Tanners 5 - 1 South Park

I got this one completely wrong.  I have been disappointed by South Park too many times and feared a draw, and an early calamity did little to ease my fears.  A hopeful ball was met by our 'keeper but a cruel bounce deceived him and allowed an easy tap in for our guests.

Our response was swift and decisive.  First Ibz; unplayable today; used his strength to hold off a defender and create a one on one chance which he slotted under the 'keeper.

The South Park 'keeper then made it 1-1 on massive errors when he saved a shot from Atewologun but then only managed to push it into his own net.  2-1.

Taking an early lead can sometime mean we start to play sideways, but we were far from being done.  The next goal was not only the best of the game but contender for the season.  

Tyler Cox deceiving the defence with a I'm-going-to-the-corner-flag-oh-no-I'm-not move and then fired in a cross to Ibz.  Ibz let the ball cross his body and then powerfully guided it into the top corner with the outside of his boot.  "GOLAÇO!!!!" said my nephew, when I sent him the footage.  3-1.

Ibz then pounced on a spilled save to make it 4-1 to get his hattrick and we even had a goal ruled out for offside in the last few minutes.

Again I was wrong.  I predicted the 4-1 scoreline would stay the same but the downtrodden South Park defence gave Trevan too much space on the edge of the box and his low shot beat the 'keeper and into the bottom corner.

A performance so stunning I didn't feel the need to embellish it with Easter Egg puns; and the fact my wife forgot to buy me one is entirely coincidental.

Off to Corinthian Casuals on Monday then...

South Park are coming

A rare glimpse of the sun, this morning, gives hope that the first of four games will be played today and this Easter fixture sees seventh place South Park come to the Grove.

The league has mandated we must play Badshot Lea on Thursday (although the weather may have the last word on that), so we are going to have a busy week.

Our guests are unbeaten in their last four games while we go into the game top of the form league... but this is a bogey team...

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

It’s off

Put the klaxon away. Heavy rain has ruined our evening.

Travelling Tanners

The sound of the New Ground Klaxon is itself a joyous thing, but the true joy comes from moving up to second place but first we must overcome another slippery banana skin of Badshot Lea.

Badshot Lea, who have back to back 3-1 wins, sit in 11th place.  With Marlow not in action tonight, a draw or better would see us climb to second.

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

Tanners 2 - 0 Binfield

Binfield came into the game having conceded 96 goals, so with a 3 goal a game average we could either get a hatful or score early and struggle to find the back of the again... and for a large part of the game it looked like it was the latter.

For the opening 10 minutes it was clear who was chasing promotion and who was staring down the barrel of relegation.  Leatherhead were pulling them apart and could have scored two or three before our goal eventually came.

Trevan was set free down the right and sent a low cross into Ibz, who slotted his shot under the polite and friendly 'keeper.

Then a combination of missed chances and easing off the pressure took us into halftime 1-0.

As the second half wore on we slowly built up the pressure again and on 72 minutes we got the goal that made the three points feel a lot safer.  

A ball was spread out wide to Tyley Cox and with the ball falling slightly behind him he flicked back his right foot and sent the ball perfectly over his head and into his path to run onto.  His cross found Masikini who finished into the far corner.  

A third goal could have been added just moments later which made me think a thrashing was coming but suddenly the plucky visitors rallied and could have grabbed one back but the spectacular volley went just over.

Onto Tuesday then and the NEW GROUND KLAXON sounds for the trip to Badshot Lea...

Binfield are coming

Binfield arrive at the Grove today for this league fixture.  Our midweek win sees us level with Marlow on points but behind on goal difference, to the tune of 16 goals.

Binfield sit in the relegation places and will be hoping for the start of a Great Escape, if they are to clawback the 10 points they need for safety.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Ashford Town 0 - 1 Tanners

We went into the game hoping for the 18 goals that would see us go into 2nd place above Marlow. Marlow obliged with a defeat at Chertsey but the 18 goals proved elusive.

The Robert Parker stadium is more run down than Old Trafford, and emptier than the Emptihad on a Champions League night. The Leatherhead faithful seemed to make up about 100 out of an attendance 134 on a night that was a Tuff watch for everyone.

Not all of us could enjoy a slap up meal in a bland chain hotel at shareholder' expense, so had to be content with a cup of tea and a burger which Guy felt a little too dry for his liking.

We started brightly with uncharacteristic long balls troubling Ashford and it was on just 8 minutes that those who were waiting for a goal saw Trevan deliver on just 8 minutes. He calmly slid the ball past the 'keeper who didn't even bother to dive or try and close him down.

We thought that this would lead to a comfortable evening with 17 more goals to follow but it turned into ref watch. He seemed to get most decisions wrong, missing several corners, and generally annoying both sides but he did it with humility and a willing smile. We ended up holding on in the 2nd half, creating few chances, as the players looked leggy after a long day on Saturday. 

On to a home game with a Binfield as the race for 2nd place hots up.

Guernsey 1 - 4 Tanners

An impressive win, away at Guernsey, to keep us very much in the hunt for the top half of the play-off places.

A tentative start was soon rewarded with two goals from Trevan Robinson on 24 and 35 minutes.  While Guernsey pulled one one back before the half time whistle blew, Leatherhead repeated the two goals in a half trick to make it 4-1.

A big game looms on Tuesday, when we travel to Ashford Town on the same evening Marlow play Chertsey...

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to Guernsey tomorrow in the league.  The cost of this trip seemed to have soared in the last few weeks, so I am sitting this one out.

Our hosts now sit in 14th place, well clear of the relegation places although they did just lose 6-2 to Chertsey.

Kick off at 2pm.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 1 Met Police

Leatherhead got off to a flying start, thanks to the quick thinking of Ibz and the referee.  

Just minutes into the game a Met Police player completely shanked his clearance, so the ball spun up into the air and towards his own goal.   Ibz ran on and slotted the ball past the 'keeper as the assistant raised his flag.  The ref had seen the crucial touch for the perfect through ball had come from a Met Police player and overruled.  1-0.

Did we score too soon? It certainly looked that way as Met Police decided to become less defensive and put us under pressure.  That told when they won a free kick on the edge of the and fired in a powerful shot into the top right hand corner.

Just as the half came to a close we got the winner.  A low ball in from Tyler Cox was neatly sidefooted into the back of the net by a defender.  Apparently.  I had just turned to get a cup of tea.

In the second half, we pushed for more goals but Met Police did just enough to prevent us.  Meanwhile in the league, it looked like a perfect weekend with all other teams in the top  5 failing to win... until Marlow popped up with a late goal.

On to Saturdy then, and the trip to Guernsey...

Met Police are coming

A burst water main under the foundation for my new patio wasn't the best preparation for today's big game.  Hopefully Leatherhead can cause the floodgates to open today, as they did in November with a 4-0 win, and get all three points.

Our guests sit in 16th place.  Meanwhile we are three points off of second.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there. Don't be late!

Tanners 1 - 1 Chipstead

In the preview I was somewhat concerned about the weather and inadvertently typed we were hoping for the next rain.  How prophetic, as there were times in the first half I hoped for the heavens to open and get this called off.

The first 20 minutes of the first half did not reflect the table as we looked rather tentative and leggy, while I guests took the game to us.  Their opening goal was fully deserved as a shot was fired through a crowded area.

That did kick start us a little and our passes became a little more forward looking, instead us just purely lateral, and eventually we got an equaliser through a Splatt cross to allow Robinson to glance his header past the 'keeper.

In the second half we looked more threatening and had the ref added more time on for the two players who went down injured while the ball was out of play the pressure may have told... 

Ibz probably came the closest.  Heading and shooting wide, but the winning goal didn't come and the chance to go just one point behind Marlow slipped by.

Onto Saturday, when we face Luke Tuff's Ashford Town...

Chipstead are coming!

After the fine win against RVP, at the weekend, it is absolutely crucial we maintain the momentum with another rain tonight.

Our guests sit one place above the relegation places, albeit with a seven point gap.  With Southall not playing tonight, a win could take us to third.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

RVP 0 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead secured all three points and a double over play-off rivals, thanks to a last minute goal from our new signing.

Leatherhead can, at times, be considered patient in their play.  Maintaining possession in lateral passages of play.  With a player like Ibrahim Otulade, we suddenly start looking purposeful again.

Leatherhead took the first half by the scruff of the neck and could have opened the scoring from any of the three headers that came our way.

The game seemed to be heading for a, not totally unwanted, draw but in the last few minutes Trevan found some space down the right and crossed into Ibz who made no mistake.

1-0 and some breathing space in the playoff places...

Travelling Tanners

A big game for Leatherhead today, as we travel to Raynes Park Vale to face a side that is, no doubt, looking for revenge.  

While we have had our pants pulled down by the likes of Marlow and Chertsey, the pullee became the puller when we met at The Grove a few weeks ago.

Leatherhead have added a formidable striker, by the way of the returning Ibz, to help boost our chances for the run in of the season.

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

Tanners 0 - 2 Marlow

If Chertsey signalled their claim on the league title in the recent win, then Marlow did the same with the route to promotion via the playoffs.  6-0 they win on aggregate and we really haven't laid a glove on them.

Leatherhead set out in their familiar style of play.  Marlow were quite happy and could have watched us pass it from side to side all day.  Then the goal.

A ball was poked through the middle for Dave Tarpey to run onto and a clinical finish found the bottom corner on just 11 minutes.

Away in October we were 3-0 after 20 or so minutes, so it was encouraging to keep it to 1-0 until the end of the first half. But in added time the ref saw a mere coming together of something more and awarded a penalty.  Rogalski added to his impressive tally and made it 2-0.

I thought we had scored early in the second half, but it went just wide of the post.  Perhaps we could have add a goal towards the end, but Marlow by now were happy to see the game out.

No game on Tuesday but on Saturday we travel to Raynes Park Vale...

Marlow are coming!

Marlow arrive tomorrow and with them they bring Dave Tarpey.  I can't think of a player that has so many contrasting opinions... should we have resigned him, let him go or even signed him at all?  The fact I called my Leatherhead FC Quiz Team, Tarpey's Tiki-Taka Trivia should tell you something and that he will deserve our respect tomorrow (particularly from our defenders) as he is banging them in.

As if having the league's second highest scorer wasn't enough, Marlow also have the top scorer, Dawid Rogalski, with 28 goals to his name.

Tuesday's win may not have been overly convincing but the three points and a clean sheet were very much needed.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 0 SCR

There was plenty of drama before the game.  First there was an ever-increasingly desperate Rod to get a team sheet as they seemed to evaporate before his eyes as they were circulated.  

On getting one he casually asked about a player's availability which caused enough concern to see a change of pace from John Loveridge, to establish if there was a mistake, that hasn't been seen since someone told me the TSC were serving free food by the club shop.   It was confirmed all was well.

Then there were reports of a squirrel falling from the stand roof onto a supporter.  With so much drama off the pitch it would have been selfish to believe there would be some off of it as it was Leatherhead that was squirrelling around for a goal.

A very different Leatherhead today.   More direct; more attacking even, but somehow that did not translate to a good game to watch, despite their efforts.

The goal came in the second half (which was better than the first, admittedly) when a cross was met by Trevan but his looping header found the crossbar.  The rebound fell to Lawson who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.  For a heart stopping second, it looked like it was going to fly over but relief when the net bulged.

Raynes Park Vale got a last minute winner, so these three points were very welcome.  Especially with the visit of Marlow on Saturday and the return of in-form Tarpey...

Sutton Common Rovers are coming!

Flippin 'eck!  If the rain stays away, we have a home game tonight with the visit of Sutton Common Rovers.

Our guests sit in 14th place but are unbeaten in three games, including a very credible (and welcome) draw against Westfield.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 4 South Park

Something told me South Park would kick us out of the cup. I didn't think it would be to the tune of 4-0, the score line we enjoyed at the weekend, but we have slipped on this banana skin before.

Of course, conceding two penalties in two minutes didn't help.  Twice a South Park player was brought down by our 'keeper (with some assistance from a defender for the first) and twice the penalty was calmly put away.

Half time came and the home fans hoped for a response but a determined South Park side kept us at bay and added to our woes by making it 3-0 on 52 minutes.  A South Park player was able to dance through our defenders and fire a shot into the back of the net.

If two penalties in two minutes was bad, Dan Hector decided to up the ante and get two yellows in one.  Back chat and a bad tackle in quick succession saw him take an early shower.

South Park made it 4-0 on 76 minutes to finish off a sodden night.  Out the cup and onto Badshot Lea on Saturday where the NEW GROUND KLAXON sounds to drown out last night's disappointment.