was bundled over seemingly outside the box.  The ref, encouraged by a large noisy contingent behind the goal, gave it straight away.  A pity as Vas was bundled over in similar fashion and a goal kick was awarded.  That penalty was placed to Wells’ right and gave him no chance.

With 10 minutes to go we failed to deal with a spell of pressure and Enfield made it 3.  The disco planned for the evening was now starting early.

It had been a frustrating day, Enfield Town possess some big (yet delicate as they are quick to hit the ground) players who marshalled our players robustly.  A foul on Hughes-Mason caused him to react badly and the ref gave him a yellow card.  That haunted him as in the dying minutes he saw another and so he ended his day with a red card.

While Semakula scored (while I was on the A10) it was not a great day and perhaps that new suit will need taking in a bit…

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead get back on the road tomorrow for the trip to Enfield Town.

A fatwa has been placed on talking about play-offs so we should now focus on maintaining momentum so we can continue in playing the same style of winning football.

The omens are good too.  Enfield seem to be on a win one lose one run of form.  They beat Margate in the last game…

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

 

Tonight's fixtures

There are just two games on tonight… get the puncture repair kit out…

AFC Hornchurch  vs  Canvey Island
Metropolitan Police  vs  VCD Athletic

 

Tanners 1 - 0 Canvey Island

I don’t know what is more impressive.  The run of form we are on or that a side like Canvey Island can come to The Grove with the sole purpose of slowing the game to a crawl in order to play out a point.  It did not work. Leatherhead’s second half charge proved too much.

First half, while Leatherhead had the pace and looked dangerous at times, the visiting ‘keeper had little to do by the way of saves.  However he set the pace for the game by walking through the motions of every goal kick to suck the life out of the game.  Had Canvey shown more ambition they may have created more chances in the first half.  They struck the post and could have had a good shout for a striker being brought down by the last man (although I thought it was a clear dive).

Second half and Leatherhead looked more purposeful.  Rook came on, which at the time looked like a mistake.  It was our fast pace that was causing them problems but as ever Rook is at hand to tap in the vital goal.  The ‘keeper could only palm a vicious Hughes-Mason shot into Rook’s path and he gladly accepted the gift.

Unsurprisingly Canvey tried to up the pace but it was too late.  1-0 and the balloon remains intact…

 

Canvey Island are coming

Up, up and away in my beautiful… hang on…

Leatherhead’s impressive run of form will be tested by another Ryman Premier stalwart team, Canvey Island are coming to the Grove.  Canvey had a miserable December and January but managed to bounce back a little with three wins in a row.  After four winless matches they will no doubt look to string a few results together.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Travelling Tanners

If twitter is anything to go by some of the players, while enjoying this run, are starting to feel it physically so a midweek trip is probably not what the physio ordered.

Not that I can go, as I find myself in Basel, but I cannot for the life of me remember if I have been to this ground or not.  I don’t think so.  A new ground goes begging as we travel to a side who like us smashed four past Bury Town.  They let one in so we can take the moral high ground there.

Kick off at 7:45.    Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

 

Tanners 2 - 1 East Thurrock

Leatherhead are starting to look more than just comfortable in this division with a 2-1 win against a side that would have had serious ambitions on reaching the play-offs on arrival to the Grove.

It was certainly Leatherhead who looked took the game to the visitors for much of the first half.  Creativity out on the wings while Josh maintained supremacy in the centre of midfield.

It is these kind of games that Leatherhead have been caught with a sucker punch but today our pressure finally told with pretty much the last kick of the first half.  A clever pass into the box found Nwokeji inside the six yard box completely unmarked and had enough time to dig the ball out of the muddiest part of the pitch and strike the ball past the stranded ‘keeper.

If East Thurrock’s defence had made a mess of the offside trap for the first goal they certainly felt they had done their job properly when Hughes-Mason received the ball about 30 yards out and through on goal.  The flag stayed down and Hughes-Mason coolly finished much to disgust of the central pairing, one of which was booked for his protests.

2-0 and Leatherhead looked comfortable until the ref, who by now was keen to even things up after the off-side blunder, gave a rather soft free-kick on the edge of our box with 5 minutes to go.  A poorly placed wall gave Wells no chance and it was 2-1.  Suddenly we lost our composure and it was East Thurrock who looked the most likely to score.

Leatherhead saw it out and now find themselves just 7 points off the play-offs…

East Thurrock are coming

An emotional day today as we say farewell to the legend Billy Miller. A minutes applause will observed before the game.
Meanwhile Leatherhead host East Thurrock in this league clash. Our fellow play-off chasing hopefuls comes to Grove in good form…
Kick off at 3 PM. See you there…

Tanners 4 - 0 Bury Town

All in all a miserable evening for the visitors.  While the started looking the hungrier of the two sides the lack of quality that has lead them to the bottom of the table started to show.

The opening goal was a telling example.  From a corner Jerry was closely marked, but he managed to use his strength and guile to get enough space to guide his header into the back of the net.

In the dying minutes of the first half the game was all but over when we were awarded a penalty and Vas achieved what Messi could not and scored from the spot in off the post.

Second half and there was little doubt that Leatherhead would cruise to victory.  Bury did rally for a brief spell but in truth Vas was looking too hot to handle as he danced through their defence on a number of occasions.

In the last 10 minutes Hughes-Mason added further misery with two goals.  The second being a cheeky flick from the outside of the boot into the top corner.

With this win Leatherhead can now surely consider themselves safe… but in some quarters people are talking of play-offs…

Bury Town are coming... again...

Spare a thought for Bury Town.  It is one thing to have a Saturday game cancelled and have to make the trip mid-week but another to have actually have made the trip only for a jobs worth to call it off.

This can only add to what has been, so far, a long hard season for Bury Town.  They sit bottom of the table and unless they pick up some points soon they will look certain to for the drop.  Yet again I recall the VCD game which means we will need to take this seriously.

Kick off at 7:45.  See you there!

Wingate & Finchley 0-0 Tanners

The oldest cantilevered grandstand in Britain provided Rod shelter on a bitterly cold afternoon in Summers Lane. The building was given grade II listed status in 2013 for its use of advanced concrete engineering and being one of the very few double sided stands in existence serving two different clubs.

Fascinating stuff off the pitch but on the pitch it was a different story. There were no Lippizaner horses prancing around here and no Viennese Waltz. The first half ended goalless which will be no real surprise to you considering the match ended goalless as well.

The 2nd half was a more lively affair. We had a few half chances but it was the hosts who looked like they were going to snatch a winner during a late onslaught. Our midfield tired but our defence somehow kept the ball out when it seemed certain that either Wingate or Finchley would score. The team have grown in belief as the season has progressed, and this performance showed that we are tough to beat and have earned the right to be in this league.

Elsewhere, there is still plenty to look forward to this season. Dulwich losing in the play offs for example, or the possibility of a bruising encounter between Merstham and Whyteleafe in the play offs.

Travelling Tanners

Lovers of football and gardening are in for a real treat this weekend, Wingate & Finchley are placed just by the Glebelands Allotments.  Our recent form has perhaps given us belief we have bedded in the league for the season but tomorrow will be a tough test.  Our hosts are 9 points better off yet somehow have scored two less goals having conceded the same amount.

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

Tanners 3 - 1 Hampton & Richmond

No calamities in the visitors goal this time but a welcome three points all the same.  The fact  this game went ahead is testament to Dave Blaz’s (and volunteers’) hard work and common sense applied by the ref.

Leatherhead started well with our forwards proving they was too hot to handle down our left.  Leatherhead fans cheered eagerly as we won a string of well-placed yet fruitless corners but it was from a free-kick we got our opener.  Whipped in from the edge of the box it was flicked on by a defender onto the head of Rook who was well within his favourite territory.

As with the away game our lead did not last long.  The Hampton forward ran through our defence much like a kitten with a ball of string.  It was ungainly as the failed tackles came in but did the trick and he found room to shoot and score.

Unlike the away we did not find ourselves 3-1 up at half time so we had to contemplate how the game would swing over a cup of tea.

Second half and I don’t think our visitors had much more than a sniff at goal.  Our second was spectacular as it is run of the mill for Vas.  One of those looping shots from deep that leave a keeper a mere spectator.

The third goal was well worked.  The robust Josh was fed a ball in the box who, while sliding, slid it into the path of Vas who poked it under the ‘keeper.

3-1 and perhaps we can look forward to a rather boring end to the season…

Hampton & Richmond are coming

Leatherhead are at home tomorrow as we host Hampton & Richmond.  Those who went to the away game will remember it was ruddy hilarious as their ‘keeper had nothing short of a nightmare.  As ever we must be on our guard… those who laugh last…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Witham Town 2 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead snatch all three points in away at Witham where calamity seemed to rule the day.  We seemed to press well but failed at times to deal with a physical presence of their striker for most of the first half.

The pitch, while quite playable, was heavy and perfect for Witham’s style of play and they used their home advantage to full affect.  Piling on the pressure and creating chances.  Quite against the run of play we got our opener though.  Vas, who had a mixed game after being accused of diving on more than one occasion by the home team, was allowed space to shoot with his deadly left foot.  Rook was at hand to distract the ‘keeper but did enough not to interfere in his offside position to allow the ball to roll in off the far post.

Witham responded quickly scoring from a free-kick brought about from their first half pressure.

Second half and Leatherhead began to cope with life in Witham a lot better.  Mainly down to the withdrawal of their rather large unit upfront.  The goal came from an incident where Vas was “brought down” on the edge of the box.  The defender claimed he was the one kicked and Vas had bought the free kick.  He may have had a point.  Typical that such a free-kick would result in a goal.  Green’s strike took a nick off of a defender and the ‘keeper dropped the catch.  A second career as a wicketkeeper not on the cards there.

With the second goal the few that travelled could hope for an easy last 30 minutes.  It was not to be when Hughes-Mason found himself defending in the penalty area and the wrong side of the player with the ball at that.  He stuck out a clumsy leg and down went the player to earn a penalty that was coolly put away to make it 2-2.

A point would not have been the end of the world but Hughes-Mason went on to make amends by making room in the box to shoot and buried the ball past the ‘keeper.  The celebration that followed was somewhat over the top but perhaps relief that we have now matched our point tally of our last outing in this league…

Travelling Tanners

Hopefully the ref won’t have an evening engagement tomorrow and make more effort to get the game on after the frustration of last weekend.  Not only because it is us making the trip this time but we’d never finish the season with that kind of attitude.

As trips go this is a big one.  Witham sit in the relegation zone so a win would go a long way to keep us in the division.  Lest we forget VCD though…

Directions can be found here.  Kick off (subject to namby-pamby inspections) at 3pm.  See you there.