Tanners 3 - 2 Hendon

We were treated yesterday to the very worst and the very best of Leatherhead in a game that looked to seal our fate but then still keep our hopes alive.

Leatherhead were woeful in the first half.  For the first 5 minutes or so I thought this was going to be easy work as Hendon appeared to just sit off us and let us come forward, but soon they decided we looked a bit shaky and too the game to us.

For weeks Leatherhead have been overplaying and trying to pass it into the net, and at last it worked.  It was just a pity it was our own net as a pressured defender passes to where he thought Wells would be and not where he actually was.  Not for the first time in recent weeks, passing without looking where the danger is has cost us goals.

From “no look passes” we then started “no look defending” as a breakaway move down Hendon’s right wing saw us crowd around the ball like it was a Under 7’s match (apologies to any six year old out there).  This left their no8 completely open to receive the ball in front of goal and beat Wells.

There were some high points in the first half; Carr looked unplayable and his shot went just wide.  However, changes were needed especially in midfield.  Ty Smith is a player I like a lot, but with so many attack minded midfielders the role of enforcing some form of discipline fell to him and for whatever reason it wasn’t his day.  So Jerome Federico (?) came on to play down the left and Kadell moved into the centre which worked a treat.

As I mentioned, we had our moments but given how bad we were it was telling that the Hendon defence looked constantly on edge.  With a revitalised Leatherhead they did not look comfortable at all and the reinforced numbers behind the goal could sense we could get something from this game.  The first goal coming from such a spell of pressure.  Their ‘keeper, being forced into a save, concedes a corner and from the resulting set play Theobalds smashes a shot through a crowded box.

Fifteen minutes later Carr gets halfway to his brace.  A looping shot from Kadell (I think) beats the diving ‘keeper, strikes the bar and falls kindly to Carr who taps in.  We rush to get the ball back in play as a draw would simply not be enough to keep us up.

Despite all the attacks we did need some help from the ref.  He then awarded a penalty that I can only describe as soft.  The Hendon back four did have a habit of letting our player know they were there which went largely unpunished, so perhaps they were overconfident in what they could get away with.  Nana was in the box and it was true he was being tightly marked and to a certain extent impeded but when he hit the floor I have seen them turned away.

Over to Carr for the penalty who decided to tease the ‘keeper by hitting it tamely at him knowing he would spill it and get to tap in the rebound.  The very definition of confidence there.

The relegation fight, and it is a fight we should have taking seriously weeks ago, goes on with another crucial game and the visit of Folkestone. 

Hendon are coming

Check your out tray for misplaced envelopes. Hendon are coming in this crucial game. Three points up for grabs... I hope...

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Bognor Regis 1 - 0 Tanners

There are better sides than Leatherhead who will make the trip south and come off worse that a 1-0 defeat but flattery does not get you points on the board.

While Leatherhead looked far more composed at the back than a few weeks ago the pressure told and Bognor got their goal midway in the first half.  It was now a case if we could respond and get a goal back.

Wells kept us in it with a fantastic save but we failed to snatch a goal that would have kept us within three points of safety (given our goal difference). 

No midweek game but a very important game to focus on this Saturday…

 

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead have a tough test on their hands today.  Bognor Regis Town sit on top of the league, albeit with a game not in hand, and with a healthy 27 goal difference.  While we have kept two clean sheets in a row that will be put to the test today.

Meanwhile Sudbury host Folkestone in what could be a crucial tie for our survival hopes…

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

Tanners 0 - 0 Tonbridge

After going practically 75% of the season with only two clean sheets to their name, they have now doubled that tally in the last two games.  The latter a credible draw against a side pushing for the play-offs in Tonbridge Angels, thus completing a mediocre double of drawing both games against them.

If there is hope for our survival it won’t come from this draw alone but the change the style we are now playing.  No more inviting pressure by constantly overplaying it from the back; Louis Wells can now get his boots dirty and pick out a player further up the pitch.  The endless sideways movement around the box has been replaced with more purposeful attacks, giving the other team something more to think about.  The end result is a more entertaining game and a few points on the board.  Pity it took until nearly March to work this out.

It could have been more though but for the visiting ‘keeper who pulled off two fantastic saves.  Kadell looked like he had scored in the first half when he picked out the top corner from a powerful volley but the ‘keeper responded and tipped over.  Then in the second half Jerry prodded a ball into the bottom corner but again we were thwarted.

Wells was called into action notably once to keep us level and take us within two points of Sudbury.

Dulwich will have a replay in the Trophy to contend with so that trip will have to wait.  Just Bognor Regis to look forward to on Saturday then….

Tonbridge Angels are coming

The stark reality of the situation is starting to hit home now.  We are going to need to pull off some stunning results between now and the end of the season if we are going to stay up.

There is no better place to start that Tonbridge Angels tomorrow at home.  Last time we played them it was an entertaining 4-4, but I doubt our visitors will be as charitable tomorrow.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

 

Tanners 2 - 0 AFC Sudbury

In the bar before the game a fellow Leatherhead fan reeled off a few stats.  Up until this game we had only kept two clean sheets, both against the same team Merstham.  Not a good indication that you will stay up if you can only prevent one other team in the league from scoring against you.  Further analysis showed AFC Sudbury are the only side we are realistically likely to pip to the post for the safety spot so a win today was crucial.

Leatherhead certainly approached the game slightly differently.  It appeared less show-biz, slightly more direct and purposeful.  AFC Sudbury, perhaps jaded from the long mid-week journey, had little in response but of course we had our scares.

Our opening goal came from a long ball down the middle (at last!) and the pace of Nana who rounded the ‘keeper and had an open goal in front of him.  All he had to do was tap it in; tap it in with his left foot and this is where the fun began.  He took his time, switched it to his right, took an extra touch and then another to avoid the returning defender. 

“I don’t believe it!” I heard myself say amongst the panic behind the goal.  A Victor Meldrew moment born of so many frustrating moments watching Leatherhead cock it up this year.  Thankfully he composed himself in time to get his goal but his left foot became something of a theme.  There was a good shooting chance in the first half that was shunned and in the second half there was a mix up in the AFC Sudbury defence that saw him in front of goal with the ‘keeper and two or three defenders all stranded… all stranded just to the right of him.  Rather than switching it to the left and rolling into another open net he opted to go right and then right again as he ran into more and more trouble.  Let’s leave the Nana bashing there; he worked hard and got the goal but it was a surprise he didn’t hop off when substituted.

Back to the game and the second half where we lived in fear it would all go wrong again in this end to end game.  We should have been comfortable but for some reason the chances were being missed.  Then came our salvation.

Callum Davies swung in what looked on first inspection an innocent looking cross but he picked out the run of Kadell Daniel who volleyed superbly past their ‘keeper to make it 2-0.  Of course, Leatherhead being 2-0 at any point of the game does not guarantee anything but AFC Sudbury looked suitable wounded that a fightback seemed unlikely.

On to Saturday and the visit of Tonbridge Angels…

AFC Sudbury are coming...

I looked online for the odds and AFC Sudbury are about 3-1 for tonight.  I am not sure if that is for them to win or to turn up as this fixture has been plagued with misfortune…

…which leads us nicely into our year so far!  2017 has been nothing short of a disaster so far and with Harrow winning 4-0 last night the picture is looking increasingly bleak.  Oh for a win tonight!

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there… I promise!

Travelling Tanners

Advance clearance was needed before considering making this trip to Lowestoft Town.  This could be six hours of driving with only 3-1 beating to break up the journey if recent performances are anything to go by.

Let’s look at the positives though.  It’s a new ground… and… well, we did play well at Tonbridge Angels where we went thinking it would be a wasted trip so this may be the kind of game we bounce back.  There is a coach going, so the travelling support should be in good voice too.

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

Tanners 1 - 2 Burgess Hill

Under Sandmann we were ill-equipped and lacked the players to cope with the Ryman Premier League.  Under Jimmy we have the players but lack the motivation and / or defensive discipline to win the important games and look certain to slide into the Ryman League South if 2017 form is anything to go by.  Start planning your trips to Walton Casuals.

The performance in the first half was workman like.  Not too gung-ho but we showed enough about us to carve out two good chances; forcing the ‘keeper into a good save and clipping the bar from a deft lob.

Then the warning sign.  When under no pressure we give the ball away in our third of the pitch and presented an open goal.  Wells came to our rescue and we can only hope they had learned their lesson.

They didn’t.  Into the second half and we over play it at the back and pass it straight to their striker, whose powerful shot beat Wells near post.

Leatherhead did get one back.  Some smart work from the sub Nana set up Carr in the middle of the goal who had to dig it out of the mud a little but found enough power to find the back of the net.

Then Leatherhead make the same mistake again, giving the ball away in a dangerous position and presented another open goal.  2-1.  This disheartened the side and really we were treading water for the rest of the game with no spirit.

Burgess Hill players embraced when the final whistle went; they knew how big the game was.  Pity no one told Jimmy and our players that.

Burgess Hill Are Coming

Another crucial game and hopefully the weather or traffic conditions won’t get it called off.

The one thing we could not hold off any longer was the three point deduction which has put us back in the chase for relegation.

Kick off at 3pm (please check twitter and the RAC for updates).  See you there.

AFC Sudbury are coming

AFC Sudbury make the long mid-week trip to Fetcham Grove in this crucial encounter.  They sit just one point behind (or two ahead) and with a game in hand.

For the game against Canvey the first half showing was so poor that Jimmy must have laid down the law in the dressing room and let them think about it, as he waited outside the bar with a face like thunder.  I hope he will not need to play such mind games tonight as drawing these games is becoming increasing unacceptable.

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas.

Tonbridge Angels 4 - 4 Tanners

Well.  How to write this lot up?  Trying to recollect the events of tonight is going to be practically impossible as there is only so much you can take in during a 90 minute game of football.

The first thing I recall is the ease in which Tonbridge opened the scoring in the opening minutes of both half.  Both goals shots from distance catching Wells off-guard.  Tonbridge were in an equally charitable mood and gifted Leatherhead their first goal.  A long ball down the middle was misjudged and allowed Hamons to run on unmarked and slot past the ‘keeper.  The goal was awarded to Carr, I’m not sure why.

Then a wonder strike (or a lucky cross) when Daniel who fired in a lofted ball to the far post and in it dipped.  Ty Smith added to the joy by being afforded too much space in the box and his powerful – yet placed – shot found the side netting.

3-1 up at half time and we went into the bar to contemplate the state of Jimmy’s coat and the prospect of a 3-3 draw.  This looked ever more likely when another audacious lob was attempted and scored by Tonbridge from distance in just the opening couple of minutes.  Their third goal I don’t recall.  I think a player dashed into the box and fired into a corner.

Their forth was a real eye opener.  I have no idea what is taught in training but I wonder how much time is spent organising the defence.  I say this because we have Jerry (former player of the season) and Howe (non-league player of pedigree) at the back there but to allow their striker so much space to head a goal is shocking.  No organisation nor awareness of the danger and it happens all too often.  Jimmy was incensed and got sent to the stand.  Perhaps upset that the move came from the ref getting in the way of a Leatherhead pass and inadvertently chesting it into the path of a Tonbridge player.

We were not done yet and Ty Smith scores another goal I can’t remember.  It escapes me as we could have won the game.  Daniel Carr went on a hell of a run – Michael Owen and Argentina springs to mind – and was through on goal.  We rushed to the barrier assuming a match winning cuddle was imminent but he opted for the surprise element of shooting near post instead of the inviting far post where the goal was gaping.  Three Leatherhead supporters, two Dulwich supporters (!?) and a players father stood a gasp.

Very much a game of what could have been and now a weekend without a game to dwell on it…

 

Travelling Tanners

Tonight we travel to Tonbridge Angels.  I don’t need to write much about tonight; they have done an excellent job in this post here.

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

 

Tanners 1 - 1 Canvey Island

In the early moments of the game the ref asked for “nothing silly” from the players while defending a corner.  Wishful thinking as the usual slapstick defending was close at hand.

This corner came during a period of Leatherhead pressure.  By pressure I mean playing the ball horizontally about 30 yards out with the occasional shot at goal.  Pretty to watch but without much threat.  The fateful corner was won just after 7 minutes and was swung straight into the impressively tall ‘keeper.  His confident catch resulted in an equally confident kick up field where we came up short.  A wild swing of the boot hit only air allowing their striker to run through on goal and put his shot away.  This was pretty much the theme for the remainder of the second half and, but for Wells, the guests could have been three or four up.

Somehow we managed to stumble into the second half just one goal down and it took us about 10 minutes to truly find our feet.  Then we did start to play by opting for a more direct style of play and using our pace to stretch the team who have a goal difference of -35.

On the hour mark we levelled.  Some smart work down the left allowed our player to pick out a clinical pass just wide of the post.  It fell to Carr who had the simplest of jobs to tap in.  He was through one on one with the ‘keeper moments later but his low shot was well saved.

This was a game we had to win but, as we have with other teams around us, we only managed a draw.  Off to fifth place Tonbridge Angles on Tuesday night then…

Canvey Island are coming

A mild night should allow the frozen pitch to thaw so we can get this game played tomorrow, but a freshly thawed pitch may create the sticky conditions that will make our punchy passing game difficult.  Not a bad thing based on recent results.

Canvey Island are a side we simply have to beat.  They sit in the relegation zone and are five points behind us so, given the three points could be coming off imminently, it is a nine pointer of a game.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

GAME OFF

A frozen pitch has put pay to tonight’s game against AFC Sudbury. 

Hopefully better luck on Saturday when we host Canvey Island. ..

 

Wingate & Finchley 2 - 1 Tanners

I misread text made me believe the game was called off and by the time I realized it was too late to get there.  A lucky escape.  Despite Leatherhead’s coveted strikers and one man advantage we simply lacked the application, leadership and desire to get a win.

Wingate & Finchley have strung together a few nice results.  Since Boxing Day they have drawn 1-1 with Havant & Waterlooville and Dulwich.  They have beaten the sides around them.  We on the other hand have only managed to draw with the sides near the drop zone and lose to those above.

It does not help when you cannot keep a clean sheet and it is no wonder why.  A long ball from the ‘keeper sends their winger on an almost free run down their right.  A cross into the box and an unmarked player taps it in.  Hopeless.

On the half hour mark, the ref decided Leatherhead needed some help so asked a Wingate player to take an early shower.  The old adage of it being harder to play against 10 men suddenly comes to the fore as for the remainder of the first half.

Leatherhead did rally for the second half but you could hardly describe their second as a “sucker punch”.  From a throw-in Wingate moved the ball around the box with ease; Leatherhead standing there like statues with no commitment to close anything down.  The invitation was accepted and the shot was rifled into the roof of the net from some distance. You see them end up in the car park but we got what we deserved.

A goal by Carr may have offered some excitement for the 99 people in attendance but it was too little too late.  Back to the Grove Wednesday for the all-important game against AFC Sudbury.

Travelling Tanners

If the frost spares us we could be travelling to Wingate & Finchley tomorrow, a side that is unbeaten in eight games: we are unwon in five.  It has not been a good post-Christmas period for us having accumulated -1 points.  Our only two draws were against fellow relegation sides that we would have hoped to beat going into Christmas.

I went to the fixture and was rather impressed with the ground there.  It was also the debut of Lenny Pidgeley, an altogether unnecessary signing but a good bloke to have around.

Keep an eye out for pitch inspections.  Directions can be found here.  See you there… I hope…

 

Game off

A 2pm pitch showed the pitch still to be frozen and gave the travelling players and fans enough notice to prevent them from starting a futile journey.

The future date, probably shoehorned into January somehow, will be announced shortly.

 

Tanners 2 - 3 Ks

The Chairman was speaking in the carpark before the game, stating he was hoping for a clean sheet and then laughed – nervously – as there has been little evidence that this is possible recently.

To get clean sheet you do at least need some help from the ref, but it wasn’t forthcoming at either end of the pitch.  When the Ks player planted both feet on the ground and dived over the ball I wrongly assumed the ref would see through this obvious ploy but I was wrong.  If the awarding of the free kick was fortuitous there was nothing so about the finish.  A wonderful free kick that soared into the top left corner.

The rest of the half made me question some of my lifestyle choices and whether I should take up hardcore drinking.  A bottle of absinth would just about take the edge of the tepid display and only watching Jimmy muddy his coat due to low traction winkle pickers on the touch line made for any entertainment.

I am pleased to say Leatherhead responded well in the second half and it turned into an exciting game.  Daniel Carr got beyond his man after being played in and was pulled back by the defender.  An obvious penalty and when the ref waved play on it was a sobering reminder that today was not going to be our day.

Ks got their second through a powerful run into the left hand side of the box and firing in a low shot using the outside of his boot.  The ball bent enough to clip the inside of the post.  Leatherhead responded quickly, a ball into Kadell was chested down and his pivoted shot sent goal wards.  The ‘keeper anticipated it but his hand not strong enough to stop it and it rolled over the line.

Back into the game, well so we thought.  Leatherhead fail to deal with a cross into the box from the right and a free header gifted them the all-important third.

Daniel Carr, when allowed to run freely without someone holding on to his waist, broke free and fired a low shot beating the ‘keeper near post.

The ref then found time to miss two obvious handballs, one of which was in the box, to round off a terrible performance that also saw him run away from a nasty head injury to a Leatherhead player with even the Ks player signally for instant help.

Folkestone arrive to the Grove Wednesday.  For the sake of Jimmy’s dry cleaning bill, I hope we don’t slip up again…

 

Ks are coming

My goodness, I was busy doing something else and I nearly completely forgot to write the pre-match preview for tomorrow’s game.

Our old, well stewarded, friends arrive at the Grove tomorrow having turned their season around from the difficult start they had.  They now sit in 9^th having just beaten Staines.

The disappoint of only drawing against Harrow, given we were so dominant, will hopefully focus the mind for tomorrow’s game.  Defeat could see us slip firmly back into relegation contention.

Kick-off (subject to pitch conditions) at 3pm.  See you there!

 

Woking 2 - 0 Tanners

Despite a spirited performance, Woking had a bit too much about them last night and strolled out 2-0 winners.

The first 15 minutes were uncomfortable for Leatherhead as Woking pinned us back into our own half.  After a spell of retaining the balls through about 50 sideways and backward passes we grew in confidence and started to counter attack.  Daniel Carr, who seems to have a new lease of life since leaving behind Dulwich for a couple of months, looked the most likely to score as he stretched the host’s defence. 

The first goal was therefore disappointing, certainly in the manner it was scored.  Wells did well to save a point blank header and a goal mouth scramble with two further attempts were made.  On the third attempt, the defender whose job it was to clear was busy doing something else and then forgot so as a result we suffered a one goal deficit…

Second half and Leatherhead did fairly well I have to say.  The game could have swung firmly our way with a red card for a Woking player but the ref showed cowardice not once but twice.  First of all their no. 7 went in two footed on Ty Smith.  A nasty high challenge that was worthy of a straight red in its own right which saw the influential midfielder go off injured.  The ref gave the player a yellow and a stern talking to.  The ref’s words were soon forgotten however as only moments later the same player mistimed a tackle from behind, not a dangerous tackle but a tackle that would see yellow in normal circumstances but the ref took no action.  The net effect, we lose one of our best midfielders while they play on at full strength.

And play on they did, as they strode into our box and fired a powerful dipping shot that gave Wells no chance.  At 2-0 the game was all bought and paid for with little hope of us getting anything from it.

Another trip to Woking ends in defeat.  On to Saturday where we host Ks.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to Woking tonight in the Surrey Senior Cup, who promise to put out a strong side.  I just hope the side we put out is all correctly accounted for to prevent further disappointment after we suffered yet another point deduction this week.

I can’t remember a successful result against Woking.  Typically this is all done and dusted by half time, but perhaps we can hope for more under new management.

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

 

Tanners 2 - 2 Harrow

If a half of football was just 60 seconds long Leatherhead would have given a credible first half display and got the winner in the second, but as it is the game is a lot longer and we could consider this two points dropped.

There was something inevitable in the manner we started, playing some fantastic football which was soon rewarded by a goal when a low cross was fired into the roof of the net by Cash. 

After a couple of glaring chances being missed Leatherhead then became guilty of overplaying it somewhat and invited Harrow into the game.  Their goal came from losing the ball in midfield while attempting a disguised reverse pass which was cut out and allowed them to counter attack.  The cross could have been dealt with but it somehow evaded our centre-back and was headed in.

From then on Harrow dominated, striking the post but failing to score to send us into the half at 1-1.

Second half and Leatherhead started in the same manner as the first.  This time scoring even earlier into the game on just 47 seconds.  Theobolds danced his way into the box and fired past the diving ‘keeper.  2-1.

Unlike the first half Leatherhead did not let off the pressure and we must have missed three golden chances to give us the two goal cushion we needed to be safe.  Adam Cash perhaps the most guilty with a blast over a seemingly open goal and striking the post.

Then sucker punch.  Playing it from the back is commendable but can be high risk as we found giving the ball away from our own goal kick, deep in our half.  We did repel the first attack but not the second.  It seemed a little fortuitous as the shot was going well wide but an instinctive strike prodded the ball back on target.

2-2 and while we pressed for a winner no goal game.  Disappointing and now we must re-group for the trip to Woking… which is only 0.9 miles from the station. Apparently.

 

Harrow are coming

Tomorrow is a massive game.  Harrow sit one point above the relegation zone and just three points behind us.  They are looking for the double over us after a 3-1 win at their place earlier this season, where we seemed in control for the first half and then got overrun in the second.  What is more they have Marc Charles-Smith who simply cannot help himself from scoring against us.

The second of nine January games (that is currently more games than in February and March combined) kicks off at 3pm.  See you there.

 

Merstham 0 - 0 Tanners

This game was rather like an episode of "Escape to the Country" in Shropshire.....dull and inconclusive but passed the time harmlessly enough. It was our first scoreless draw of the season but it was enough to maintain our undefeated run in 2017.

The glory of the FA Cup 1st Round must seem a lifetime ago to a struggling small club like Merstham. The £50k they received from BT Sport wasn't evident today as it still costs £12 to get in and they seem to have run out of mugs for the tea.

The highlight of an uneventful 1st half was an argument between the petulant Bird and our left back who appeared ruffle Bird's feathers. Bird almost took a peck at him and made himself look a bit of a tit.

The highlight of an uneventful 2nd half was a pathetic attempt by the match announcer to pronounce the name of our latest addition; Nana Emeka Boakye-Yiadom. He gave up after the first two words and slunk down shamefully from the chair he insists on standing upon.

Our defence has improved considerably with the recent signings, but we now seem a little toothless going forward. Merstham pressed on and looked the more likely to score going very close on a couple of occasions. We defended resolutely to earn a point giving us 4 points from the 3 festive games. The players look weary after 2 games in 3 days but will need to rejuvenate themselves quickly for an important home fixture with Harrow Borough on Saturday.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead start 2017 travelling to Merstham, a side that ruddy love to beat us and always up their game.

We need to up ours from the trip away to Harlow, where a win could have set us in the top half of the table.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Harlow 2 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead saw out 2016 with a whimper today. For whatever the reason we weren't quite at the races. 

We created very few chances and Harlow were deserved winners. Cash scored with a fine shot when he cut in from the wing on 30 minutes but it was very much against the run of play. There wasn't much improvement in the 2nd half and it seemed inevitable that Harlow would score at least twice to take all 3 points.

2016 saw a lot of changes. It was the year of Ashdexit and Sandmexit. Rod and Dickie left office after years of service for the club. Brades took over as Chairman and Jimmy Bullard created plenty of interest when he took over as Manager. 

We have seen some encouraging signs and improved attendances in recent weeks. We can be optimistic for continued progress in 2017. So onto Merstham on Monday 2nd January. We will go into that fixture undefeated in the calendar year.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead make a trip to mid table Harlow tomorrow and I can't decide if it's a new ground. We did play them in a pre-season friendly (which I went to) but don't know if that predates the stadium's opening of 2006.

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

Tanners 2 - 1 (same old) Met Police

We know what to expect from Met Police. They have always been a dirty and unpleasant team. It was a surprise today that their 'keeper was an unassuming and pleasant sort of chap. He's at the wrong club.

Met Police delighted us with their early season form. They were rubbish and looked a certainty for the drop. Unfortunately, they have turned it around in recent weeks and won 6 straight games. The Met Police Assistant Commissioner must have turned the police lottery tap back on.

Leatherhead are also a different proposition to a few weeks ago. We play quick passing football with skilful players happy to look after the ball. That's exactly what we did in the 1st half creating few clear chances against a well drilled (shouted at) Met Police side. A bumper crowd in excess of 350 reflected the new buzz around Fetcham Grove. The crowd was also swelled by three or four Met Police followers, and the welcome return of Rod.

The 2nd half bought our just reward with a superb cross converted by a fine header from Mohammed Sagaf. We were comfortable at 1-0 until the referee (who had been inconsistent throughout and a bit of a prat) awarded the softest penalty since wise men took presents to Bethlehem. The penalty was converted and it seemed more of an injustice than the treatment of Paul Gambacchini.

Fear not said Jimmy although mighty dread had seized our troubled minds. In the 87th minute we scrambled in the goalmouth and Rian Bray gently lobbed the ball into the net.
This lead to scenes of great joy and goodwill to all men. Well all those that support Leatherhead anyway! 

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas from all of us here at The Lip!

May your turkey be on your plate and not flapping at a cross in the 89th minute.

Met Police are coming

Shhhh.  Don’t tell anyone at the club but it appears they have forgotten to rearrange this fixture for 8am or something.  That means for most of us we can go to the game at the normal time and see two sides in fine form.  Never mind us being 4^th in the form table, Met Police are top over 6 games.  Perhaps lottery funding and overtime have been put back into place…

Leatherhead’s Boxing Day clash could therefore prove to be a true classic.  Kick off at 3pm.  Yes, 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

 

Tanners 2 - 1 Enfield Town

If the season was just six games old the currently form guide puts us in 4^th place, as this impressive win perhaps signals a corner has been turned.

Leatherhead’s opening 25 minutes was impressive.  Every pass seemed to be done with menace and Enfield were clearly not ready for this.  If Leatherhead had not taken advantage of this then the result may have been different but as it was Sagaf was pounced to put us 1-0 up.  A through ball found both him and Mendy who appeared to compete to score but Sagaf was better placed and passed it into the bottom right corner.

Enfield Town did eventually come round to the idea that Leatherhead were not going to roll over easily so started to play their way back into the game although gave their travelling supporters little to cheer about for the remainder of the first half.

Leatherhead started the second half well too.  From a period of pressure we won a corner and our second goal.  The ball was swung in an I can only imagine their ‘keeper shouted to mark Mendy; in that moments of hesitation of the defender questioning whether that was Mendy with an E or a Y he beat his man and scored with a glancing header.

Two nil up and this puts Leatherhead on shaky ground.  The game always appear finely balanced between control and all out panic and it only takes one goal to shift it firmly into self-destruct and so it nearly happened.  Enfield grabbed their goal and if it were not for Wells this game may have slipped through our fingers.  Certainly when a save was made but leaving the ball sat on the goal line we feared the worse but somehow we cleared.

A fantastic win and Jimmy insisted on making the team walk off together to receive the cheers of the home support.  Let’s hope for more of the same with the visit of Met Police over the festive fixture season…

 

Enfield Town are coming

After the much needed win against Hendon, Leatherhead host Enfield Town tomorrow in what will be a very different proposition.  While they have drawn their last three games, they sit in eighth place and they didn’t get there by accident.

The club is offering half price entry (with proof of a re-tweet) for adults and under 16s are free.  This is then followed by “An evening with Jimmy and Razor”; where you can pay £25 to hear your own manager speak, banter and no doubt something a bit blue.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

Hendon 1 - 3 Tanners

The few who made the game feared this was not going to be a fruitful trip with the departure of so many key players, Ricketts being the one that caused the eyebrows to raise the most.  However, Mendes was at hand with a debut that rivalled that of Glenn Boosey’s.

Another factor that worried me was the pitch.  It was a 3G one, seemed to have more pellets on that I remember seeing elsewhere, and we had already tasted defeat away at Worthing on a similar surface.  I need not have worried as it suited our new players perfectly.  With an even surface they were unplayable with the ball at their feet and it was from a confident run across the box Mendes opened his account.  The defenders seemed reluctant to get close and his powerful shot; low and into the corner; beat the ‘keeper.

A phrase we have heard recently is to “look after the ball”, and Hendon were poor at it.  All too often a Hendon defender would chase a ball but without being fully aware or committed and a determined Leatherhead player would beat them to it.  It was from such a move that Mo Sagaf scored, stealing the ball and running at goal at a tight angle.  The angle was such we felt it there could have been a better option but he slid it under the ‘keeper to prove us wrong.

Two nil at half and time to enjoy the facilities.  When I saw they didn’t have a dedicated tea bar I feared the worst but it turned out to be something of a highlight.  Polite service, reasonably priced and a soup that enters my top three in terms of football sustenance (a hotpot pie at Marine still up there).

On to the second half and it was a pretty open game with the ref happen to let things go and wave play on all over the place.  Hendon should have perhaps had a penalty due to some extreme shirt pulling but he let it go.  There was a little scuffle which could have seen two yellow cards, but he let it go.  Mendes lobs the goalkeeper after being blown up for being offside in the 90^th minute and got the first and only yellow and was called “stupid” by the ref too as he had worked so hard to avoid paperwork.

Before his fall from grace he scored a wonder goal.  A poor clearance saw the ball bounce in the box and sit up just above knee height and he latched onto it and it flew in off the inside of the bar.

Hendon did get one back to ruin Wells’ clean sheet bonus, which was a shame as he had pulled off a fantastic point blank save to send the ball high into the air.  A Hendon player was at hand to head it home but at the cost of Joe Howe who was trying to clear.  He went off injured which is unlucky considering he had only come on that half to replace Jerry.

A wonderful three points but a very different challenge on Saturday with the visit of Enfield Town.

Travelling Tanners

Christmas comes early for me this year as the gift of a new ground presents itself with a trip to Hendon on Saturday.  No more ground sharing with Harrow for them.

Life in their new ground hasn’t been easy, although three points easier than our season.  A win would take us above them on goal difference though as we look nervously over our shoulder at the relegation zone.

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

Needham Market 2 - 1 Tanners

I didn’t go to this game as I had made the long trip only to see a dominate second half performance thwarted by both the conditions and a failure to take their chances… and so history repeated itself.

We did at least score; Akindayindi pouncing on a poor clearance to take the lead on just 19 minutes.  A surging Needham run and powerful shot cancelled out that lead just three minutes later and a stunning free kick put us behind five more minutes after that.

Again we were strong in the second half but no end result other than for the substitute, Richard Seixas, to pick up two yellow cards.

NEW GROUND KLAXON for Saturday as we travel to Hendon…

Travelling Tanners

If Needham Market treat us as we treated our hosts in the week they will call this off at about 1.30: leaving us in limbo and potentially on the road.  I'd doubt they'd be that stupid to sit on pitch inspection results for an hour though...

They like to get a game on though.  Last year we arrived to see a freshly ploughed cabbage patch and we struggled with the conditions.

Needham Market continue to sit in the play-offs despite us grabbing an equaliser the last time we met.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Staines 2 - 5 Tanners

A superb attacking display stunned a Staines side who had scored 9 in their last 2 league games without reply.

Staines think they are more special than most by charging £12 to get in. They must have forgotten they are no longer in the Conference South. Their supporters haven't forgotten though as most of them decided to stay at home and watch the champions league.

The game started normally enough with not much between the sides. Then on 23' the Staines keeper decided to kick the ball to Adam who cashed in by passing to Akindayindi who scored at the 2nd attempt.

Then a great strike by Kadell Daniel saw us take a 2-0 lead. The goal was reminiscent of Vas who is on loan at Dulwich which is why we they loaned us Kadell.

Leatherhead were now on a rampage good enough to make Attila the Hun envious. It wasn't long before Akindayindi made it 3-0 on 39'. However, we were soon brought back down to earth by our nemesis. Another goal conceded by a breakaway from our own corner. Jimmy is considering a new tactic.....should we kick our corners straight out for a goal kick? Never mind it was half time and we were 3-1 up.

To be fair for the first 30' of the 2nd half Staines were all over us and scored on 56' and went very close on numerous other occasions. Somehow we weathered the storm and in a rare attack Theobalds came to our rescue on 77' to give us a 4-2 lead and calm the nerves. Daniel scored again on 87' to finish off a remarkable 5-2 victory.

The league table is starting to look a bit more healthy so Folkestone won't be quite so keen to visit us next Wednesday.

Tanners 1 - 3 Bognor Regis

As it was the last full day of my in-laws visit my son opted to spend time with them rather than watch the game.  “Did we win?” was the first thing he asked when I returned home with a face as hopeful and naïve as our approach to the game.  “Of course not Peter, we conceded three easy goals as we do nearly every week”, was my inevitable reply.

Let’s not dismiss Leatherhead completely, we are an attacking side with Daniel and Cash looking the most likely to create.  It is a pity that the most likely to score, Akindayini, is returning to his old club as with the loss of Bradbrook we will start to look light upfront.

The goal we conceded was a classic sucker punch from my most hated of routines; the short corner.  On this occasion the ball in did threaten but all too often we fail to take advantage of the free pass into the box and lose possession.  What the short corner always does is commit another player into the attack, so when the ‘keeper caught the ball from the left he could throw into the path of a now attacking player down the right.  The basketball equivalent of a fast break was on and with a low cross and a deft flick it was one nil before most of our players had a chance to get into our own half.

We did start the second half well, which created some excitement but soon the more experienced Bognor appeared to have it back under control.  The introduction of Rash Kamara made a huge difference to our attacking options down the left and he soon found himself on the score sheet.  His run on the edge of the box until he had room to shoot, beat the ‘keeper.  His celebration was a thing of wonder, taking all the hi-fives and hugs the referee would allow.

The ref then decided to play (or not play) a part in the game for us.  Momentum had firmly swung in our favour and we were soon on the attack again.  A clever ball put Kamara in with only a Bognor player between him and the ball.  He feigned to go on the inside but then switched to the outside, the marking player did not anticipate this and lunged hopefully for the ball but caught Kamara in the box.  Now it was blatant enough but there were two further clues for the ref to react.  Firstly the marking player was wearing the number 9 shirt, therefore the most likely to mistime a tackle.  Secondly, this player suddenly seemed injured.  The ref bottled it and also went onto not see a shot blocked with an arm, claiming it was a chest.

Even without the penalties we should have had enough about us to close in on at least a point… but that would completely ignore how we have played this season.

First of all we over committed on an attack and gave the ball away in midfield with no one in place to cover the attack down the right.  The low short was powerfully smashed into the back of the net.  The third goal, bloody hell.

 

Playing from the back in commendable.  Some of the best performances I have seen Leatherhead play is when we build with confidence from the back but confidence is something we lack.  There surely should come a time when panicked pass after another should be met with a good old fashioned “get rid” but no, we shuffled back until we practically passed it into our net.  I would have had more respect for Leatherhead if Jerry had just smacked it into the top corner so we had something to marvel at rather than watch our poor ‘keeper be placed under so much pressure he fumbled the ball into his own net.

Before the game I sat with some travelling supporters as they discussed their hopes for the season.  I told them if they didn’t score three against us they may as well forget their title chances.  Their hopes are still alive while we go into Tuesday's game in need of a miracle.  

Bognor Regis are coming

Tomorrow the level of opposition increases considerably from the mid-week opponents of Molesey (of which we struggled), with the visit of second place Bognor Regis.

Our visitors sit in second place with an impressive goal difference of 16, the second highest in the league.  With our goal difference of -6 I hope we have worked on our defence.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there.

 

Molesey 0 - 1 Tanners

Scruffy, scrappy, and messy but at last Leatherhead become the knocker, and not the knockee, in a knock-out competition. And there was more good news… there was no sign of Chuck Martini.

A strong Leatherhead side was sent into battle and we hoped for a comfortable win but this was far from comfortable.  Molesey battled the whole way through and had the best of the chances but were profligate in front of goal.

A dull, drab, dank, dreary, disappointing, first half ended goalless and almost ball less as all the match balls ended up in the surrounding new build houses. Jimmy screamed "look after the ball" but his words went unheeded.

The only goal of the game was a header from Mo Sagaf early in the 2nd half. Molesey then deliberately had a player sent off to try and make us panic. It worked. We did indeed panic. Jimmy urged everyone to calm down. No one did. Luckily it didn't matter as Molesey spurned their chances to equalise.

We march on triumphantly into the draw for the last 16. Ties are due to be played early January.

 

Travelling Tanners

The best kept secret in Surrey football.  Leatherhead travel to Molesey in the next round of the Surrey Senior Cup on Tuesday night.  After a weekend of playing with ourselves who knows what side will be put out in this cup game.  A chance to rest players ready for the next friendly?

We have not played our hosts for about three years, where we beat them 1-0 in the same competition.

If you’ve forgotten the way to Molesey you can find directions here.  Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas!

 

Leatherhead 3 - 1 Lowestoft

Leatherhead got a much needed win before entering a two week pre-winter break thanks to a new look team.  Overall this management lark seems easy; simply find a player who has experience of playing six leagues above…

What was been heralded on the message board was the arrival of Ricketts.  I took a seat on the halfway line for this one and he controlled the game for us.  Constantly telling his team mates to slow it down and where to pass while making telling contributions of his own.  The most telling was to set up the equaliser for new boy Akindayini, a cute through ball for him to run onto and smash pass the ‘keeper.

Before that it looked all too familiar for Leatherhead though.  After just a few minutes we found ourselves hemmed in and failed to deal with a low cross in the box and it was prodded home from close range.

I appreciate I have described the goals in reverse order there but that sets the tone for the rest of the report.  How often have I had to praise first half performances to then go ballistic over the second half “effort”?  Not this game though.

There were times though it felt like the win was not going to come.  First of all we appeared to have a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside.  A pass found Daniels (I think) who passed backwards to Ricketts (I think) who buried the shot.  The lino only then put up his flag; the ref had a lengthy chat and ruled it out for offside.

The ref knew it was a dodgy decision so promptly awarded us a soft penalty.  Now here is where Lowestoft exposed the ref’s lack of control.  Two players stood in the area and questioned where the ball was placed for quite some time.  The ref allowed this to happen and the pressure on Akindayini grew and told as he dispatched a tame spot kick.  The cheating and smug laughing from the visiting supporters sat near me angered the footballing gods and the game swung dramatically in our favour…

No one will know what was going through the Lowestoft’s defender’s mind as the ball was heading out for a goal kick at waste height but something told him to try and catch it… just inside the area.  The ref, almost apologetically, awarded a second penalty which was put away with ease this time by Ricketts.

The silly penalty was a cruel blow for Lowestoft but it was the turn of the Leatherhead fans to laugh smugly when a Smith free kick took a wicked deflection and wrong footed their ‘keeper.

3-1 it ended and the players rewarded the fans by walking straight off to take their applause rather than making us wait while they jog around.

So that is it for two weeks, although there rumours of friendlies...

 

Lowestoft are coming

Today we welcome Lowestoft Town to the Grove, and according to my records this is the first time we have played in a long while.  The chance to play Lowestoft was simply too much for some players, with Sole, Tomi and Charlie (who?) all leaving with some players coming on board in return.

The club will be showing the early FA Cup game featuring our local rivals Merstham if you want to get to the club house early.  There is (strangely) a happy hour for the Chelsea v Everton game and not the FA Cup fixture…

Kick off at 3pm.  See you (and my father-in-law) there!

 

Farewell Kev Terry

The next match for Dorking Wanderers is a league game this Saturday at South Park, in what will be Kev Terry’s final game for Dorking Wanderers as he is moving to Australia having played over 600 matches between Leatherhead Football Club and Dorking Wanderers.

The club will be making a presentation to Kevin after the game, so if any Levred fan fancies a break from the Lowestoft game you are welcome to attend.  If not you can wish him luck via twitter (@trevterry7).

 

Tanners 4 - 3 Forest Green

While sparsely attended, the game proved to be quite entertaining with several boxes ticked.  Win, tick.  Goals throughout the team, tick.  Three goals conceded, tick.

It took a while for Leatherhead to get comfortable with the situation.  Forest Green looked the more likely to open the scoring while we lamented the loss of precious Xbox time. 

Shortly after both sides went close we got our goal.  The new boy from Dulwich receiving the ball at the top of the box and made room to fire into the bottom left hand corner.  Calum made it 2-0 after pouncing on a spilt catch from the ‘keeper.

Two nil up at half time… we’ve been here before.

Forest Green came out determined to put on a show for their two Godalming based supporters who had made the trip.  Their first goal coming from a powerful drive down the right and a low shot into the corner.  The second from a deflected shot that flew up into the air but their player responded first and headed into an empty net.

What was so fantastic about this situation was that, due to low key celebrations, a number of fans had missed one or both the goals so there was varying degrees of happiness as they thought it was 2-0, 2-1 or 2-2.

Shortly after we ironed out the actual score line the visitors were awarded a penalty which was put away to keep our batting average in check.  To be fair these three goals came after Jimmy had made a triple substitution.

Then the fight back.  First Tomi burst into the box and was rewarded with a deflection assisted goal.  Then it was our turn to take a penalty as our player was brought down in the box.  Although the ref was also treating this like a friendly and making some experimental decisions as it looked a bit soft to me.  Sole stepped up to send the 38 people in attendance wild.

On to Lowestoft then, which looks to be ruined by a visit of my mother and father in law…

 

Forest Green are coming

Top Conference side come to the Grove tonight in a hastily arranged friendly to try and get back to winning ways.  As said earlier, if mid-week games were not such of an issue for the Merstham cup tie then perhaps this one would not be needed.

If you are a season ticket holder (or above) the game is free, if not it is just £4.  Kick off at the earlier time of 7.30.

 

Leatherhead 2 - 3 Chesham

So another knock-out competition comes and goes as we lose at home on the first time of asking while conceding the statutory minimum three goals.  It begs the question, why change a “winning” team.  With a league win under our belts last Saturday, why not run out the same team Wednesday?  Why rest them only to lose again on Saturday when there is no game midweek?

Leatherhead got off to a bad start, conceding early to Pearce and putting us on the back foot.  While a free kick from Smith made it interesting it was not long before Pearce regained their lead.

Going into half time at 2-1 down, one could hope for some organisation to be instilled into the team but alas no.  Just eight minutes into the second half we concede again.  A powerful header from Bradbrook did make it interesting but with three goals conceded the most we could hope for was a draw.  The third goal didn’t come and we crash out or two cups in a week.

Lowestoft at the weekend then…

 

Chesham are coming

I'm too jet lagged for this one. I'm tired, disorientated... you write the punchline...
Today we welcome Chesham in the Trophy. Kick off at 3pm. Try not to lose a cup game fellas!

Merstham 4 - 3 Leatherhead

The 1st Team have been doing so well lately in the league that half of them were rewarded with the night off. We don't need the match practice after all and so they had a night in with a take away and watched the Liverpool V Spurs game.

It would only seem fair to similarly reward the U21s who played tonight with a rest and let the U18s have a run out in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Merstham have decided they are in the big time now and felt that £12 was an appropriate admission fee. I can only assume that the most expensive entrance fee in the league must include keeping the souvenir mug into which my soup was poured.

Anyway, we took an early lead through Sole while Merstham pondered whether it was worth putting a tackle in with the Oxford game just 10 days away. Eventually they decided enough was enough so stretched their legs and scored a couple of goals to go into half time 2-1 up.

Merstham gave the impression throughout that they would be able to do just enough to win this one but they didn't expect 2 quick goals from the visitors. A Sole free kick on 50 mins was deflected into the net to draw us level at 2-2, and then Cobban scored a great goal on 55 mins to give us a surprising lead 3-2.

Merstham don't like losing to Leatherhead and stepped up a gear. Goals on 75 and 88 minutes gave them a 4-3 win and we march on to see play Chesham in the FA Trophy on Saturday hoping to concede less than 3 goals.

Grays 1 -2 Tanners

The Ryman League have made a mistake. This win was surely worth 9 points at least.

It wasn't entirely convincing though. Grays were onto their 3rd goalkeeper of the afternoon and down to 10 men but we were still more nervous than a prostitute in church whilst trying to hold onto a 2-1 lead.

An uneven meadow was not what Jimmy wanted to showcase his protege's passing skills when he ventured into Essex in his white Range Rover but that is exactly what he got.

The travelling hordes of around 10 Levred supporters were scratching their heads to arrive and see Bradbrook, Sol and Mahal on the bench but we just muttered to ourselves about it. None of us could claim to be worth £55,000 a week to play football, no one is capable of playing golf to scratch, and no one has fished for England. Anyway it's not like we were changing a wining side.

A scrappy encounter ensued with the deadlock broken by a well taken free kick by the new boy Ty Smith. Towards the end of the 1st half the Grays keeper went off injured to replaced by what seemed to be a genuine reserve keeper rather than an outfielder. Then, just before half time Grays equalised.

Soon after the re-start a scrappy goal by Kamara saw us take a 2-1 lead. The replacement keeper didn't last too long after that and was sent off for handling the ball outside the box. This sent us into a state of mild panic. The pressure of not beating the bottom side with 10 men and a 3rd choice goalkeeper was almost to much to bear. 

Somehow we held out for the 9 points and go into a League Cup and FA Trophy mid winter break. We sit comfortably outside the relegation zone by one point but having played 38 games more than anyone else.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead face Grays Athletic today in what is a massive game. The team with the least amount of points host the team who have played the most games.

Leatherhead dominated the home tie at the start of the season but let it slip. If Leatherhead are to survive this season they can't do that again tomorrow.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Worthing 3 - 2 Tanners

For the neutral this would have been a cracking game.  End to end football played at pace with some fantastic saves and missed chances.

Leatherhead are not making life easy for themselves.  In the opening few minutes it was clear we had not familiarized ourselves with the new artificial surroundings and Worthing tore into us.  A silly free kick was conceded on the edge of the box and they scored from the resulting free kick.  From the view behind the other goal there were some of us who felt they had time to run to the other end and save the looping shot so were puzzled how it beat our returning ‘keeper.

The attacks kept on coming and soon Worthing had doubled their lead.  We failed to deal with an attack down the left and the powerful shot beat the ‘keeper as the ball flew in off of the far post.

Leatherhead did manage to get one back.  A lofted ball into Bradbrook and a deft header sent the ball goal bound.  Normally this would have been saved with ease, but their ‘keeper decided to impersonate a chicken and came out flapping.  The ball trickled in and we had hope at half time.

This hope did not last long.  Jerry fizzed a cross in and Bradbrook tried to adjust his body to get his head on the low ball but his effort flew over the bar from about three yards out.  From the resulting goal kick the ball went down the other end; we won possession and then needlessly gave the ball away to their powerful striker who evaded three tackles before curling a shot into the top right corner.

Then Godman went into beast mode and showed why he was brought back to as our ‘keeper.  He pulled off a string of fantastic saves to prevent the score line becoming embarrassing, but questions need to be asked as to why he was forced into so many saves.

The ‘keeper came to our assistance one more time.  He delayed a clearance which allowed Bradbrook time to chase the ‘keeper down and make a block which fell kindly to Sole.  With an open goal he curled the ball into the side netting.  For Leatherhead to get an unlikely draw we needed their ‘keeper to concede the perfect hat trick and let it go through his legs or something but it didn’t come.

So another game played (we have played the most in the league) and another disappointing result.  On to Grays, which is now classified as a “12 pointer”; at least.

 

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead will have mixed feelings about the weekend.  A draw would have been snapped up at the start of the game but after building a 2-0 lead there will be disappointment in the ranks.

With that comes a midweek trip to the south coast and a visit to our old friends Worthing.  They are mid-table with five more points BUT have a two games in hand and slightly better goal difference.

Kick off at 7.45.  Directions can be found here.  See you there (I think)!

 

Dulwich Hamlet are coming

Leatherhead host our old friends Dulwich Hamlet today. While the club sit just outside the playoff places, their home support is breaking records every week it seems. If just 10% of their support travel then it will be a good gate for Leatherhead.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.