Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead aim to bounce back from their disappointing defeat with a win against Westfield today. No doubt there'll be an extra incentive for the home side to win, with the return of their ex- manager.

Westfield are unbeaten so far this season with an opening draw against Rayners Lane and a 4-3 win over Uxbridge. Including the FA Cup, they've scored 9 goals this season… and they're a bogey team… gulp…

Kick off at 12.30. Good luck fellas!

Tanners 2 - 3 Hartley Wintney

I had a strange premonition while queuing for my chips, that this was not going to be a great game and despite a late rally the vinegar didn't lie.

The first half was a complete shambles and we were bossed around for almost all of it.  It did look like we had managed to score against the run of play when we pumped the ball to the far post where our player held off the defender and keeper to turn the ball across goal for it to be headed in from close range.  The ref saw something and blew for a foul.

Then it all went south, fast.  A free kick was sent in and a free header made it 1-0.  Soon after we save a shot but were not alive to the rebound and it was deftly curled into the top left hand corner.  2-0.  

Finally a long ball looked to be well marshalled by our defender until he was barged off of the ball.  The ref had been quick to protect the visitors players for such a challenge, but let this one go and it was fired in from range.

Half time and the best entertainment came in the form of Escape to the Country.  The couple appeared to have bucked the usual trend and chosen one of their first houses they'd seen.  If Property One could hold off the challenge of The Mystery House, could we come back from 3-0 down...?

We certainly looked more positive and just on the hour we pulled one back.  A powerful header from a corner flew past the 'keeper who was getting dog's abuse for not commanding his area better from his own defenders.

Then on 82 minutes a low cross was tapped in to make it 2-3 and interesting.  Seven minutes of additional time was added and hopes were raised.

The equaliser could have come from two headers.  One was denied by brave defending and the other scuffed wide.  

Disappointing.  Probably more disappointing than being drawn away to Dulwich Hamlet in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup which is played next week...

Hartley Wintney are coming!

Storm Lilian has made her presence felt this morning with some heavy rain.  I hope not enough to spoil our return to the Grove for the first time this season.

Our guests got off to the perfect start in the league, beating Guernsey, but lost to Larkhall Athletic in the FA Cup.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Sevenoaks Town 0 - 2 Tanners

Perhaps the weight of expectation of playing with gold number proved too much for our hosts, as Leatherhead make it safely through to the next round.  It took 10 minues or so to settle but once we did, we restricted Sevenoaks Town to just a couple of chances while building up a comfortable lead.

 

I came into this game thinking I would be happy with a draw and the opening 10 minutes did little to persuade me otherwise but soon after the game was made safe with two quick fires goals. 

 

Date opened the scoring on 18 minutes when he bounced on a cross fired low into the box for a simple tap in.  We were perhaps a little fortunate here as the ref, who failed to count out ten yards properly also failed to see an obvious handball in the build up.

 

Just two minutes later we doubled our lead when Haigh stormed into the right side of the box.  Despite being pulled back by his arm by the defender (ref missed it) he managed to fire a powerful shot into the top left corner.  2-0.

 

Sevenoaks hit the bar twice in quick succession in the second half, but that was really all I saw from them.  We thought we had won a penalty but our player was booked for diving.  Overall, the half showed how we could control the game and hold onto a 2-0 lead.

 

Onto Monday and the draw then…

Travelling Tanners

The dream of an FA Cup run starts today with a trip to Sevenoaks. For some the New Ground Klaxon will be sounding, but I remember going there for a hastily arranged friendly a few years back.

Our hosts play at the same level in the Isthmian South East League and got a win on their opening fixture, against Burgess Hill.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Southall 1 - 1 Tanners

Tanners walk away from Southall with a credible draw with Leatherhead and Southall having their share of missed opportunities.  Leatherhead dominated in the first half with Southall showing a strong resurgence in the second.

 

On 30 minutes, Leatherhead's Deondre Date finishes off a swift breakaway move with a precise close-range shot to put Tanners ahead.  Dreams of the perfect start to the season faded when Southall capitalised on a powerful run by their striker to score the equalizer from close range.

 

Southall had several chances to secure the win in the dying minutes but failed to convert.  Relief and onto the FA Cup… 

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead make their way to Burnham for a tricky start to the season.

Our hosts finished only three points behind us last season and were our opening opponents in the playoffs. Too early for a six pointer?

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Tanners 4 - 1 Crystal Palace

Leatherhead put on an entertaining display to run out 4-1 against our "Premier League" opponents.  For a while, the visiting manager must have been quite satisfied with the lesson his young players were learning while playing against more experienced players but surely the scoreline must have taken a lot away from any warm glow he was feeling.

 

I don't recall our hosts threatening much while we showed a lot of pace and creativity down the wings.  15 minutes in and we took the lead.  A cross was headed into the path of Huckle who was composed enough to allow the ball to bounce and find his spot.  How often would a shot have found the midriff of the 'keeper in the past..?  Despite some good chances (notably where we should have received a penalty for obvious shirt pulling in the box), the half finished 1-0.

 

We were told that Crystal Palace had left most of their best players on the bench for the first half so expected a very different second half… which we got but not from Palace.  Leatherhead went on to score three more.

 

Our second goal came from a low cross on the left and Date tried a deft flick to beat the 'keeper; the ball struck a defender to ensure the deflected shot well and truly beat the 'keeper.  Shortly afterwards a penalty was finally awarded for a foul in the box.  It looked harsh but given the gaff in the first half we took it and put it away calmly.  The fourth goal came from a corner where Palace failed to clear properly and the ball fell to Hedley who volleyed it into the top corner.

 

Palace did pull one back towards the end but the damage was well and truly done.  Not a night for a Leatherhead fan with dual affiliation to chose to where his Palace shirt…

 

Onto Saturday for our first league game and a trip to Southall (Burnham)…

Crystal Palace are coming!

I have been a bit tardy with updates over the summer, due to work commitments and a rather excellent trip to the Olympics, but I am back in time for the final friendly of the season.  It has been a mixed bag in terms of results and tonight is probably more about the occasion than the final score as we welcome Crystal Palace to the Grove tonight.

 

The Palace official site has their next game as being Nantes away, but no doubt a talented bunch of U21s or something will be on show.  We have a new signing upfront to give a run out to, also.

 

Kick off 7.45.  See you there!

Travelling Tanners

You don't win the title in July and friendlies are more about the team getting minutes on the pitch etc. but I cannot help but feel there will be a certain amount of disappointment with the result on Saturday.  Our peers extended their 1-0 halftime lead to 3-0 before we responded with our only goal.

 

A chance to put that right tonight with a trip to another old friend, Corinthian-Casuals.  Having finished last in out league, in the previous season, they now are set to play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South.

 

Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck fellas!

Travelling Tanners

After Leatherhead we beat Hilltop last week 8-0 – I did not think we would get more games than grounds, for this one – we now head towards familiar territory of Merstham.

 

Our old friends have been shuffled over to the Isthmian League South East Division and will provide us with a good test.

 

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

Travelling Tanners

Hilltop must REALLY want to play this game as, by my reckoning, we have had four venues for this. First there was Beaconsfield, Slough Town (although I cannot find this tweet, now) and the Middlesex FA ground (all new for me) and then a last-minute change to Burnham (home also to Slough where we go on the opening game of the season #muggedoff).

 

Leatherhead will look to get back to winning ways after a hard fought draw, in the week…

 

Kick off at 3pm.  Good luck fellas!

Tanners 1 - 1 AFC Croydon Athletic

As we arrived at The Grove, Stormzy's Hide and Seek was playing so I took this to be a sign and searched for the grime star around the ground.  I gave up after looking in the wheelie bins and realised he had no come to see his side.  Onto the game then…  Full disclosure, I did not get a team sheet so I am flying blind a little bit here. 

 

The Dorking Wanderers game was never going to be a fair reflection of how the side is shaping up, but this game would be a good prediction of how we could fair against some of the better sides next year.  AFC Croydon Athletic; a well backed side, playing in claret and blue… practically Farnham in disguise.

 

What was clear form the outset was both sides have prioritised their defence for this game and so it wasn't the most electric affair.  We did look lively down our right-hand side (no 11) and a stocky midfielder (no 4) looked like he could hold his own in the centre.

 

After a first half goal was ruled out for offside, the game looked like a nailed on 0-0 draw until their striker shot from distance.  Our 'keeper might be a little bit disappointed with the goal as he got a hand to it but was perhaps a little slow to react and in it went.

 

Albeit a friendly, a 1-0 defeat would not be ideal to start rebuilding confidence so the equaliser must have been well received by the management team.  One of our strikers (again, sorry for the lack of details) beat several players by "stumbling with style" through their defence but had the presence of mind to slot in another striker who finished well.

 

Onto Saturday where we play Hilltop, not at their ground or the other one but another…

AFC Croydon Athletic are coming!

At least two former Leatherhead personnel arrive at the Grove tonight, with Jermaine McGlashan, as manager, and Olivia Boulton as physio.

 

Last year's Combined Counties Premier South Division Play-Off winners are well backed but I am not sure if any of their star-studded directors will be at the Grove tonight.

 

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 1 - 4 Dorking Wanderers

The Trophy heads back to Dorking again, after a comprehensive display from our visitors that left us chasing shadows for much of the game.

 

Like two years ago, we kicked off in away from the Edwards' Family stand but this time we avoided conceding before reaching the other end.  We even had time to stop and listen to ******* Marc ******* White give his ******* usual brand of ******* encouragement to his ******* players.

 

The goal did come soon after we settled into our spot behind the goal.  A simple pass released a player down the right-hand side of the box, who crossed in for an easy tap in.  Of to see Saka and Kane do that tonight… 0-1.

 

Our number 9 was played through on goal shortly after, but he stood on the ball so was forced to attempt a shot from about 15 yards out which just went past the far post.

 

As it turned out, a rare attempt at goal for Leatherhead and things got worse when a similar move produced the same result of a goal and the same celebration song from the travelling supporters.  0-2.

 

Second half, and Dorking controlled the game and people around me became more and more bombarded with tales of my recent holiday to Albania and the ceramic BBQ I had just bought.  There was little football to occupy the mind.  A well taken free lick made it 3-0 and I headed for the door.

 

I therefore missed Dorking's forth and our only goal of the game.  We followed up on a long range shot and got our reward.  The other talking point was the return of Chike Kandi, who could be a huge re-signing for us, albeit he looked a little off the pace yesterday.

 

Tuesday we welcome, Jermaine McGlashan and Wilfried Zaha to The Grove as Croydon Athletic play in our next friendly…

Dorking Wanderers are coming!

This year's Surrey Advertiser Trophy is played out at The Grove today, as our new manager puts out his new-look team against our newly relegated guests.

Two years ago we snatched a last minute winner but last year a late comeback was not enough to retain the trophy.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Marlow 3 - 1 Tanners

No promotion for Leatherhead, as second-place Marlow proved to be too much for us in the second half.  A gutsy first half couldn't be replicated, and three quick goals finished us off.

 

There was something rather blasé about Marlow before the game.  They were far too relaxed in the bar for a game of this importance and Leatherhead came out and , seemingly, took advantage of it.  For the first time in three games, we were in control and putting them under pressure.  The poor-man's Ben White certainly didn't like it and tried some "housery" of headbutting Ibz then going down himself while holding his head.

 

Despite the pressure no goal came and we went into the break feeling optimistic of the next 45 minutes.  Little did we know disaster had just turned off the A404… due to a misunderstanding, my son was unaware today was the final and asked my wife to drive him there from Guildford (thus nullifying my environmentally friendly route of bicycle, two trains and a lift share).  I did not expect my wife to join him and as she looked excitedly into my eyes, I knew in the pit of my stomach we were about to lose.  After celebrating 20 years of marriage only 10 days before, I have had plenty of experiences of Southampton collapsing from far superior positions for the mere act of joining me on the sofa, so in person this effect could only be magnified.

 

Our hold on the game lasted barely ten minutes.  Their left-hand side was already a major problem and when they got a corner on the same side, they were well drilled and capitalised.  The next ten minutes was an absolute nightmare.  We had no response as they smelled blood and went to add to their lead.  A freekick.  Boom.  2-0.  Then the ref joined in, overlooking a foul on us in a dangerous position and letting Marlow tear down the other end to get a corner.  Boom. 3-0.

 

Hayden rang the changes, bringing on Trevan, and we tried to make a game of it.  On 87 minutes Trevan turned in a cross from close range, and had Ollie Cook's header not gone just wide it may have created some genuine concern but Marlow had more than enough left in the tank.

 

On the final whistle, their 'keeper opted to return some of the pleasantries he had received from some of our newer supporters.  Why he didn't opt to run to his supporters first, I do not know.  Perhaps they were too hard to find as of the 1,500 in attendance we had brought the lion's share… but the footballing gods care not for this and Marlow, finishing impressively in second place, win the final.

 

So, another season comes to an end and I have just realised it concludes the twentieth – twentieth! – season of The Lip! having started this back in preseason of 2003.  Onto next season then…

Travelling Tanners

This is it then; the whole shooting match.  Leatherhead travel, with two coaches, to Marlow tomorrow for the play-off final.

 

Plenty to think about with this game.  Not least the 6-0 aggregate scoreline they have over us… we are the third best away team in the league while Marlow are only the 6^th best home side.  Marlow are the highest scoring team in the league, while we have the joint best defending record.  The things you look up while trying to distract yourself the day before a final…

 

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

Tanners 1 - 1 Southall (3-2 on penalties)

Leatherhead progress to the final the hard way, winning on penalties in front of over 1,000 supporters last night.

 

The away encounter showed what a difficult side Southall could be to beat, but defeat came only when we were down to 10 men so there must have been belief we could win this semi-final.  It certainly looked like they had belief, as we took the game to Southall for the first 35 minutes.  Ibz and Trevan probably having the best of our chances.  Then Southall won a corner and it seemed they managed to keep the ball in our half for the remainder of the game.

 

Into the second half and Southall scored early.  Alpha could not have anticipated the quality of the pass that went over his head and into the path of a player down the left wing.  The Southall player advanced into the ball and appeared to cross the ball but, by all accounts, it took a deflection and found its way into the bottom corner.  Given the events of Saturday, the Southall fans took a vow of silence, and we didn't hear a peep from them.

 

Predictably, Southall attempted to go into timewasting mode.  Their 'keeper, who had previous in the away game, "accidently" kicked the ball into the corner while picking the ball up.  The ref spotted it and warned him.  Moments later, Southall kicked the ball away after a foul was awarded and issued a yellow card.  This refereeing limited their "housery".

 

We needed a response and got one.  Tyler Cox danced past two players and fired a curling shot into the far corner.  Mr Tyrannosaurus Rex arms couldn't reach it and into the corner it flew.  For the next ten minutes, momentum was well and truly with Leatherhead.  Dan Hector headed onto the post and a freekick for a back pass on the 6-yard line hit a defender onto the post and bounced down and was cleared.   A goal did not come in that period and soon both teams wound down for extra time.

 

Extra time was nervy for both sides and fruitless so onto penalties.  We missed our opener, but I have noticed the following penalty seems the hardest to score in these situations and Amadou saved.  The next two rounds of penalties were scored to make it 2-2.  Then we stepped up to make it 3-2 and Amadou again saved to mean all we had to do was score.  Jerry stepped up and approached the penalty like Paul Pogba; an age passed as he tiptoed up to the the ball, and it was saved.  A chance for Southall to equalise but Amadou was simply too impressive and made another save to set up a final, away at Marlow…

Southall are coming!

Over the three games Southall and Leatherhead have played this season, Leatherhead edge this 5-3 on aggregate but all of that counts for nothing tonight in this play-off semi-final.

 

A big crowd is expected, so it may be wise to buy tickets in advance.

 

Kick off at 7.45pm.  See you there!