Tanners 1 - 2 AFC Hornchurch

I am not sure if there was a murder on the Orient Express or a suicide yesterday as Leatherhead ran out of steam when facing 10 man AFC Hornchurch.

The ref made the game impossible for us to win as early as 10 minutes when he sent off a Hornchurch player.  It was seemingly innocuous; the ball was running out of play and the striker lashed out at the defender a bit.  He probably thought it was far too early in the game to be sent off for this, but he had picked on the wrong ref.

Regular visitors to the Grove will know playing against 10 men usually signal disappointment, but when we carved out a goal - a nice move down the left, low cross, fumbled into the path of Travis - we could dare to dream we could pull off the impossible.

1-0, playing against 10 men... no need to concentrate on set pieces, it will be fine.  Alas no, the defence being the sleepers in this instance to allow a completely free header to make it 1-1.

Into the second half and the ref took centre stage.  He started blowing his whistle for everything and booking anyone in sight.  Shaun was booked for persistently trying to get the ball, their no 2 booked for a two footed - two footed! - tackle, I was booked for inappropriate tweeting and some birds were booked for persistent migrating. 

Now, we only have ourselves to blame here.  Had we maintained our lead, or even built on it, the ref's breaking up of play would have been just the ticket.  As it was, it only added to our frustration and in doing so allowed AFC Hornchuch the space to score a second and take all three points.

Into the sidings then, until next Saturday.  The big one.  Merstham are coming...

AFC Hornchurch are coming

All aboard! Leatherhead's steam train, a metaphor that was blugeoned to death in the last interview, sets off again today.  It's picked up two more passengers (Christ, now I'm doing it!) and we're ready to face AFC Hornchurch.

Our guests sit 15 points behind us but have won their last two, one of which was the semi final of the League Cup.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Haringey Borough 0 - 3 Tanners

It is easy to say after a 3-0 win, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this North London community based club.  A wonderful atmosphere in a quirky little ground; like a visit to Dulwich Hamlet but without 1,500 quilted jackets and £8 burgers.

On the (3G) pitch it was equally enjoyable with two sides out to play attacking football but, with much of Haringey's first choice midfield out, Leatherhead proved to be too much for the hosts.

Haringey's 'keeper was a shadow of the 15-clean-sheet man the home supporters know.  When Travis danced passed a defender and shot the 'keeper only just about managed a dive as it bounced off of the back of the net.  Then in the second half when Olutade was through clear on goal, he failed to get a hand on a shot placed precariously close to him.  He is going to find it hard to reach the 24 clean sheets he managed last season.

Zaki by contrast, when called upon, kept the hosts at bay as Haringey seemed more up for the match at 2-0 down than they did at 0-0.

Leatherhead put the game out of the reach of Haringey when Shaun was brought down in the box.  The ref waved play on as the ball rolled freely towards the goal and a grateful Olutade.  He took his time while the ref pleaded for him to score which he duly did.  3-0.

Two point off of the play-offs now.  This is getting serious.

Travelling Tanners

A couple of months ago, the trip across London to watch Leatherhead play the top team in the league would almost seem unthinkable; a futile trip if ever there was one.  Now, with Haringey faltering and Leatherhead growing in confidence the New Ground Klaxon sounds louder than ever.

There is talk of a pre-match pub visit.  Keep your eyes open on the Twitter feed!

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

Tanners 1 - 0 Bishop's Stortford

Beating a couple of sides that were rooted to the bottom of the table gave our league position a boost, but to really keep us up there we had to overcome a challenge from a team slightly higher in the league.  Where we crumbled when we faced Corinthian-Casuals at home, this time we pulled through.

We were good value in the first half.  We calved out some good chances with Jack Skinner being always somewhere near the action.  He was presented with a great chance, and perhaps in his mind he had already scored as he approached the ball but his first touch let him down.

Our opening goal came from Olutade, striking the ball from an angle that lobbed the 'keeper.  This was assisted by a wicked deflection off of a defender that had moments earlier dished out cheeky grins as he got up from a "head injury".

Leatherhead were not quite the potent threat they were in the first half and at one point it looked like Bishop's Stortford could walk the ball into the net, but somehow we held on.  We could have made it safe with a couple of one on one chances deep into injury time but for once we were not punished for our failure to score as the ref finally blew his whistle.

All aboard for the trip to Haringey on Saturday...

Bishop’s Stortford are coming

Four points off of the play-offs and Leatherhead face a tougher challenge than they have in recent weeks to prove they are worthy of the chase.

An Amoo-bound Bishop's Stortford arrive to the Grove, one point better off than us.

The pitch has been passed fit for purpose, hopefully the team will do the same.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Whitehawk 0 - 2 Tanners

On a windswept night on the South Downs, Leatherhead took all three points to put them up into the top half and just three points - three points! - from the play-off places.

While Leatherhead dominated the game, we were no doubt helped by one man.  Yannis Ambroisine, no doubt wracked with guilt, was decisive in both our goals.  An instinctive prod of the ball nearly notched up an own goal for the paperwork-shy defender but their 'keeper blocked into the path of Salmon who slotted it away.  1-0.

A Bovril-less half time did not dishearten Leatherhead who continued to apply pressure.  So much pressure in fact that Yannis was forced to pull back Jerry at a set piece and a penalty was awarded.  Up steps Olutade to calmly make it 2-0.

So we start to get interested in the table again, but we've been here before only to get our hopes snuffed out by a club a few places higher than us.  Oh. It is Bishop's Stortford on Saturday...

Travelling Tanners

Someone at Bostik HQ must really hate us?  Who fancies a February, midweek trip to a clifftop in Sussex?  Not me, mate.  The footballing gods may have the last word as there is a pitch inspection at 2pm today...

If the game goes ahead, Whitehawk will be our hosts.  A side with big ideas a few years ago, but now sit bottom of the table, looking very sorry for themselves.

Our win, over second-to-bottom Wingate & Finchley, puts us tantalisingly close to being in the top half of the table... but we still look up and wonder how the 'eck Mertsham find themselves in third...

Kick off at 7.45 (pitch inspection pending).  Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 1 Wingate & Finchley

As the UK braces itself for one of the coldest nights on record, Nikki Bull can cuddle up to his three points well won today.  A stunning debut and a slice of luck enough to send Wingate & Finchley home empty handed.

As we have seen so often recently, Leatherhead got off to a great start.  In just the opening couple of minutes Shaun had a clear shot on goal, only for it to be pulled just wide. 

Jack Skinner was proving to be a handful down the left and it was through him we got our opening goal.  He burst into the box and, despite being pulled back, fired in a cross into Shaun he did enough to beat the 'keeper. 1-0

As we have also seen so often recently, Leatherhead fail to take advantage of their supremacy only to let the other team score.  This time just 15 minutes later, a mix up saw Zak way off his line and allow an open goal.  1-1. 

Leatherhead then went through a spell of riding their luck.  The ball smacking the wood work down onto the goal line and somehow cleared being the highlight.

Then the luck,  A lofted ball from a free kick saw two defenders compete with each other for teh ball.  It bounced off of one head onto another, up over the 'keeper and in off of the far post.  2-1.

Leatherhead could have made it safe but for an outstanding save from their 'keeper, which promptly signalled the need to time waste in the corner.  A task that we achieved to secure a win.

Off to Whitehawk on Tuesday then...

Fans’ night

A reminder there is a Fans' Night at Fetcham Grove tonight, starting at 7pm.

I understand Nikki Bull will be there, as well as discussing various fan based initiatives.

Travelling Tanners

It won't be all dolphins and kiss-me-quick hats today for our trip to Margate, as we travel to Margate for the more routine matter of deciding who is more mid-table.

It is also a chance to reintroduce ourselves to ex-Leatherhead manager, Mike Sandmann.  He has been there, as joint manager, since May last year.

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

Tanners 2 - 1 Worthing

Fun fact: just under 15 years ago I held my stag-do in Worthing and I turned up thinking this would go much the same way; ending up with a spanking.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.

The first half did little to persuade me otherwise.  The crowd was unusually subdued and Leatherhead were little better.  There were some signs of promise but Worthing looked comfortable.  Their goal came from some Leatherhead pressure, where their 'keeper gathered the ball and launched a low powerful drive to their breakaway players.  A slip in defence and from our 'keeper allowed a tap in.  1-0.

The rest of the half became surreal, an innocuous coming together saw a Worthing player suffer whiplash type injuries and he lay prostate on the ground for 45 minutes until an ambulance arrived.  The last three minutes was then played out before the half time whistle was blown.

We needed a response and we got one.  Leatherhead cam out with a spring in their step and saw Worthing under pressure for much of the half.  Our opening goal came from a wickedly taken free kick which the 'keeper could only palm into the path of Olutade, who made no mistake.  Moments later we struck the bar from a similarly placed free kick.

Our day seemed to get better when their No 2 (a player with plenty to say to the ref) received his second yellow of the match and were down to ten men.  Our numerical advantage didn't seem to count for too much when Worthing won a penalty but Zak came to our rescue, pulling off a fine diving save.

A win was in the air, you could smell it, and when Shaun was able to swing a left foot on a lose ball in the box and direct it in off of the far post the three points were heading our way.

A fine win and a much needed boost before the long trip to Margate...

Worthing are coming!

Worthing travel up the A24 for this league fixture.  Our guests are flirting with the play-off places, but got the cold shoulder in the week when they were at the wrong end of a 4-1 beating at the hands of Dorking Wanderers.

Leatherhead's mixed form continues.  It is anyone's guess as to how we get on against a team looking to bounce back.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Corinthian-Casuals 2 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead complete an unfortunate double, losing 2-1 home and away to Corinthian-Casuals.  For the first seven to eight minutes we were sensational and could have notched up a healthy 3-0 lead had we taken the clear chances that fell our way.  We put away our third chance when the 'keeper could only pat Shaun's powerful shot into the path of Wallace who placed the ball into the back of the net.

At 1-0 there was a certain feeling that the rest of the game would be academic - Leatherhead meant business - but that soon dissipated as we went on to play 80 minutes of mediocre football.

The hosts played their part, applying pressure for ten minutes where they looked very dangerous but we appeared to have weathered that storm when they struck.  They broke away from our corner and slotted it past Zak.

Fifteen minutes into the second half and Corinthian-Casuals took the lead.  A cross and a tap in doing the damage this time.

I am not saying this game was boring but my son informed me seven trains passed by during the game.  I wish he had alerted me to this sideshow earlier as it could have spared me watching Leatherhead surrender possession within midfield with alarming regularity.  I could have admired the latest South West Trains livery instead of the slumped shoulders of players that looked very much beaten.

So it is home to Worthing next Saturday.  No trains to watch but we are on a flight path, so passenger plane spotting could be on the cards...

Travelling Tanners

Lock up your referee assistants, we are going to Corinthian-Casuals.  We travel to Tolworth in search of a little bit of revenge.  In the home game, in truth, we were bullied a bit by a side pumped up on the injustice of a dodgy penalty.  They also took their chances where we fluffed our lines.

The table proves to be as dynamic as ever this year, with us returning to the comfort of mid table but a loss would send our hosts above us.

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

Tanners 2 - 1 Potters Bar

This game was quickly chalked up to be a "must win" as a loss would see our guests go above us while make the relegation zone loom large.  Therefore both clubs set out with the task of who could look more average.

Potters Bar certainly looked more average than us, by virtue of the fact we were looking distinctly lacking in most departments.  The warning signs were there before Potters Bar scored, in the end a simple through ball and a confident finish made it 0-1.

Thankfully Leatherhead upped their game.  Dan Gallagher bossed midfield while Travis looked lively.  It was through Travis we equalised; latching onto a calmly placed Jerry pass to beat the 'keeper near post.

Into the second half and Leatherhead looked a lot better and it wasn't long after the restart we made it 2-1.  Amoo, back to his lively self, sent in a perfect ball for Olutade to get his head onto.  Normally we would expect a diving header to fly over the bar but he found the roof of the net to score a goal to be proud of.

The ref', who had quite a good first half, then took centre stage,  Leatherhead would feel they could have had two penalties, certainly the second appeal looked more certain when the defender took out Sean first before even getting close to the ball. 

Try as he might, the ref' couldn't bring about the equaliser - despite some good pressure from the visitors - and the must win was won.

Corinthian Casuals next week, I hope it is a calmer affair than the last game...

Potters Bar are coming

After the disappointment of the Mole Valley derby, we entertain Potters Bar today and a real chance to get back to winning ways.

Potters Bar have enjoyed a similar journey in the league to us; sitting just one point behind us.

Kick off at 3pm, see you there.

Dorking Wanderers 2 - 0 Tanners

In a match of David and Goliath, The Goliath of Leatherhead was slayed by the Dorking David; armed only with a sling, a free ground and a squad heavily subsidised by Denbies.

I have to say, I felt like an old man entering the ground.  Reminiscing of the natural banked terraces that could easily cope with a large crowd.  This new modern stadium seemed to lack this (the camber of the area behind the far goal seemed to ebb away, reducing the opportunity to view the game for example)  and would surely fail to live up to the 2,500 capacity it boasts.   A ten minute delay was needed for a crowd 1,000 shy of this.

Leatherhead did not really threaten.  We had a shot on goal that looked certain to beat the 'keeper that went wide but other than that it was either tame or direct at the 'keeper.  The first half was dominated by a ref that loved the attention and dished out yellow cards for not much really

Dorking hardly set the world alight but were clinical when needed.  Sole latching onto to a through ball in the first half and a clinical finish in the second.

No New Year's Day game for us; we are home to Potters Bar on Saturday...

Travelling Tanners

Finally Leatherhead get to play this rearranged fixture from March, and a chance to finally see Dorking's publicly funded new stadium.

Dorking started the season as the pacesetters but have dropped away in recent weeks.

Kick off at 3pm.  In the £1-an-hour car park by 11am.  See you there.

Tanners 1 - 0 Carshalton

A last gasp winner to warm the hearts of the Leatherhead fans who are scratching their heads over what has gone wrong this Christmas.  Normally Santa brings you presents, but this year the fat bugger appears to have made off with D'Sean and £30,000 of FA Cup winnings.

The first half was difficult to watch.  Firstly, we changed ends and played towards the Leisure Centre end which means you miss some of the game when going to the queue for the tea bar.  Also, Leatherhead continued to play some overly ambitious long diagonal balls that were cut out with ease.

Second half and we managed to string some nice moves together and looked a lot more threatening.  When Gallagher struck the bar and the follow-up blasted over it looked like our it wasn't going to be our day (Carshalton also hit the woodwork) but we found a way to break the deadlock.

The sub made a massive difference.  Rob Cullen came on and just added the composure required in these situations.  Then in the last minute of normal time a ball was swung into the box that saw Sean, Ibrrahim and a defender converge on the ball.  Some thought Sean had headed it home, I thought it was an own goal, but tit was Ibrahim with the decisive touch.

On to Saturday, and the much awaited trip to Dorking Wanderers and their flash new ground...