Season Ticket Renewal

The club have asked me to mention season tickets are now on sale…

“The club are now able to offer the opportunity to buy a season ticket for next season under the Early Bird offer. For details please see the attached Application Form and the informative Membership Summary.

Last year the club offered a very special deal on season tickets.  Although many took up the offer the gate receipts went down by considerably more than the extra income from season tickets.

The good news is that we have gone back to the popular Early Bird offer of previous seasons and the adult season ticket prices under this offer are £5 lower than they were two seasons ago.

SEASON TICKET
£175 Adults
£125 Over 65s/Students
£55 Juniors (under 16)

 

Please contact Richard Bligh directly here.

 

Faversham are coming

OK; the prospect of hosting Faversham isn’t away to South Park exciting, but it is exciting all the same. 

Tonight Dorking Wanderers host our old friends from Kent in the Ryman South play-off semifinal.  Early tweets suggested it would be advance ticket only but I am sure if you get there early enough you may be in luck.  I have my ticket: so there.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

 

Harrow 2 - 2 Tanners

A second half of open, devil may care football was on offer to the few that braved the Harrow traffic today.  With both sides comfortable with their positions in the table it could have been quite a stale affair, but it appeared both teams wanted to end the season on a high.

Leatherhead had a bright start and could have scored a couple as Ryan proved hard to handle.  It was the hosts who opened the scoring from a lovely move that Leatherhead appeared to halt on three occasions but they persevered and steered it into the goal.

The first half had some tempo to it but it was in the second half it picked up.  Tomi opening the scoring with a powerful finish as we were leaving the bar.

Then Mahal used his pace to get a one on one, for him to have the composure to lob the 'keeper.  2-1 and we were above Merstham and all was well with the world.

Then Harrow bounced back.  A lovely free flowing move down their right, a cross and a one touch finish that was steered in off the post.  2-2 and we finish the season below newly promoted rivals, Merstham,.  Disappointing, but survival was achieved and on to next season... where we do it all again...

Travelling Tanners

So, here we go into the last game of the season.  Leatherhead, 10^th and can climb no higher, play 17^th place Harrow (who can climb one place) in this exciting fixture. 

Operation Merstham is still very much in own hands though as we are two points ahead, but with an inferior goal difference so a point won’t do.

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

Tanners 0 - 1 Farnborough

Leatherhead lose their last home game thanks to a swift move from the visitors and poor penetration from the hosts.

The game pretty much had the same pattern all the way through.  Leatherhead built attacks through the endeavor of Mahal but all too often there was no support in the box to pose any threat.  Farnborough probed but on the whole we looked comfortable.  Wells was forced into a couple of fingertip saves and their goal was a powerful finish from a purposeful run to the byline.

The only thing that changed was Farnborough were keen to time waste at every opportunity once they took the lead.  Who can blame them when a double relegation looms over them.

The introduction of Walsh did boost our presence in the box but the telling touch still eluded us.  1-0 it ended and good luck to Farnborough with their great escape.

Farnborough are coming

Leatherhead have the grim task of potentially delivering the final blow to Farnborough’s hopes of “survival”.  They are relegated no matter what it seems but relegation from this league will mean the punishment will send them into the Combined Counties.  That stand behind the goal looked rather empty when we visited, I dread to think what it will look like when Epsom & Ewell visit!

Leatherhead meanwhile continue to aim for tenth place.  It looked unlikely but a midweek comeback has put us in with a chance.  Hopefully The Lip’s Player of the Season, Ryan Mahal, can show some of the good form that won him the votes to secure three points today.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Last chance to vote

We are entering the last few hours to vote for The Lip's Player of the Season.

https://twitter.com/thelipfc/status/719496011962572800

Twitter users get on it!

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to Harrow based Hendon for tonight’s league encounter.  After giving themselves Saturday off, Leatherhead should be well rested for the game.

Hendon are in a group of three teams on 48 points who will be looking nervously over their shoulder at Farnborough.  So they should do to, they haven’t won since February.

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

 

Bognor 5 - 0 Tanners

We really should have phoned in sick.

This was a dreadful effort from Leatherhead. Bognor had lost 3 of their last 4 games and this was their 15th game since March 1st. But we turned up like we were away to Barcelona with only damage limitation on our mind. Bognor were all over us from the start. We barely entered the Bognor half and had not a single shot in the first 30 minutes.

On 28 minutes Adam Green was shown a straight red by the referee who couldn't wait to appease the baying Bognor crowd behind the goal. The offence was outside the box but Adam was adjudged to have fouled the last man and he was off.  Mr Sandmann patted Adam on the back as he left the field which was rather strange as even before the foul we were getting murdered. 2 goals followed before half time and 3 after but Bognor could have had as many as they liked.

Worse things happen at sea.

 

Travelling Tanners

Despite being fourth they can still mount a challenge for the title with two games in hand, although they would need Hampton to slip up at least once.

For that challenge to happen they need to win all their games so Leatherhead can expect a tough afternoon.  Beating Billericay was a much needed boost and a reminder of what the team are capable of.  Operation Merstham is back on…

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

Tanners 4 - 1 Billericay

It was Leatherhead who were finally able to break out into brainless pub songs after we destroyed a hapless Billericay 4-1.

The Essex side's season has ended in disappoint after having flirted with the play offs and they were a shadow of their normally combative selves tonight. From the start we were all over them and we blasted 4 good chances wide in the first 15 minutes. A well taken free kick from Frannie gave us the lead and Jerry made it 2 when he forced in a cross at the far post.

We started the 2nd half as we normally do - really badly. Ricay got a goal back after a period of pressure but failed to capitalise on it and then started to wilt. Toni fired a goal through the bearded keeper's legs to be followed by Mahal who lobbed the keeper from distance.

It was the demure Craig Edwards who was made to look an "idiot" and "big time" today...

Billericay are coming

Billericay arrive to the Grove in a fixture that needlessly has become somewhat heated.  Ever since Richard Brady pointed out, with some justification, the team’s winning anthem was a bit crap they took this to heart and have gone on to beat us in every game.

Will tonight be any different?  On the evidence from Saturday, unlikely.

Kick off at 7:45.  Good luck fellas.

 

Tanners 1 - 3 Met Police

Met Police and Leatherhead have nothing left to play for this season other than pride, which meant the home side were in trouble from the start.

In fact, Met Police added to the end of season feeling by letting one of their players' dads go in goal for the day. The 46 year old Scott Tarr was very largely relieved that his creaking knees only got dirty twice as the rest of our shots were fired at a more comfortable height or wide.

We went behind after 3 minutes due to a sleepy defence and soon after we lost Watt to an injury which meant that Walsh had to put on his other hat. We forced a deserved equaliser late in the 1st half when a good cross was well taken header by Bodkin.

The 2nd half, and we were looking the more likely to score until the player of the season papers were handed out around the ground. Louis Wells was being written down by a couple of people around me which immediately led to a very rare howler as a weak shot bounced off his body into the goal. After that we dissolved into a bit of a shambles and conceded a late goal to make it 1-3.

Only 5 more end of season games to go...

Met Police are coming

Today is a game I have been looking forward to for a while, East Allington host Kingskerswell & Chelston in the South Devon League.
Meanwhile Leatherhead host Met Police with a new bolstered striking line up... Tomi is back...
Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Hampton & Richmond 2 - 0 Tanners

Mr Sandmann showed that he is still undecided whether to try for the play-offs next season or settle for 14th place.  It appeared that he changed his mind at half time as a competitive first half was followed by an embarrassingly one sided second half. It was reminiscent of the second half at Torquay except Hampton are in the same league not four leagues higher.

We held our own in the first half and even had a couple of chances through Mahal and Collin. Hampton must have thought they were in for a fight for the three points but they were sadly mistaken. From the start of the 2nd half we were camped on the edge of our penalty area and attempted to repeal forces. It was fruitless. Wave after wave of Hampton attack rained down to be followed by poor clearances with none of our players able to keep the ball or pass to one another.

Hampton stay top of the league but are already promoted in the league for the most difficult ground to park.

Tanners 2 - 0 VCD

Leatherhead make it a double over VCD who, along with a couple of ex-Tanners, look like the drop is looming.

The game was not one for the scrapbook.  What actually goes into the scrapbook is still open for debate.  Those behind the goal were struggling to think of one… perhaps East Thurrock away… or Farnborough away… anyway…

Leatherhead always looked the more likely.  VCD were happy to try and defend and we would probe away looking for a goal.  It got to about 60 minutes and we were getting confused.  Surely a point would not be enough for VCD and they’d have to go for it.  However their surge never really came.

Then on 70 minutes we introduced Franny Collin.  He has not been as prolific as his previous stats suggest he could be but he turned the game.  His first contribution was to send in a freekick that strikers like Walsh must love.  It eluded the ‘keeper giving him a free header at the back post.

Late into the game two events summed up why VCD may well be going down and why we will not.  VCD had a one on one with Wells who saved twice and somehow we managed to block a third shot before scrambling it away.  At the other end Collin was clear with his shot saved which was followed up by Mahal.  His first attempt was saved but his third was finished.  2-0 and the three points were ours.

We travel to perhaps the champions, Hampton & Richmond…

VCD are coming

The Easter festivities start today with the visit of VCD.  A team no doubt scratching their heads as to how they did not get at least a point when we visited their place earlier in the season.  I felt they played rather well in the second half and worthy of a 1-1 draw.

VCD find themselves in real trouble though.  While we can look forward to a discussion on whether we will try and win a few games next season in the Ryman Premier or not, VCD are 11 points from safety with games running out.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Burgess Hill 1 - 2 Tanners

Tanners get the three points many believe will keep us safe this season thanks to two quick goals in the first half.

The host’s twitter account was having a nightmare with both goals needing clarification.  The first came from a shot from Hughes-Mason that took a deflection from Mahal.  Just two minutes later Walsh got in on the action and headed in a goal that gave us a two goal cushion.

This cushion was soon halved due to us giving away another penalty.  Burgess Hill converted and applied pressure for the rest of the half but we held on.

So now a true test.  Playing VCD Saturday with the knowledge we are probably safe…

Travelling Tanners

Burgess is probably a Hill too far for me tonight.  I still cannot face going back ever since the 2014 Trophy defeat.

Burgess Hill sit just a couple of places below us but have a slightly better goal difference.  Without a win in seven games they will be out to get a vital three points to push them away from the relegation zone.

Kick off at 7:30 and NOT 7:45.  Directions can be found here.  Good luck Tanners.

Wingate & Finchley 1 - 1 Tanners

Perhaps writing off the performance as lackluster even before hitting the stationary traffic was hasty if not a tad harsh but when you consider the two goals came from a penalty and a bundled in set piece it tells you what you need to know about this game.

Apart from the last 10 minutes, where Leatherhead really did start to press, the game really never took off as a viewing spectacle.  There was a small  amount of ill feeling amongst the players and a few pushes could be seen but on the whole it was a tepid affair.

Leatherhead could have opened the scoring when Hughes-Mason evaded the ‘keeper and found himself with an open goal, albeit at a tight angle.  The time it took to get a good sight of goal allowed a defender to cover.

Shortly after a clumsy coming together  presented the referee with a decision to make and he went for a penalty.  A fairly clear decision and some supporters wanted a red card.  The resulting penalty sent Pidgley the wrong way and he would have had a better chance of saving it if he had just stood there waving at the crowd as he had done when the players lined up.

On the stroke of half time Leatherhead where a awarded a free kick about 35 yards out.  The lofted ball should have been dealt with by the ‘keeper but he dropped it and Steve Watt was on hand to prod it home.

Second half saw little in the way of clear cut chances but it was pleasing to see Leatherhead pass the ball well and play something close to football.

A new ground and a family trip to Hampstead sees me in the good books.  Not a bad day then.