Travelling Tanners

A new ground klaxon sounds almost as loudly as the car horns from the idiots panic buying petrol; but we are off to Bishop's Stortford tomorrow.

Our hosts sit in 12 place after securing two wins and two draws from their first 6 games.  Leatherhead, meanwhile, still cling to their opening day win and have the most goals conceded in the league.  The latter not helped by the injuries suffered to Manny and Cameron.

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

Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 0 Tanners

If Corinthian-Casuals spent as much time preparing for this game as their programme editor did for the programme, it is no wonder they ran out comfortable winners.

The first 20 minutes saw the hosts ask all the questions and Leatherhead having few answers.  We were sloppy while their high tempo game piled on the pressure.  The goal came from an inability to clear or close down and a well placed shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.

Corinthian-Casuals, understandably, had to drop the pace after 20 minutes and allowed us to grow into the game a bit but in truth we were well marshalled throughout the first half.

Second half was much of the same until Corinthian-Casuals missed an absolute sitter.  Manny had been replaced at halftime and the sub 'keeper dropped a shot in front of a striker with the goal gaping in front of him.  Luckily he could only stroke the shot onto the post.

This galvanised Leatherhead and suddenly we were in the ascendancy.  Some furness was substituted with good old fashioned physical play but it was effective and for 20 minutes we dominated.  Our golden chance came when Alex Sami pounced on a loose pass out of defence and had a clear run at goal.  Huckle, who was playing the "Jerry role" up front, was screaming for the ball and with the 'keeper committed to Sami it looked the better option.  Sami believed in himself and took a shot but it was smothered and the chance was missed.

If a looping header had more spin we might have equalised but a defender got back to clear and soon the game was effectively over.  A sweeping move out of defence saw a pin point cross find its target and a powerful header had the ball firmly in the back of the net.  A third goal in the last minute only added insult to injury.

Leatherhead now need to dust themselves off for the long trip (and new ground klaxon) for the trip to Bishops Stortford.

Travelling Tanners

A return to FA Cup action tonight with the trip to Corinthian-Casuals.  Given we went into the game on the opposite ends of a 4-0 thrashing, I think we gave our hosts plenty to think about... sadly, they have had plenty of time to think about it.

The winner goes on to play Wingate & Finchley and given the teams that were avoided in the draw, that seems quite the incentive.

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

Tanners 0 - 0 Corinthian-Casuals

For the neutral, this game could be quite forgettable but for a Leatherhead supporter it will mean so much more.

Leatherhead looked genuinely competitive.  Jack Skinner was a menace and brought out the best save from their 'keeper and Alex Sami always looked like a threat.

The way we use Alex Sami is a bit one dimensional at times - chase that! - but when he gets the ball you believe something can happen.  He struck the bar with an instinctive shot-on-the-pivot move from a corner.

While we limited our visitors to few chances they perhaps too consider "what could have been" when a lapse in concentration allowed one of their strikers a clear run on goal.  A low powerful shot was matched by Manny with a dive to his right, thus securing our first clean sheet and our name in the hat for tomorrow's draw.

Replay on Tuesday and a game to look forward to...

Corinthian-Casuals are coming

Leatherhead have taken a bit of a battering lately, both on and off the pitch, but today we host our old friends in the FA Cup tie.

Our visitors had a shakey start to the season, even by our standards, but have found some form. They turned in a 4-0 winning display only this week.

Meanwhile, we do possess the joint top goal scorer in Alex Sami and hopefully the Tower of Dorking returns in defence.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 4 Worthing

A touch watch for the Leatherhead fans, as we succumb to a heavy defeat at the hands of our high flying visitors.

The tone of the match was set straight from the whistle, with Worthing playing some attacking football and creating chances.  Manny was outstanding and kept us in the game with a string of saves.

What was probably the most worrying was not just that Worthing were overrunning us in most areas but that we conspired to help them with some really sloppy passing.  This certainly was a case for their opener, a loose pass set a player free to run on goal and score.

Leatherhead did have their moments though.  Briggs had a low free kick saved and Sami's point blank header was powered down but the ball bounced up and over the bar.

Into the second half and we created some more chances and perhaps if we had taken one we may have given Worthing something to think about.  We didn't and they went on to completely dominate.  A double save by Manny from a penalty only seemed to spur them on.

A ball to feet, turn and shoot was their second.  A jinking run through our defence was their third... and I missed their forth.

Tough to take but we now have the prospect of Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday.  A side that also won 4-0 last night. 

Worthing are Coming

Both teams will have their own respective wounds to lick.  

Leatherhead, despite having goals from Alex Sami, have yet to win in the league since the opening day.  While Worthing would have been looking forward to another trip to The Grove on Saturday but for their early FA Cup exit.

Worthing are going well in the league, in sixth, but there is something about watching Leatherhead under the lights in a midweek game...

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Travelling Tanners

Another trip into Kent but this time for the league and a visit to our old friends, Margate.

Margate are a very different proposition to Whitstable though.  Unbeaten in the league and through to the next round of the FA Cup (by virtue of a replay), Leatherhead will need to be at their best.  A new signing from Woking will further boost the travelling line-up.

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

Tanners 1 - 0 Whitstable

Leatherhead squeezed past a plucky Whitstable side that will no doubt head back to Kent thinking of what could have been.

Whitstable started the replay as they finished the opening game, by taking  the game to us and created some of the best chances.  Nikki Bull would no doubt have mixed feelings about how good his 'keeper had to be.

Just like the first game, it was Leatherhead who opened the scoring.  A Briggs corner was met by The Tower of Dorking, who seemed only challenged by Will Salmon, and looped the ball into the net.  Our loanee has been quite the signing; although he made a few mistakes he was ably supported by Will Salmon and will no doubt learn a lot this season.

The game was then finely balanced with both sides going close.  Whitstable made double subs trying to bring about change and as the game wore on they, unstandably, got more anxious.  

The fizzing play that got them the replay and cut through us in the first half was now a longer more erratic pass.  Defending became that little bit easier, although it wasn't completely without the odd scare.

Despite getting two bookings for time wasting, yet taking two corners long instead of playing it into the corner, we saw out the four minutes of injury time to set up the clash with Corinthian-Casuals by virtue of their impressive 3-1 win against Worthing.

Whitstable are coming

We welcome Whitstable tonight for this FA Cup replay.  They may have had a slice of luck with the penalty decision, given what was turned away in the second half, but they could equally be disappointed they did not get the winner as they pressed us hard in the final ten minutes.

There were no obvious knocks, so we should be able to field the same side that created so many chances on Saturday.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Whitstable 2 - 2 Tanners

Leatherhead came away with a draw and a replay (which seemed to catch at least one person off-guard) despite looking like much the better side.

While we had a quiet first few minutes it was Leatherhead who took the game to the hosts in the first half.  Will Salmon's flicked header struck the bar and Briggs went just wide.

Our goal came from a corner, well a follow on ball from a corner.  As the ball cae into Sami he tried to make room from himself but looked to have been brought down (or at least he made it look as if he was brought down).  The ball only managed to bounce off him but into the path of our new Tower of Dorking, who thundered the ball into the back of the net.

Leatherhead were not really looking good.  So much so I felt confident enough to tweet this while visiting the toilets but found we conceded a dodgy penalty (ball to hand) and it was 1-1 during my moment of relief.

Second half and Leatherhead started as they left off and looked to restore the advantage.  It came when the impressive Henry crossed into Sami who made no mistake.  2-1.  In the bag; we thought.

Whitstable bounced back and in one of their few attacks clinically tore us apart and equalised.  It suddenly became a little nervous for the last 15 minutes as it was Whitstable's turn to pile on the pressure; although few shots on target were registered.

2-2 it finished.  The handsome Teasurer had an even brighter glow as we head off to a replay...

Travelling Tanners

FA Cup day; while too early to get the tin foil out, it is still a day of excitement. Or anxiety.

Last year we were turned over by a lower placed side (as we were in all the cups) so hopefully we bring that experience with us as well as a couple of new signings.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 3 Carshalton

After a 1-0 defeat on the Saturday, Leatherhead returned to the Grove hoping for more but got comprehensively beaten by a street-smart Carshalton side.

Leatherhead were really bullied in the first half.  Carshalton knew how to get the ball into dangerous areas and snuff out any Leatherhead attack, plus they knew exactly at what pitch to scream at when trying to get the attention of the referee.

It was from such an innocuous challenge - the faintests of arms across the back to cause a swan dive - they scored their first goal.  The freekick was put to the far post and the unmarked player planted a powerful header into the goal, despite our 'keeper getting two hands on it.

The second half saw a lot more promise from Leatherhead and hope grew for an equaliser.  We forced a couple of smart saves and went close on a near post effort.  Football is cruel and soon Carshalton three goals up when they clinically finished two breakaway attempts.

On to the FA Cup and the promise of a cup run... and the return of Sami...

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead embark on one of their longest away trips of the season... on Bank Holiday weekend.  Thanks.

It has been a hokey cokey at Leatherhead with managers being in, then out and then back in again.  But Nikki takes a team that was unlucky not to have four points to shake it all about in Essex.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas. 

Tanners 1 - 2 Wingate & Finchley

Leatherhead were unlucky not to get more from this rather stale affair.  We showed enough promise to get at least a draw but failure to deal with a last minute set piece meant the visitors went home with all three points.

There was much optimism around the ground following our away win and newly signed hat trick hero.  A sense of realism was forced upon us when the visitors curled a freekick into the top left corner on just six minutes.  It was a good goal but the over celebrations deserved to be punished.

The perfect opportunity to strike back came 6 minutes later when we were awarded a penalty.  Alex Sami confidently struck the ball but the 'keeper guessed the right way and his scoring run was dashed.

We did get level when a cross was met by Jedd Smith, sneaking in with two defenders confusing themselves over who should take control.

Just as we thought it was a well won point, Wingate & Finchley won a freekick and then a corner.  The ball in from the latter was headed into the net at the far post.

We go again with the trip to Brightlingsea on Saturday...

Wingate & Finchley are coming

Three points were followed by three signings in the week which has caused the handsome Treasurer to dash back from holiday to check the budget.

Today we welcome Wingate & Finchley, a side that sat just two points behind us with a game in hand when the season ceased.  They sit three points behind us this season… baby steps…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Bowers & Pitsea 2 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead take all three points, thanks to a competitive debut hat trick from Alex Sami.

Sami opened the scoring on just 9 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball.  Bowers levelled shortly afterwards through a penalty to make it 1-1.

Second half and Sami scored a fantastic goal. Flicking the ball up to set up an audacious volley. 2-1.  

A third from Sami appeared to put the game beyond doubt but the ref gave the hosts a further penalty to make it competitive … Leatherhead held on though.

What a start to the season!

Travelling Tanners

If we were looking for an easy opener then we were badly let down.  We have lost this fixture 10-0 on aggregate over two attempts; the last being 7-0.

Macca now leads the team out hoping our in-form summer signing can make the difference.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Tanners 1 - 2 Raynes Park Vale

A lively game ends in defeat as the pre-season run campaign continues.

The game started so well as Alex continued his scoring run.  With a carbon-copy of a Cruyff turn he left two players for dead on the goalline, made room for himself in  the box before placing the ball past the 'keeper for a spectacular goal and resulting celebration.

Leatherhead looked in real control until a Raynes Park Vale player dropped his shoulder and jinked past two Leatherhead defenders before picking his spot just inside the box.  1-1 at halftime.

Leatherhead made some changes and looked exciting.  We struck the crossbar with such ferocity it is probably still shaking.

Then some nonsense that appears to be a theme in our friendlies as a large group of players decided to push each other around a bit.  Leatherhead failed to regain composure and a sucker punch allowed the visitors to tap in the winning goal.

Disappointing but we go again away to Corinthian.  No pre-season would be complete without a trip there, it seems.

Tanners 3 - 1 Chalfont St Peter

Another pre-season friendly against opposition one league below but a different outcome from the last run out.

The game looked over in the opening minutes when Alex forged ahead with two poacher's goals.  Twice we got the ball to him in the box and twice he put the ball away smartly.  The first saw a flipping celebration while the second was more subdued.

Nikki Bull may be concerned with the manner in which we conceded; a free header at the back post.  Especially with the rumours that Jerry will not be re-signing this season...

Second half and we looked quite composed.  The third goal from some patient and unselfish build-up play, until they found Briggs who calmly found his spot.

There was nothing calm about the last few minutes when Lema was caught by a nasty tackle.  He offered some words of advice to the provider of this tackle and it erupted into a full 20-man brawl.

Unlike last week, the ref saw sense and didn't issue any reds and saw the last two minutes out.  Quickly.

More action on Tuesday, when we welcome Raynes Park Vale...