Travelling Tanners

This was a game I was rather looking forward to a few months ago.  Perhaps I’d make a weekend of it with the family… alas I had forgotten a previous commitment so for the second year running this new ground passes me by.

I wonder if I will get the chance to see them next year.  Certainly at one point they looked like definite play-off hopefuls but have drifted away to 10^th place.  Certainly losing 3-0 to Farnborough does little to help their clause.

The last few miles of directions can be found here… the other 120 miles you’ll have to work out yourself.  Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

 

Game off

No trip to Harrow to see Hendon tonight.  The continuous rain has made the pitch unplayable.

Next up the away trip is Leiston…

Tanners 0 - 4 Merstham

When the draw was made this was a tie the fans were happy about.  We had avoided teams such as Sutton, got a home tie and against a side we had a real chance to beat.  It was chance to progress to the semifinal and create some genuine excitement in a season which, apart from a good run against sides largely below us, has been rather drab.

The weather was wet but sadly the performance was even wetter. The lack of interest and effort in this game from the manager and players wouldn't have been more obvious if we had put up a sign outside the ground.

I counted the number of tackles we made in the 2nd half and needed just one hand. We made Merstham look like they were 2 or 3 leagues above us.

Even more concerning is that the last 4 games have seen no wins and an aggregate score of 2-13. We haven't scored a 2nd half goal in a league game since Boxing Day. The players don't appear to be as fit as other teams but tonight the overriding  impression was that they just didn't care.

Merstham are coming

The big one. Merstham arrive at the Grove looking to go one step further to reach the Surrey Senior Cup Final at Woking.

This quarter final tie will no doubt be played out in the usual lively manner when we meet.

Kick off at 7:45. Good luck fellas!

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead head south to take on Burgess Hill in the battle for 12^th place.  We sit just one point apart but with the same goal difference of seven in arrears.

Now, I thought this game was a certainty to be on but persistent rain in the morning (and Bognor Regis being postponed) it may be worth keeping an eye on Twitter.

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

Tanners 2 - 2 Hampton & Richmond

Was it two points dropped or two points gained?  For us it probably doesn’t matter either way.  We will hopefully finish mid-table and look back on a wonderful run of form that got us out of trouble.  Given the loss for Dulwich our visitors may look back at this point and find it rather important.

We also now know a two goal cushion is not enough given the complete loss of composure we seem to suffer when ahead against stiff opposition.  This was shown against Leiston and again last night.

The first half we cannot fault.  While Hampton & Richmond probably shaded possession our defence looked rather solid and upfront we had a certain about menace.  Hughes-Mason and Collin stole the show combining twice to race to the 2-0 lead that proved insufficient.

First it was Hughes-Mason who found himself advancing on goal down the centre with a defender and ‘keeper to beat but opted to slide a pass to Franny who made no mistake from a tight angle.  He returned the favour just minutes later when Franny broke down our right and fired in a cross.  Get your scrap books out.  Hughes-Mason buried his chance with a header.

Second half and all of that attacking endeavour went out of the window and we were forced in to hurried clearances.  This allowed our promotion chancing guests to set up camp in our half.  Our defence, led by Watt was magnificent though.  So much so it looked we could hold on and it was only down to a fortunate deflection that gave the visitors hope.  A shot was struck Jerry and ballooned up and over Wells in what turned out to be a perfect lob.

Then Watt re-asserted himself and kept them out until the last minute of injury time.  He made a crunching tackle to the right of goal, got up and ran to the far post to head clear from the cross that quickly followed.  The header then fell to another Hampton player who sent in another cross but it evaded our colossus and it was headed home.

A further 30 seconds of play was allowed before the ref ended the game.  Not the embarrassing defeat it could have been and something for Burgess Hill to think about Saturday…

 

Hampton & Richmond

After conceding seven goals in your last two games you could perhaps hope for an easy game (if there is such a thing when you have conceded seven goals in two games!) to get your eye back in.  No such luck for Leatherhead.  Hampton & Richmond will be a tough task.  Losing once in the last 11 they put goals past Leiston at the weekend.  Our only hope is that they conceded three themselves.

The pitch may be a factor.  Currently the form is soft and with no rain forecast the game should be on.

Kick off at 7:45pm.  See you there.

Tanners 0 - 3 Enfield Town

Seven wins out of eight was a healthy return but 7 goals in two games has taken the shine off of that a bit.  It is difficult to decide which game was worse.  Saturday’s visit of Enfield Town was not brilliant but lacked the shambolic corner taking of the midweek game.

In both games we were conceded a spectacular goal.  This time it was the third goal, which came on the stroke of half time was a magnificent bicycle kick from around the penalty spot. 

By then we had already conceded two.  The first from a mix up between Watt (who play and missed at a ball in the box) and Wells (who did not expect such a spectacular swipe of the ball to be sliced across the face of the goal).  The second was just a well worked move which slide in a more direct ball for the same player to tap in.

Second half and Enfield Town came out looking to settle for the 3-0 win and it appeared Leatherhead accepted the offer and played out a rather lackluster half.  Only Mahal, on an a sub, came anywhere near to scoring.  His toe pock from close range was saved by the rather charming and friendly ‘keeper.  In fact it was only watching his goal kicks as he mastered beautifully the windy conditions that offered any real kind of entertainment value.

Can we hope for better Wednesday when we host Hampton & Richmond.  Somehow I think Storm Imogen will spare our blushes.

 

Enfield Town Are Coming

Leatherhead are hoping that playing at home will result in a level playing field as we take on Enfield Town who are looking to press on with their promotion chase.

Enfield Town steamrollered their way through us when we met at their place last season but they have hit a bumpy patch after losing their last two games.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tonbridge Angels 4 - 0 Tanners

So, what went wrong last night?  We have heard much about the new signings adding balance but could it be the unassuming figure of Kinnear was the lynch pin to our recent success?  Certainly a lot was asked of Parker and Semakula to try and combat the hosts in midfield.  For 20-25 minutes it was a credible attempt but soon we started to become overrun.

Another factor that could not have helped was Steve Watt was out with an illness.  This placed Walsh into the back four which meant we had no real physical presence beyond the defensive unit.  

We had four attacking options upfront with Collin, Hughes Mason, Mahal and Okoh.  That latter two were deployed on the wings and looked lively but as the game wore on, with little support from the centre of midfield, they became isolated and easy pickings for the Tonbridge players.  By the end of the game we were playing a 6-0-4 formation that allowed the final onslaught to take the score to 4.

The other problem was the state of our corner taking.  In the second half those behind the goal were appealing to the ref to give a goal kick instead of a set piece to us that ultimately ended in failure and embarrassment.  They were largely either scuffed to the near post or became a complete shambles when taken short.  One corner was sent in with any real purpose.  One.

Tonbridge hunted in packs and grew in confidence and were well worth the 4-0 score line.  Their first goal was a stunner.  Pressure from the home side resulted in a ball being half cleared to the edge of the box.  This was volleyed back with interest and screamed into the back of the net via the underside of the bar.

All too often we have accused Leatherhead of only turning up for the first half and then collapsing in the second.  Perhaps they had given us the first half we asked for and we can expect for a change in fortunes.  Alas, as already indicated it only got worse.  Their second goal again coming from pressure that could not be cleared and they shot from close range to beat Wells who had been magnificent at keeping it close until that point.

Two goals followed in the last ten minutes, long after we had got into the car to return home.  A look at the balance at the side is needed and perhaps Sandmann should make a call to Dover or Maidstone for a defensive midfielder.  Or perhaps look on eBay.  It’s amazing what you can pick up on there these days…

Travelling Tanners

For some of us this is the second trip to Tonbridge Angels this season.  A late downpour caused the game to be called off but not so late that Leatherhead officials in the know could have shared the information via twitter… at least we know the way there.

That cancellation may have done us a favour as back in December they were top of the table.  With only one win in ten things have slipped.

Kick off at 7.45.  Directions can be found here.  See you there.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel  to Hendon (who play at Harrow) today for this league fixture.  Hendon have enjoyed back to back wins but we’ve been on quite a run ourselves.

I started typing this believing there was no need for a pitch inspection... now there is one at 11:15 so check twitter for updates.

Kick off at 3pm (I hope).  Directions can be found here.  See you there!

 

Tanners 3 - 2 Leiston

Three first half goals were enough of a buffer to protect the three points from the second half slump and a terrible referee.

Leatherhead needed some performances today if they were going to overturn the visitors you had made the 130 mile trip south.  In the first half at least we got it and with a shade of fortune built up an impressive lead.

The opening goal came from Frannie.  Since his debut penalty he has seemed a little goal shy so it was a relief to see him on the scoresheet again.  Playing in a deeper role he collected the ball on the edge of the box and drove a low purposeful shot into the bottom left corner.  The ‘keeper could have perhaps done better but it was well placed.  Six minutes gone and things were going well.

Hughes-Mason was a player who had perhaps caught the bug Tomi brought with him in recent weeks.  Glaring misses have plagued him over the last four games but he has always maintained his ability to burst into the box with the ball at feet.  On the half hour mark he did just that and released a fierce shot which, despite the strong hand of the ‘keeper getting to the ball, sneaked in on the far post.

Just three minutes later Frannie made it three with another shot from outside the box.  He was aided by a massive deflection and with the ‘keeper going the wrong way it found the back of the net.

From here on in the ref took over.  On a televised game he’d be in the “let things go” category but it was difficult to watch when some of these instances appeared to inflict genuine pain.  Phil Walsh took a high boot to the face for example with on the assistant prepared to give it.  Phil was subbed off shortly afterwards.

Leatherhead have developed a habit of only being able to play 45 minutes and so Leiston pressured with us sinking deeper.  On the hour mark there was a goal mouth scramble with the ball crossing the line.  Unsurprisingly the ref was unable to make a decision and the assistant stepped in and gave it. 

Leiston did not seem to have the urgency to really press us though and at no real point did the fans get too nervous.  In fact we thought the result was beyond doubt when Alex Wood tapped in from a Cash cross but it was ruled out for offside.

Deep into stoppage time Leiston pulled one back to cause the pulse to race a little.  Not aided by Leatherhead’s decision to believe the last kick of the ball from the re-start would come from punting it straight at their ‘keeper.  The ref found an extra few second to allow the ball to be sent back towards our goal but we managed to hold off their last attack long enough for the ref to finally see sense and call time on a great win.

Leiston are coming

I hope this game is on.  The frosts of midweek were replaced with persistent rain on Friday but the sun is out so hopefully we can get the game on.

Leiston would hope to be there or there abouts so promise to be a very different opposition to that we have faced in the league recently.  There was a time we used to consider teams from Kent our bogey sides.  Lets hope we don't come to the same conclusion about sides from Suffolk.

Kick off at 3pm (look at twitter for updates).  See you there!

Needham Market 1 - 0 Tanners

Tanners will come away from this game disappointed they did not get more, perhaps a point being a fair result.  Then again, VCD would not doubt feel the same so while we have three points over the two games if football was fair we’d only have two.

The first thing that struck the few that made the 100 mile trip was the state of the pitch, it looked as if it had been freshly ploughed.  Home advantage proved to be crucial as the hosts quickly adapted to the conditions.

Something Needham Market had was a powerful forward who dominated down the wings.  He seemed unstoppable and no sooner did we get to grips with things he simply changed sides.  It was from one of his runs they got the goal.  Down the right he fired in an early cross that found an unmarked player just inside the box on the left hand side.  He had time to pick his spot and curl his shot past Wells with apparent ease.  Disappointing but with 60 minutes to go we need not panic.

It was only really in the second half did we really get going.  We were now used to the cabbage patch and started to apply pressure.  Also we tried to match their tactics of a large striker and deployed Walsh upfront to bolster our attack.

Things just simply did not go our way.  When Hughes-Mason was clear on goal with a ball coming to him it would bobble under or over his foot.  Shots from midfield were sliced.  In the dying minutes we had a goal mouth scramble where three shots on target were blocked or save.  The third and best shot was hit with so little power the defender on the line could have built a campfire to keep warm waiting for the ball to arrive.

It wasn’t meant to be and Sandmann suffers his first defeat after an impressive six straight wins.  There is also no chance to bounce back with a quick game as conflicts elsewhere mean Bognor Regis will not be coming Wednesday.  Leiston it is on Saturday then!

 

Ks 0 - 1 Tanners

Difficult to know what to think about this game.  It certainly didn’t get off to a good start.  The ref has one job to do before the game and that is to get it started on time.  He failed miserably, coming out two minutes late and then allowed Ks to do a stupid warm up routine.  They too join the ranks of teams I have seen muck about on a side line then lose.

The game also didn’t start too well from a Leatherhead perspective.  Ks were quick out of the blocks and on three minutes they were through on goal.   Wells is in the form of his life and must have appeared to be an oncoming Darth Vader to the striker and the shot was well saved.  The resulting corner brought about a free header that was cleared off the line and the follow up shot smothered by Wells.

I would say that set the tone for the match.  Leatherhead were the team forced to desperately clear their lines while occasionally springing an attack of their own.  The highlight being Mahal scoring but seeing the offside flag go up and Hughes Mason blasting over at close range, albeit from a tight angle.

During the second half it looked as if the game was going to reach its natural conclusion.  Penalties.  However Leatherhead managed to build some pressure from a number of corners and it was from one we scored.  First half we mucked about with short corners which serve no purpose in my opinion.  Second half we took proper corners, swinging in and causing trouble. 

On this corner it went long to the far post with Jerry waiting.  With some improvising he managed to bring the ball down and then blast his shot under the ‘keeper.  Leatherhead fans celebrated, Ks fans wondered what had happened to a side that won here comfortably 5-1 and should have been enjoying a home fixture.

The rest of the game was played in torrential freezing rain.  If only the game had started on time, the ref could have been wrapped up inside by then.  Shame.

So, Martin Tyler at 8:50 tomorrow morning for the draw?  It’s a date.

Travelling Ks

Surrey Senior Cup action tonight as Ks fulfill their “home” fixture at the Grove.  At the time of the draw I wrote this game off.   Our form wasn’t brilliant, our cup form even worse and we had just been dumped out of the Trophy 5-1 by our local rivals.  After a run of five victories perhaps renewed optimism for this fixture and our last chance at a cup run.

The pitch has survived the rain so no need for a pitch inspection.  Kick off at 7:45pm.  See you there.

 

VCD 0 - 1 Tanners

Tanners make it five in a row and push into the top half for the first time in, what feels to be, a long time.

On arrival the pitch looked excellent.  Lush, green and no standing water.  On closer inspection the grass looked a little long and you could hear water underfoot.  It wasn’t Eastleigh but it must have been hard work to play on. 

A word to VCD though.  As far as I am concerned no team in the bottom four has ever won a game, in the history of football, by taking out cones and performing a warm up routine just before the ref blows his whistle to start the game.  You’ve had perhaps 30 minutes to warm up, it looks ridiculous and it achieves nothing as the opposing side simply wait for you to finish and then have a huddle so you cool down again.  I predicted they’d lose following this as I did with Brentwood who tried the same nonsense.  So, on to the game.

The game promised so much early on when we scored.  The beauty of our goal was its simplicity.  Leatherhead had the ball in the middle and were confronted with what looked like a well-organised back four.  Kinnear then simply pushed through a perfectly weighted pass through the centre.  Mahal timed his run perfectly and with his first touch eluded the ‘keeper and with his second slotted it into the goal.  Such a move wouldn’t have seemed out of place with Messi passing to Suarez.  This was obviously something that they have been working on as such passes were tried for the remainder of the half but without threatening.

Second half and Leatherhead set out to settle for what they had it seemed and VCD had the majority of the ball.  That said Wells look largely redundant with only a lobbed attempt that went close saw him move with any urgency.

Leatherhead meanwhile had their chances.  Hughes Mason had the best two but were missed.  The first one was forgivable as he could have believed that Walsh would make contact to the low cross into the box.  He didn’t so Hughes Mason had a stab at it and it went wide.  The second identical ball was meant for him and he had time to settle but in the wet conditions it skewed wide.

It was then a case of holding the ball in the corners for the last minute until the ref realized he’d seen enough.  1-0 it ends and quite a build-up of momentum to face Ks Wednesday in the Surrey Senior Cup.

 

Travelling Tanners

Game on!  According to our official Twitter feed anyway as I have yet to see any confirmation from the hosts.  No rain is forecast before the game (although none was forecast last night and down it came) so we should be good to go.

VCD are having a hard time of things this season but will be buoyed by the memory of a league double over us last season. 

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

Tanners 3 - 0 Staines

Leatherhead made it four wins in a row and inflict more misery on the travelling Staines team who have picked up just three points in the last 6 games.

The visiting ‘keeper had a strange opening ritual.  On the ref’s whistle to commence the half he jumped  and touched the cross bar.  A touch of OCD perhaps and I wonder why he does it.  Perhaps if he doesn’t he’ll concede in the first minute or something… actually he conceded twice.

Leatherhead kicked off and made a purposeful attack down the middle.  An attempt at a throw ball struck the outstretched hand of a defender and the penalty given after some time to think.  Had the ref waited a fraction of a second longer he would have seen Hughes-Mason strike the ball under the diving ‘keeper.  Hughes-Mason fancied getting the goal he was denied but new striker Franny took the ball off him and planted the ball confidently past the ‘keeper.  1-0 with barely a sip of the pre-match tea taken.

Staines felt they bossed the first half.  I disagree.  Sure they had some possession but rarely threatened and we looked the more likely to score on the break.

Second half was a different kettle of fish though.  Their Staines really did come out with a view to score and started to apply some genuine pressure.  Watt has created a rather impressive defensive unit since his arrival and while the attacks came they were swatted away.

That said, Leatherhead fans always suspect their luck would run out and when a nasty deflection surprised Wells into a reflex save we felt that time was soon to come.  Luckily this feeling did not last long as a break down the right fed in Hughes-Mason who was now clear on goal.  He wanted to hit it first time but probably assessed he was too far out so allowed himself to travel a few metres forward, sent the defender the wrong way and calmly curled it into the side netting from the edge of the box.  2-0.

Thing were looking pretty safe but things got worse when Mahal sent in a dangerous cross with Frannie Collin looking favourite to tap it in at the far post.  The covering defender tried to deal with the situation but could only steer it in from two yards.  An impressive finish considering the misses we have seen from that range recently.

VCD it is then, weather permitting, Saturday!