Tanners 0 - 1 Harrow Borough

Harrow arrived at The Grove knowing that if disaster struck they would be relegated so travelled in good numbers.  Even before the game started they were given the boost of some key absences in the Leatherhead ranks.  Man flu, a prize holiday and an assistant manager position left us three players short and in need of some reorganising.

With the visitors well prepared for the task at hand it was no surprise that they fought just that little bit harder and dominated most of the game.  The dominance rewarded by a player who takes his chances when presented.  MCS scoring the winning goal against us both home and away this season when he latched onto a loose ball in the box in the first half.

The second half was a little quiet.  Our best chance came via a penalty awarded when Vas’ run was blocked in the box.  A soft penalty that was struck with equal measure by Vas and was saved with ease.

With little at stake Leatherhead allowed some youth team players to get a run.  We did rally but no breakthrough came.  At the final whistle the visitors over celebrated somewhat given the collapse by Peacehaven made the result redundant.

Leatherhead can take a lot of pride of the season overall.  Especially given the revolving door we were faced with at the start of the season.  With a bit more stability we can hope for an exciting campaign next season…

 

Harrow Borough Are Coming

Harrow Borough come to the Grove in a bit of a spot.  Of the five teams in relegation trouble our guests look the safest but should all the other results go against them and we win they will be down.  Leatherhead can feel pretty good about themselves after an altogether successful season given it was our first year back in the top flight of the Ryman.  I hope we don’t take our foot off the pedal as we could finish as high as eighth above Billericay.  A-ring-a-ding-ding!

Meanwhile at the top Enfield Town go into the game not knowing how it will turn out for them after being hit with an FA charge of playing an illegible player through no real fault of their own.  Dulwich could still miss out but only in the place of Met Police…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

 

 

Lewes 0 - 1 Tanners

On a chilly day which was warm at the same time, Leatherhead produced a fine away win against a Lewes side who are fighting to avoid the drop. A surprisingly large crowd of over 700 had come to fret over the fortunes of their local team who were briefly in the Conference National in 2008. 
A top 10 finish for Leatherhead will be achieved with a win at home to Harrow next week and we could move to as high as 8th. We could only have dreamed of this at the start of the season when the team had to be virtually rebuilt from scratch due to the departure of many of the side that gained promotion. 
Congratulations must be given to Richard Brady for being able to attract players of the quality of Vas, Kiernan, Stacy, and Adam Green (we also attracted Rook) and being able to blend them into a strong side more than capable of holding their own in this division. 
The season could become even more pleasurable should Dulwich fail to secure a play off spot in what has been a spectacular collapse in form. Maidstone are certain to become deserved champions unless they lose about 20-0 on Saturday. Met Police could still make the play-offs and will be hoping for a Labour election victory to ensure an increased playing budget next season.

(Report by DominicWJM)

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead to travel to Lewes today in our last away game of the season. Lewis have a tense end to the season looking over their shoulder while Leatherhead have the luxury of shrugging theirs. We can only go up or down a couple of places.
Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Tanners 1 - 0 Margate

A fine win but ever there was an end of season feel to a game it was this one.  Off the pitch, a large crowd watched in near silence as Leatherhead went about keeping third place Margate quiet on the pitch.

The winner came early in the game.  A Margate centre back tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick but with Vas in chase you need to be careful.  The defender tried to be clever but Vas got the better of him, stole the ball and advanced on goal.  The centre back again tried to be clever and nudge Vas off the ball but in doing so stuck out a leg… the invitation to be tripped by it was gratefully received and the penalty given.  Vas struck his penalty a little too close to the ‘keeper for my liking but as he was diving the wrong way it did not matter.  1-0.

Margate were then lucky to have 11 men on the pitch when Hughes-Mason broke down the middle of the pitch.  A cute cut inside would have seen him clear on goal but the centre back cynically pulled him down.  Only a yellow awarded.

Second half was largely tame but assured.  Not that the game was devoid of entertainment.  There were some good chances, some “oooohs”, some “ahhhhs” and a rousing cheer for Richard Brady and the team for the win that, on balance, they deserved. 

Lewes away Saturday…

 

Margate are coming

Margate away was supposed to be a wonderful affair.  A big crowd and a new ground in the bag all I needed was a good game.  It failed to deliver with the home side keeping us at bay with ease and in the second half the crowd was so quiet a bird in the tree behind us was making more noise.

Now they come to the Grove a certainty for the play-offs and pretty much nailed on to finish third.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

 

VCD 2 - 0 Tanners

A complete ruddy shambles of an away game for Leatherhead as we were outplayed by a side scrapping for Ryman Premier survival.

The damage was done in the second half.  A spilled save was tapped in shortly after the restart and in the death a complete mix up resulting from a back pass allowed for a second.

So VCD complete the double over us to complete a successful Easter weekend taking the shine off of our fine 1-0 win over Leiston a little…  Margate arrive Saturday to further test us…

Travelling Tanners

After Phil Page's opening goal to notch up a double over promotion chasing Leiston we now head on the road to VCD.
Bury Town are already relegated but VCD will be keen to add some points to their relegation fight…
Good luck fellas...

Easter weekend

The yin and yang of football this weekend. On Saturday we host seventh placed Leiston. Then on Monday we make the travel to 2nd bottom VCD.
Both kick offs at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

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…