FA Cup draw

It's a tough one.  We are away to Chelmsford City of the Blue Square South.

Game to be played on 22 September.

Leatherhead 3 - 1 Tooting

Much improved second half performance saw us deservedly win. First half Tooting were the better side with Greg doing what he does best by scoring spectacular goals to temporarily put us in front.

After the break we closed them down much higher up the pitch and Simmons and Charlie Holness got much better possession and we started to play and create chances and should have been in front before the first penalty. Leatherhead went on to earn a second penalty as their player dragged Jerry down as he ran for the corner.

So Tooting's miserable start to the season continues while we can look forward to the draw Monday lunch time...

(via mitch)

FA Cup Day

Whispers of the satchel have come out again.  A throw back to happy times when coach trips to Abingdon were joyous occasions.

Tomorrow we host Tooting & Mitcham, a side that is still finding its feet in the league but on their day could easily inflict a similar scoreline on us as we did to them just a few weeks ago.

Leatherhead stuttered a little bit last week but hopefully that is because we had one eye on this game as progressing in the cup is a prize worth winning.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Tanners 0 - 1 Chipstead

After a bright start and a spell of pressure from corners Leatherhead conceded a goal against the run of play and went on to lose.

From that point Leatherhead's grip on the game evaporated. It was so bad at one point I could hear "step it up Levred" from Bali.

A disappointing result and performance there.

Chipstead are coming

Today we welcome Chipstead to the Grove.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Tanners 3 -0 Horley Town

A professional job done on our Combined Counties League opponents, who barely registered a meaningful shot as goals from Tommy Hutchings, Charlie Holness and Greg Andrews saw us comfortably through to a home tie against Tooting & Mitcham a week Saturday.

Leatherhead controlled the game from the start and despite a bit of wayward finishing at times, still had far too much for Horley with our defence looking supremely confident all game.

(via levredmoler)

FA Cup replay

As if you need reminding. Tonight we host Horley Town in the FA Cup after drawing 1-1 at the weekend.

Kick off 7.45. Good luck fellas.

Horley Town 1-1 Tanners

A replay is on the cards after a disappointing second half display.

Despite taking the lead from a Coyle header Leatherhead were pegged back by allowing their striker a bit too much space.

We try again on Wednesday.

Travelling Tanners

FA Cup day.  Brilliant stuff.  Almost takes a shine off of my first day in Bali but I will try and fight back the tears.  I just hope we are in the cup long enough for my return.

Tomorrow we go to Horley Town and Leatherhead should be clued up on the opposition after beating them 4-1 in a pre-season friendly.  Then again they are clued up on us to.

Horley picked up their first 3 points of the season away at Wembley FC, a side that is taking the FA Cup seriously by recruiting the likes of Le Saux and Parlour for these games who were absent for this league clash.

Directions to The New Defence can be found here.  Kick of at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Tooting & Mitcham 0 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead get back to their pre-season rhythm scoring three goals from Andrews, Bradbrook and Holness while keeping a clean sheet in the process.  The drama appeared to unfold after the Tooting 'keeper picked up a red card and two quick goals finished them off.

This (albeit early in the season) elevates Leatherhead to third behind Crawley Down Gatwick and Dulwich.

With the first away win under the belt there is just the small matter of the FA Cup to look forward to on Saturday...

Travelling Tanners

The first away trip and we go to a familiar ground to us with a visit to Tooting & Mitcham.

Both clubs got off to winning ways and "enjoyed" a 1-0 scoreline.  Lets hope it is The Tanners who go on to enjoying winning tonight.

Directions can be found here (which is a pdf document) and a 7.45 kick-off.  I am still in Singapore so good luck fellas!

Tanners 1 - 0 Whitstable

Perhaps it was the heat or now playing a side set out to get a point or even the players feeling their shirts were suddenly worth half as much but Leatherhead struggled to put on the kind of high scoring show they did during preseason.

However Tom Bradbrook was at hand to grab the winner in the second half to get us a points tally we waiting until almost October to achieve last year.

No time to dwell on that though.  Its only Tooting and Mitcham away on Tuesday!

Whitstable Town are coming...

Tomorrow we welcome The Oystermen to the Grove in the first game in the 2012/13 season.  A season where we hope to bounce straight back up.  We certainly have the players to do it so here is to a successful season.

Our visitor's manager meanwhile has mentioned in their local press he'd like more time with his players and feels a little under prepared.  Gamesmanship before the opening of the season?  Lets see...

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

What are the odds..?

If the odds are anything to go by Leatherhead will finish in the play-off places.  Here are a run down of some of the odds in our league...

Maidstone.  New ground and favourites to win the league. 11/4
Dulwich. Always the bridesmaid. 6/1
Folkestone. Always likely to be there or there abouts. 8/1
Leatherhead. Few clean sheets in pre-season but have some strikeforce. 10/1
Horsham. Took a battering last season. 12/1
Tooting & Mitcham. Another "nearly" season? 14/1
Herne Bay and Hythe.  New boys. 16/1
Sittingbourne. Didn't they used to be good once? 40/1

Tanners 0 - 1 Welling United

A stunning first half strike from our visitors was the difference between the two sides.  Leatherhead therefore end their pre-season with a loss but a good performance to take us into the season.

Next up we host Whitstable for the opening game of the season on Saturday at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Welling United Are Coming

Don't forget today we welcome our Blue Square friends Welling United today at the Grove for a friendly.

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas.

Tanners 2 - 0 Carshalton

Leatherhead's pre-season stepped up a notch with an impressive 2-0 win over higher placed opposition.

Next up is a visit from Welling United while Reserves enjoy trip to Northwood (apparently) on Saturday for a 3pm kick off.

Tanners 5 - 0 Guildford City

A clean sheet and a wake up call to the new boys to this level as the Tanners beat Guildford City 5-0 in our first friendly back at The Grove.

The usual suspects and a couple more chip in with Bradbrook, Nnamani, Hutchings, Andrews and Graham getting the goals.

Next up Carshalton Athletic come to The Grove on Tuesday night.

Bognor 1 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead inability to keep a clean sheet goes on but a draw was earnt on the road on Wednesday.  Given the distance it seems no one went to post who scored.

Meanwhile we welcome my local team Guildford City after two impressive seasons in the Combined Counties.  Make sure you make their travelling fans "The Sweeney" welcome on Sunday!

Bognor Regis Away

This is getting silly now.  Bognor Regis away for a friendly tonight as we continue to score goals on build up for the season.  Kick off at 7.45pm.

The reason for the number of away games becomes clear with the cancellation of Cray at home Saturday.  The pitch has been worked on and isn't quite ready to be played on.  It needs just a few more days to ready for the visit of Carshalton Athletic on Tuesday.