Tanners 2 - 1 Southall

Not South Park, as I mistyped, but Southall were narrowly beaten despite being down to 10 men for 20 minutes.

Leatherhead opened the scoring on just 11 minutes, Lukas with a powerful strike.

The second half allowed Southall to grow in the game and a low drive into the bottom corner made it 1-1.

Frustration grew as it looked increasingly likely we would be heading towards another disappointing draw. On 70 minutes, the ref showed a second harsh second yellow to reduce the visitors to 10 men.

Still we huffed, until Date popped up with the crucial winner in the last few minutes.

Onto New Year's Day and the visit of Westfield.

South Park are coming…

Even from Brazil, the recent heavy fog has been clear to see but hopefully things will brighten up today.

After a 2-2 draw, away at Binfield, the league has yet to take a sunnier outlook and will still sit in the bottom half… one place below our guests.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Travelling Tanners

After Saturday's nail biting conclusion, our festive fixtures continue tonight; and nothing says Christmas more than the midweek jingle-all-the-way trip not Berkshire to play Binfield.

Our hosts sit five points below us in 16th. Check the website for details of any possible pitch inspections etc.

Kick off at 7.45pm. Good luck fellas.

Badshot Lea are coming

Bom dia! Greetings from Brazil, where I am finally reunited with my bags after 24 hours.

After a dramatic penalty shootout win, in the week, we get back the the business of the league with the visit of bottom-of-the-table Badshot Lea.

Kick off at 3pm. Boa sorte fellas!

Sutton Common Rovers 1 - 0 Tanners

I could not make the trip to Carshalton due to an unfortunate incident.  In the morning I discovered a deer in my garden that had been struck by a car and looked to be in distress.  So I called the RSPCA and waited until about 2.30, where they arrived and said there was nothing they could do and the poor thing had to be put out of its misery.  Then I sat down to Simon's commentary and reflected on the metaphor for our season as the first goal went in.

 

We looked bright for the first two minutes (90 seconds longer than Southampton managed last night) when Lukas rounded the 'keeper but hit the post.  Sutton Common Rovers then took the lead halfway through the opening 45, with a goal from Luke Ige after a defensive lapse allowed him to follow up on his initial blocked shot.

 

Leatherhead probably edged the second half, spurning two good chances, but we were not clinical enough to grab an equaliser and so another disappointing defeat is chalked up.

 

Leatherhead return to the scene of the crime tonight, when we face Carshalton in the Velocity Cup.  Kick off at 7.45pm.  Good luck fellas!

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead make the first of two trips to Carshalton, to face Sutton Common Rovers in the league.

Our hosts sit just above the relegation zone, while we could go into the top half win a win.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas…

Game off

No game today, as Storm Darragh makes its presence known.

Here are some FA Vase fixtures to keep you busy…

Tanners 2 - 1 South Park

The four to five minutes in the second half were worth the entrance fee alone… as for the first 60 minutes, two sides slogged it out on a heavy pitch so it was understandably slow going.  Then it all happened.

 

We didn't get a spectacular volley from range, but we did get a comically spectacular cock up in defence.  A long ball was poorly shepherded back to the 'keeper who did not know whether to pick it up or not which allowed Williamson to steal the ball.  We all laughed at the time, but credit should go to our striker for putting so much pressure on the first place and having the presence of mind to push the ball past the 'keeper and then run on and put it in the net.

 

Straight from the retake, South Park won a corner and that old warhorse Danny Brachen sensed something was going to happen.  He stood on the halfway line as the ball was flicked on and headed in at the far post.  1-1.

 

Our despair did not last long.  Just a couple of minutes later, a freekick was played into the box where Pearce headed the ball into a defender to create a one-two and then smash it home.  What is Alex Pearce's kit made of?  Man of the Match material, and he picked up the honours this game.

 

Onto Saturday, when we welcome Horndean…

South Park are coming!

The pitch should be heavy, but fine as we welcome South Park back to the Grove after our recent cup encounter.

Our visitors sit just behind us in the league and we can climb to the dizzy heights of 13th should we win tonight.

Kick off at 7.45pm. See you there!

Met Police 0 - 2 Tanners

The second half of this game was worth the entrance fee alone, which was lucky for the supporters who hadn't received the update that it was a 2pm kick-off.  I watched a couple wonder in – I envied them – with confused faces as they could not believe their fellow supporters could look so depressed even before kick-off.  In truth, we had suffered a very hard-to-watch half where we hit the bar but neither side created much.

In the second half, Leatherhead started to show their superiority.  We were dominant down our right wing and it was from this threat we got our opening goal.  A jinking run and a looping shot could only be parried into the path of Ruben, who stooped down to head it home.  A cross from the right should have provided the second goal but Lukas could only head it straight at the 'keeper from a couple of yards out.

Then we made it safe in spectacular fashion.  After a brief spell of header-tennis on the halfway line, the ball fell to Massango about 40 yards out.  Leatherhead's Ronaldinho saw the 'keeper off of his line and volleyed the ball high into the air, towards goal.  The 'keeper tried to get back but he was beaten and the ball went in, after bouncing just short of the line. 

As the sun went down over a floodlightless ground, I didn't know if we were waiting for the referee's whistle or for someone's mum to tell us we couldn't play any more and come in for tea… but the whistle sounded and signalled a win – at last! – and on to Tuesday where we hope to welcome South Park, although the rain may have other ideas…

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead kick off an hour earlier, today, to allow for floodlight issues at Imber Court. Ian Selley appears to have shone a light into our recent form and brought in some new players.

Both teams sit precariously above the relegation zone. A win is needed, not just to help give our play-off hopes credibility but to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle over the festive period.

Kick off at 2pm. See you there!

Hayes & Yeading 2 - 2 Tanners

On the ground where they film Ted Lasso, I hoped to see some entertaining football but alas we got a Storm Bert inspired wet and windy mess.

 

There was a certain amount of controversy to the host side's opening goal.  Hayes & Yeading launched a swift counter attack, but we had cover in the middle of the park.  The problem was, so was the referee.  He blocked off the run of our defender and allowed them to run on and score.

 

The referee was unrepentant, but perhaps with a guilty conscience as he rushed to give a penalty when the Hayes & Yeading 'keeper slid in to tackle a Leatherhead player.  Fitzgerald stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.  Just before the break, the hosts go 2-1 up, but I missed this as I sheltered in the bar.

 

The second half was largely unwatchable.  Both sides were now really struggling with the slippery conditions, and I really couldn't see how we could get anything from this game.  Then on 80 minutes, the 'keeper opted to block a shot with his feet rather than dive to catch it and the rebound fell to Bartlett-Antwi who smashed it home.

 

Could we get a winner?  This certainly didn't look the case until we got into the five minutes added time when we suddenly started playing the most dynamic football I have seen this season.  We kept them hemmed in as we won corners and free kicks but we didn't do enough to carve out a clear chance.

 

On to Tuesday then and the visit of Abbey Rangers in the Southern Combination Cup…

Travelling Tanners

It's on.  Well, subject to a heavy downpour,

For me, as I missed the Trophy game, this is a NEW GROUND KLAXON game.  Our hosts sit in mid-table and we cannot go above them today, should we win, due to the gap that has opened up.

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

Game off

Rain and snow prevent this game from going ahead. See Saturday, where the New Ground Klaxon (for me anyway) with the trip to Hayes & Yeading.

Tanners 0 - 1 Moneyfields

In two games where we probably would have targeted six points, we ended up with one; a lucky one at that.

This was another game where Leatherhead failed to inspire.  Slow and lateral movement rarely troubled a Moneyfields defence, led by their Number 5.  A pantomime villain that has everything in his locker; heading, shepherding the ball out and shithousery.  

Again, 999 was called three times only for him to get up, smiling to the home fans.  I actually thought he had gone too far in the second half when he feigned being knocked out - a move that should have earned him an instant substitution - but he smiled at the ref and he was allowed to play on.

In the last 30 minutes we finally showed some urgency and pressed for a winner.  We won a series of free kicks and corners but couldn't find a way of scoring.  It was early into this spell that we were undone though.

We won a freekick just outside the box, despite a non-injury to a Moneyfields player (guess who).  The free kick was cleared with a long ball that sent their 11 away with only Sonny in front of him.  Out Sonny came to greet the ball outside his area and the newly contracted player completely misjudged the bounce and watched helplessly as his leap was not enough to make any contact with the ball.  The 11 collected the ball and passed it into an open net.

Hitting the bar and having a shot cleared off of the line helped build the excitement for the home supporters but ultimately, they trudged home disappointed.  So, it's the visit of South Park on Tuesday.  Another side that can ruin a ruddy night at The Grove.

Moneyfields are coming

Leatherhead return to league action today and welcome our south coast friends, Moneyfields.

The away game was a real footballing low for me. A last minute goal gave them their first away win with extra time to contemplate this on the drive home due to the Hindhead Tunnel closure. Hopefully, revenge will be ours.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 2 - 1 Westfield

The bogeyest of bogey teams were finally beaten last night, as Leatherhead progress in the Velocity Cup with a win over Westfield.

The game started brightly enough and Leatherhead had two early shouts for a penalty waved away.  Then the half went rather stale until we finally did get a penalty for something I missed myself.

In a recent penalty, Lukas has put the ball down inititially then passed the honours to Tom Kavanagh who re-spots, takes and scores.  And so was the case here.  1-0 on the stroke of half time.

Second half and Westfield wanted to continue their winning streak over us and probably played some of the better football.  We had our moments, and in a good spell of pressure we forced a defender into handballing to prevent a cross from finding Lukas in front of goal.  A red card for the defender and a penalty to us.  This time there was no roleplay with Lukas and Tom and the penalty was missed.

A chance to bury the game was spurned and the ten men of Westfield rallied again and forced the seemingly inevitable penalty to take us into penalties.  But luck was on our side.

It was a great ball from Kane into the box, and a smart run from Marco but I doubt he meant to caress the ball with his shin to deftly lob the 'keeper.

Into the hat and onto Saturday with the visit of Moneyfields… 

Westfield are coming!

League Cup action tonight with the visit of Westfield. A side that has already beaten us 3-1 this season.

Sometimes this cup can produce the fixtures with the most number of changes. I don't think we can afford to muck about too much.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Ashford Town 2 - 2 Tanners

Leatherhead escaped with a fortunate draw after they came up against a stubborn Ashford Town.  This was a side we beat 4-0 just a few weeks ago, but today they outfought us for all but 20 minutes of the game.

In the first half we had our moments - Lukas forcing a save at the near post, for example - but it was Ashford Town who opened the scoring.  A low shot at close range could only be parried into a dangerous area and the ball was slotted under the 'keeper.  I went to the bar with about 5 minutes to go, as I was fairly confident nothing good would happen from it. 

Second half and Ashford Town really started to turn the screw.  We can ponder what would have happened if Lukas' close range shot had been put anywhere else but straight at the 'keeper or if the ball had crept in off of the post… but that would forget that in addition to Ashford's wonderful solo goal, they too hit the post after breaking free to be one on one with the 'keeper and had a goal disallowed for offside.

Then came the final run-in.  In the last 15 minutes of normal play, finally Leatherhead looked like a force to be reckoned with.  On the 80th minute, Ceesay fired in a shot that, for once, was not blocked by a defender and found the bottom left corner.

The home team were pretty angry with the referee for finding two additional minutes beyond the five he had originally indicated, that allowed us to score.  One of those minutes was to allow Lukas to trudge off after receiving a second yellow card (both for dissent), and the second to watch the ball loop off Marco's head and sail towards goal it went.  

Up the ball went, filled with hope, despair and a trace of disgust that we found ourselves in the desperate situation in the first place.  Eventually the ball landed safely over the line to secure a point to help claw back the five we have lost ourselves in similar circumstances.

 

Back to The Grove and hopefully the drawing board, for Tuesday, and the League Cup visit of Westfield…

Travelling Tanners

Luke Tuffs was seen at the Grove last Saturday. I hope he didn't learn much and we a similar display as we don't have planespotting as a distraction; we're off to Ashford Town at Cobham FC.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!