Travelling Tanners

A game, perhaps, neither club wanted to play today as other teams get to have fun in the FA Cup, but it is not all bad news.  The surprise tones of the New Ground Klaxon can be heard, as our old friends are ground sharing with Chichester City AND we get to continue our momentum in the league.  

 

Bognor Regis won on the opening day of the season, 5-4 in front of an impressive crowd at Portchester but have since yet to win.  With Raynes Park Vale losing, our fourth consecutive win sees us top of the table.

 

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

 

Travelling Tanners

We're off to Ks. I'm off on a narrow boat around Leicester.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas!

Tanners 3 - 0 Littlehampton

Leatherhead continue their perfect 3-0 start to the season, with a win over Littlehampton.  Our new friends were an unknown commodity, being new to our division, but came with an unbeaten record and a respectable travelling support.

 

The first half was another 45 minutes where, although we missed a couple of glaring chances, the best bit for me was getting into the bar early for a sit down and a cup of tea.  Kareem being guilty of missing the easiest chance when he was put through, clear on goal, but had too much time to think about it and tangled himself up.

 

The second half and Leatherhead came out looking a more determined side.  Breckon opened the scoring with a classy goal, making space in a tight situation to find the inside of the post.

 

The second goal was all about Kareem and when he beat two players on the edge of the box, burst into the area and found Lukas at the far post.  If people missed Kareem's contribution, they certainly didn't miss his celebration as it was almost as if he passed to himself and put it in.

 

Mark Waters added to the visitor's misery when he pounced on a lose ball on the edge of the box, and fired it into the bottom corner.  Littlehampton gave us a couple of scares, with a fine flying save from Sonny and the crossbar saving us.

 

On to Monday and the trip to Ks.  Their manager, Dean Thomas, just happens to live near me and he said "hi", while I walked through the village proudly wearing my Leatherhead shirt.  We chatted for a while and then I wished him a thoroughly miserable Bank Holiday… they got their first win on Saturday and will no doubt fancy another though…

Littlehampton are coming…

…or have been as Football Web Pages showed this was a 0-0 draw at 8am this morning. On the plus side, it did put us top of the league.

Littlehampton come to the Grove in the first meeting, I can remember.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 0 - 1 Westfield

Westfield reestablish themselves as our bogey team, with a 1-0 win to knock us out of the FA Cup.

I was worried about this game.  I recall as similar scenario where we travelled to Billericay on the opening game of the season and then returned in the FA.  We lost the league fixture but beat them in the cup, and the tables were turned on us today.

 

If you wanted to be kind, you would say our play was "patient".  It was not the performance that saw us miss many chances and then take them, as it was last week.  It was quality over quantity.  Just a pity there wasn't even much quality attempts until Breckon came on.  Up until then we really hadn't troubled the 'keeper much.  Hedley headed over from close range and our closest attempt to the target came off someone's shoulder.

 

Westfield also looked a different side to the one we faced last week as they were composed and stuck to their task well.  They pressed and got their reward, in the second half, when they stole the ball and lone striker ran at Sonny.  A clever lob put them on the lead on 56 minutes, but no need to panic as I thought we had more than enough time to respond.

 

It simply didn't happen, and with each sub we somehow became more disjointed and less of a threat.  The final straw came when Cam Black was made to go upfront, but he looked completely out of place… because… well… he was.

 

The referee, after two additional minutes to the originally sounded six, put us out of our misery and blew the final whistle.  Westfield rightfully enjoyed their moment while I trudged off and shared my woes with a few other supporters in Tesco.  Back to the league then, and the visit of Littlehampton.

Westfield are coming…

Our weekly encounter with Westfield comes around again, this time in the FA Cup. Our second half performance against our guests should give us plenty of confidence… not too much confidence, I hope, as we have a habit of starting slowly when we think the game will be easily won.

After three 3-0 wins in a row, hopefully we can safely make our way into the next round.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 3 - 0 South Park

Leatherhead continue their winning ways with a fine 3-0 win over South Park, in game that was very much "a game of two halves".

 

I don't quite know how to sum up the first half, as everything about the game seemed rather timid.  The pace of the game seemed slow and the crowd chatted amongst themselves while this all drifted along.  We looked the better side, but that was hardly much to shout about.

 

The second half, and the action started quickly.  Too quickly for some, myself included, who didn't get pitch side to see Sam St De Croix run onto a through-ball and slot into the bottom corner.  1-0.

 

Then Jacob Brecken came on and things only got worse for our visitors.  First, Kane dispatched the perfect cross to find the big striker in the box and his deft header found the side netting.  Jacob was then instrumental in the build-up to the third.  After some neat one-twos in the middle of the pitch, a lofted ball was sent towards goal and Jacob's clever flick sent Kareem free down the left.  He then fired a low cross to the edge of the box and Kane fired a low shot into the far corner.  The old warrior, Bracken, could not keep that one out following a string of fine saves.

 

Somewhere in all of that, Westfield thought they had a penalty when a player felt a contact from behind and went down.  They probably felt it was a foul, as the referee had awarded similar instances of diving outside the box, but they simply don't count inside.

 

The referee blew his whistle to bring up our third 3-0 win in a row, and now we get ready to face Westfield (again) in the FA Cup on Saturday …

South Park are coming

Let's hope it cools a bit, for the players, as South Park come to the Grove tonight.

Our guests - also 3-0 winners on Saturday- are a side that can ruin the most pleasant summer evening, but hopefully putting away another bogey team, at the weekend, will help.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Westfield 0 - 3 Tanners

Before the game, there was a common thread amongst the fans who had gathered early in the bar before the game; just how many terrible defeats we had suffered here.  This was not the opening game of the season we had hoped for.

 

Our fears were eased with an early goal from the returning Breckon.  Out on the right, he took the ball down on his chest and advance on goal.  He feigned to shoot, committing the 'keeper with a dive to his right, and so with the ball already heading towards the goal he just left it to roll in by itself.  1-0.

 

If the 'keeper felt embarrassed by that goal, he could walk into the dressing room with his head held high with three or four saves that kept Westfield in the game.  A curling effort from Waters and a close range chance from Hogan forcing two of the more spectacular saves.

 

I was asked at halftime for my score prediction, and I said it would either be three of four nil OR a one-all draw; I feared we would be punished for not taking or chances.  Luckily, the captain stepped up and made the game safe.

 

His first goal was a shot outside the box.  The ball did take a deflection, but I don't think it altered the outcome.  He then pounced on a loose ball in the box, after another save from the busy Westfield 'keeper, and picked out the top right hand corner.  3-0.

 

Sonny Wheeler kept his clean sheet bonus intact with a fine save of his own and the game finished 3-0 to set us on our winning way.  So from one bogey team to another… South Park come to the Grove on Tuesday…

Travelling Tanners

League action starts today with the trip to Westfield, a side that will want to get one (if not two) over us given recent player and manager movements.

It's going to be busy in Woking. Carlisle are opening their season next door and are bringing their full 900.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Phoenix Sports 0 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead safely made their way into the Qualifying Round Proper, following the kind of professional performance that was called for on Saturday.  From the start, Leatherhead controlled this game with the hosts missing only one clear chance.

 

We were still guilty of squandered opportunities ourselves.  Early in the game, Lukas was put through on goal for a one-on-one chance but could only find the post.  There were several other chances that were blocked or saved until we got our breakthrough.

 

Nathan Hogan has really impressed over these two games and both of his goals were things of beauty.  The ball came to him at about thigh height, but he still managed to get the perfect touch to both beat his man and allow for a clear shot at goal.  Their 'keeper appeared to have had one less Red Bull than he had had on Saturday, so could only get a slight touch on it and couldn't prevent it from hitting the side netting.

 

Half time and I pictured Ian Selley sat in Linekar's Bar having just finished his Full English and sending his team talk via WhatsApp.  No need for the second jug of sangria, as Sam De St Croix eased the nerves by firing a shot through a crowded box and it found the back of the net.  It took a massive deflection from a defender, but I can confirm it was heading into the bottom corner with the 'keeper well beaten.

 

Nathan Hogan doubled his tally with a fine piece of individual play.  Chasing a ball down the left, he dragged it back, changed direction and opened up for a left footed shot into the far corner.  He ran off to the corner flag for a well-earned celebration.  The hosts were not happy with this as they felt one of their players was fouled in the build-up, but they had cried wolf a number of times and the ref had waved play on.

 

So, now we face Westfield.  A side we will get to know a little better when we face them on Saturday in the league…

Travelling Tanners

Not only are we in a round sooner than we'd like, but we're playing the replay a day earlier too!  Tonight we travel Bexleyheath to face Phoenix Sports.

Saturday was hard fought, and we learned quite quickly bee can't simply trot around and get a win.  Hopefully they won't make that mistake again.

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

Tanners 2 - 2 Phoenix Sports

To lose this game, this early in the season, would be unthinkable but somehow we rushed to a two nil deficit to make it look like our season was over before it even started. 

 

Phoenix Sports came out and bossed the game from the start, playing in confident triangles and bullying our players as we hardly laid a glove on them.  Meanwhile, they capitalised when Sonny dropped a low shot for a tap in on six minutes.  Eight minutes later, it was 2-0 when they managed to flick on a corner to the back post for another easy finish.

 

I was so distraught at halftime, I burst into the dressing room announcing my research was all wrong.  They didn't finish comfortably 16^th in the Isthmian South East, as their website suggests, and were in fact relegated to the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.  The look of relief on their faces allowed Ian to then resume his team talk and they came out a different side.

 

It only took three minutes for us to start the comeback.  There was a coming together in the box as well as a handball, so the ref gave one of them and Breckon calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner.

 

On 60 minutes, the comeback was complete when we broke free and had the composure to square the ball to Nathan Hogan who finished at the near post.

 

Both sides appeared to accept their fate of a replay as neither wanted to lose the tie, so off we go to Barnehurst on Monday with the NEW GROUND KLAXON ringing in our ears…

Phoenix Sports are coming!

Ominous dark clouds formed overhead as I completed my cycle ride and I turned my attention to our early entry into the FA Cup. I was told it was our earliest entry since 1935 (unverified).

Our guests come from the Isthmian South East, finishing 16th last season BUT they have a new club owner so who knows how they'll turn up today.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 1 - 4 Farnham

Not so long ago, this pre-season friendly made perfect sense, and I was looking forward to it but now, due to the FA's new coefficient, we are just a few days before the extra-preliminary round it didn't look so appealing.  The players seemed to agree as they tentatively saw out this game out, while Farnham played with more freedom.

Another reason to hold the friendly may have been to cash in on their large supporter base, but it appeared the only person who came to watch Farnham was Marc White as he prepares for his friendly against them soon.  Marc did not have to wait for Farnham to open the scoring when they were awarded an absolute stinker of a penalty.  Hardly any contact but he pointed to the spot and it was 0-1.

Farnham soon raced to a three-goal lead when twice Sonny rushed off his line to close down a pass, only to be beaten and the ball calmly rolled into an empty net.  0-3 and half time.

To be fair, Leatherhead did come out and for the first time looked really committed to get into the game and got their reward from penalty.  Sam De St. Croix stepped up and obviously felt bad about scoring against his old team so sent the 'keeper the right way and it was saved.  He scored on the follow up for this penalty, but when we got awarded another one for handball, he sent the 'keeper the same way and it was saved.

Farnham made it 1-4 from a nice move down the right to finish us off.  That concludes the preseason friendlies, and now we get stuck into the FA Cup and the visit of Phoenix Sports on Saturday…

Farnham are coming!

Leatherhead welcome last year's champions, as Farnham come to the Grove for the last preseason friendly of the season.

Love Island will have to wait. Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Corinthian-Casuals 3 - 5 Tanners

I sat with Rod before the game as he marked off his team sheet, and he looked quite despondent about the number of players that were still unavailable.  I don't recall a season where we have yet to see a full team, so close to the start of the season.

 

We did not need to wait long for our first goal.  As I walked around the ground, I had just heard a fan complain over the dark-arts of the long throw when one was sent in, flicked on and James Richmond scored with a header on just 40 seconds.  1-0… This was going to be easy… The home side equalised with a brilliant 30-yard free kick into the top corner three minutes later.  1-1. Oh.

 

Leatherhead look like they have been working on their corners.  Hogan sent in two corners, and we scored twice in quick succession.  Hedley and Stepney with the headed goals.  3-1.  Just before half time, Nathan Hogan scored from close range just before halftime, increasing the lead to 4-1.

 

The second half had less goals but did not lack drama.  Corinthian-Casuals were given a penalty, for a clumsy tackle form behind in the box.  This made it 4-2 but still felt safe.  Well, until we failed to hold onto a cross and the fired in from close range.  4-3.

 

Our dominance from corners restored our two-goal cushion, when Stepney fired into the top corner when our hosts failed to clear.  5-3 and all we had to do was calmly see this out.  Alas, a Corinthian-Casuals player had other ideas by crashing into one of our players and then insisting he have a fight with anyone who fancied it.  Sonny Wheeler does not need a second invitation, and charged out of his box to join in.  With Ascot still fresh in our minds, a club fine is needed every time he leaves the area as the ref was in a friendly / charitable mood and only sent off the main protagonist.

 

A piece of silverware in the bag and now we get ready for the visit of Farnham on Tuesday…

Travelling Tanners

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention our impressive six nil win over Merstham in the week. I'm not sure what was happening with our visitors, as they named a complete squad of trialists; from Trialist A to T.

Hopefully we will face a more settled Corinthian-Casuals, to give us a stiffer test, in the Harvey Hill Trophy.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there.

Merstham are coming!

Tonight sees The Mick Sullivan derby being played, as our Isthmian South East opponents come to the Grove tonight.

Playing on grass, on Saturday, saw us fight back impressively so we will hopefully look to go one better.

Kick off at 7.45. Free for Season Ticket holders. Good luck fellas!

Tanners 2 - 2 Tonbridge Angels

A touch of déjà vu for the Leatherhead supporters in the opening five minutes as, much like their Tuesday outing against National League South opposition, found themselves 2-0 in a short period of time.  Goals on two and five minutes must have worried all those in attendance.

 

Luckily the fight back started in the 10^th minute, and not the 85^th, when Akinnibi finished at close range.  The come back was complete Hedley capilitalised on our guests inability to clear their lines.

 

Onto Tuesday, and a visit from Merstham…