It’s off!

My post was the kiss of death. No game tonight, so we focus on the trip to second place Harrow Borough on Saturday.

South Park are coming!

Now that the futility of the Trophy has come to an end, we can get back to the serious business of the league and the visit of South Park.

We play another side below us (although, we are running out of options in that department) as only goals scored keeps us above them.

Kick off at 7.45 (I hope, there's been no mention of pitch inspections). See you there!

Hastings United are coming!

The 37th annual Queen Convention takes me away from this game, so I couldn't go even if I wanted to… which I don't.

Hastings United come to the Grove for the Trophy.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Moneyfields 2 - 1 Tanners

Another last-minute goal brings another disappointing result on a night that was disappointing from start to finish.

 

Arriving at the ground and I was a little deflated.  I understand Moneyfields have had a lot of trouble in even getting the ground ready, so I am sympathetic, but the provision for supporters was somewhat lacking.  Hot food constituted of a lukewarm budget sausage roll (£3!), a bar that resembled a doctor's waiting room and space behind the far goal was limited to just a few feet.  A ground with a trainline running by it is a wonderful thing and that did lift my spirits.

 

Not for long though, as we conceded a penalty in the opening couple of minutes.  Handball in the box (apparently) and they stepped up to make it 1-0.

 

Leatherhead brushed themselves off and started pressing for an equaliser and it came on the half hour.  A high and hopeful ball was chased by Date and the defender failed to make any contact with it, allowing him to run on uncontested.  He calmly slotted it past the isolated 'keeper to make us think we could go on and win the game.  Oh, how wrong we were.

 

In the second half, the game became shrouded in ham acting, poor officiate and controversy.  Moneyfields had deployed the dark arts throughout the game; going down screaming with broken limbs only to dust themselves off later so we knew what we were in for.  

It started when badly Karczewski was fouled when running in on goal and he gave them a taste of their own medicine.  Their number 6 did not like this and stood over our player to remonstrate and somehow the writhing player made contact and down he went clutching his leg.  A ref should look at this and laugh but over he went to the assistant who claimed he saw something, and a straight red was offered.

 

This actually ignited Leatherhead into an attacking force and we played some of our best football but, as with Saturday, we were prone to the counter attack.  Sonny had saved us on three or four occasions until the last minute of regular time when a long ball was met by a player who lobbed him to get the hosts their first win and doubling their tally for the season so far.

 

Onto Saturday then and the arrival of Hastings in the crappy Trophy.

Travelling Tanners

I hope the good people of Moneyfields do not go away as happy with tonight's result as they did last night.  Tonight we make one of our longer trips, down to the South Coast, for this league fixture.

 

Our hosts sit in the relegation zone, with three draws to their name.  We sit just one point above them…

 

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

Tanners 0 - 1 Hayes & Yeading

Three (well, certainly two) points dropped, with a last-minute goal reversing the scoreline we had enjoyed a few weeks ago at their place.

 

In the first half I was not sure what was more interesting, the football or the number 53 Ewhurst to Guildford timetable, as both sides cancelled each other out.  We probably came out on top as their goalkeeper started to take about a minute for each goal kick.  We also hit the cross bar when our player beat chased a long ball, beat the 'keeper to it and was face with an open goal.  It was on his wrong foot so he took a couple of touches to steady himself and as the defenders retreated he fired it onto the cross bar.

 

The second half, we were a lot more positive and pressed for a winner.  Hayes & Yeading are considerably taller so most of our crosses and corners were easily dealt with.  We struck the cross bar again from a header at close range.

 

The more and more we applied pressure, cracks started to appear in the form of a Hayes & Yeading breakaway and it was a constant reminder that they could score… and so they did in the 89^th minute following another swift counter attack.

 

Disappointing and so we travel to Moneyfields on Tuesday.  One of our longest trips moved to a midweek fixture as a result of our progress in the Trophy…

Hayes & Yeading are coming!

A much needed break in the rain allows for a much needed home game, with the arrival of Hayes & Yeading.

We met each other in the FA Sodding Trophy and came away 1-0 winners.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Sevenoaks 1 - 2 Tanners

Leatherhead secured a 2-1 victory against Sevenoaks Town at the Bourne Stadium, notching up a FA-competition-away double.

After falling behind to an early goal, Leatherhead equalised just before halftime with a penalty from Deondre Date following a handball on the line that also saw the hosts reduced to ten men.

In the second half, George Hedley scored the winning goal with a header in the 56th minute. Although Leatherhead had a goal disallowed shortly after, they maintained pressure but missed several chances to extend their lead.  Sevenoaks had a late opportunity to make it 2-2 but failed to convert.

Onto Saturday when we return to league action against Hayes & Yeading United at home – at home! – on Saturday…

Travelling Tanners

FA Trophy today, so it can only mean we're away. Away to a side we've already played. Sevenoaks again then, and they'll no doubt be looking for revenge after our win in a proper FA competition.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

South Park are coming

Velocity Cup action tonight as we have a home draw ( FA competitions, please take note) against South Park.

South Park sit just below us in the table, with three points to their name.

Kick off at 7.45. Good luck fellas!

Dartford 2 - 0 Tanners

Looking at the league results yesterday, there is no shame in going out of the FA Cup in the second qualifying round, as many of our cohorts were in action. Dartford was always going to be a tough challenge where we needed to avoid conceding a goal, take our chances, and get a bit of luck; sadly, none of those things happened.

 

Leatherhead started the game well and did not look out of place against their Isthmian Premier opposition. Perhaps this caught our hosts off guard, as we carved out a couple of good chances—one going just wide from the right and another attack down the left where our player was brought down in the box. It was a clear penalty, but the referee opted to make up rules such as "inviting a tackle" to avoid making a tough decision in the opening minutes.

 

Dartford then scored with their first attack. A shot bounced through the box, seemingly straight at Wheeler, but caught him off guard, and he could only parry the ball down into the path of their No. 7, who made no mistake from four yards.

 

Leatherhead fizzed another shot just wide and blasted one well over before Dartford sealed the half and the game. A simple attack down the right-hand side and a shot across the goal found the side netting, making it 2-0. Suddenly, it looked like our chances had vanished as quickly as the two to three hundred supporters who had been watching Dartford in the league so far this seaon.

 

They had two clear chances and scored two goals. We had the same opportunities, with a penalty waved away, yet had nothing to show for it. That is the difference we need to address. When we were gifted a clear shot on goal and could only fire the ball directly at the 'keeper, the gristly burger I was attempting to eat started to become harder to swallow.

 

The Leatherhead supporters shouted for a penalty, but the ball had invited the defender to handle it—probably.

 

Tired legs saw out the remaining time, having to play midweek away at Guernsey, with not much time to recover before we play in the Velocity Cup before heading back to Sevenoaks for the FA Sodding Trophy.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead travel to Dartford today, in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

My last visit there could have gone better. We were doing well until Joe Sheerin got sent off and then the bouncers wouldn't let us drink in the bar after the game. I hope our players and their hospitality behave better.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Travelling Tanners

Guernsey. On a Wednesday.

Kick off at 7.45. Good luck fellas!

Hayes & Yeading 0 - 1 Tanners

Leatherhead secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Hayes & Yeading United in the FA Sodding Trophy, advancing to the Second Qualifying Round at the Skyex Community Stadium. 

The match was largely uneventful until Deondre Date's decisive goal in the 67th minute, which came after a well-timed pass from Matt Everitt. 

Hayes & Yeading had opportunities to take the lead earlier in the match, notably a smart save by Leatherhead's goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler.

Our reward?  Another away tie at Sevenoaks.

Travelling Tanners

It's the FA Sodding Trophy today and an away trip to Hayes & Yeading. It's also a halfhearted New Ground Klaxon as we face them in the league in a couple of months.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas!

Tanners 1 - 0 Dulwich Hamlet

Oh FA Cup, how can I stay mad at you?  After Monday'sdraw had handed us another Isthmian Premier side and our fourth away tie over two FA competitions, I was a bit down on the competition but last night's performance rekindled that excitement (in the FA Cup that is, not the FA sodding Trophy; that can die in the sea).

 

Often you only get one chance to beat higher-placed oppositions, and on the 84^th minute of the first game it could have been the best opportunity we had but Leatherhead came out believing that they could go one step further.  The opening 10 minutes had our Isthmian Premier guests pinned in their half as we pressed for and opening goal and won a series of corners.  One opening exchange saw us have four shots on goal that couldn't find a way through the crowded area.

 

The game then went through passages of play where Dulwich started to dominate, then into a stalemate and then with us back on top; all without either side really carving out any clear chance.

 

The game ebbed and flowed until we got to the 84^thminute, again, and Leatherhead shot from distance into a crowded area.  As the video shows, the player leans into the shot and flicks out his elbow as the ball made contact; it was harsh and a referee who didn't want to have to wave away angry players at the full time whistle would have not given it but he obviously saw enough movement to point to the spot.

 

The Dulwich 'keeper now excelled himself at tomfoolery as rather than prepare to save the penalty decided to leave his area, take his gloves off, attempt to put his gloves back on, take them off again when he saw the referee talking to another player, put them back on again when instructed, start walking back into the area, leave the area to have chat and a cuddle with a Dulwich player, walk back in to the area and finally walk past his goal and take a drink from his bottle.  Cheating of the highest order and the referee agreed with me as he issued a yellow card.

 

Perhaps if the 'keeper had spent more time thinking about saving the penalty he would have made a better job of it, as he dived the wrong way and we went 1-0 up.  Now we needed to survive the remaining time, which included an additional six minutes.

 

Naturally Dulwich stepped up the pressure (and their 'keeper did not find the need to take his gloves off) and while they did carve out a close-range chance, which they blasted over, Leatherhead looked comfortable and saw out the time to send us through to the away (where else?) tie against Dartford.

 

Onto Saturday and the FA crapping Trophy…

Dulwich Hamlet are coming

Leatherhead and Dulwich will both feel a mixture of relief and disappointment at having this replay. Dulwich would have probably hoped to have this done and dusted against a side a league below them but faced a 2-1 score line in the 84th minute.

The winner will have the away trip to high-flying Dartford to look forward to!

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Dulwich Hamlet 2 - 2 Tanners

The Tanners have forced a, perhaps unlikely replay, in the FA Cup against their Isthmian Premier rivals, Dulwich Hamlet, following an exciting 2-2 draw at Champion Hill Stadium.

Dulwich Hamlet controlled much of the first half, but their dominance was undermined by missed opportunities, including penalty miss that was sent well wide, leaving them with only a single goal lead at the break.

In the second half, the Tanners found their rhythm. Seb Karczewski scored twice, propelling the visitors into an unexpected lead and putting them on the brink of a notable cup upset.

However, Dulwich Hamlet equalised late in the game with a superb strike from Anthony Jeffrey, setting up a replay at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday…

Travelling Tanners

FA Cup day arrives with a trip to our old friends, Dulwich Hamlet. Our hosts finished fourth from bottom last year so made their way back to the Ryman Premier, and now enter the cup in the first qualifying round.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas.

Westfield 3 - 1 Tanners

For the second game in a row, Leatherhead start slowly and get bullied in a game that ends in disappointment.  Westfield came into this game with an average of three goals scored and were well on their way to maintaining this after just five minutes when, yet again, we hesitate in defence and allow a shot from six yards.

 

Any envy I had about those in attendance drifted away on the stroke of half time, when the ref awarded a dubious penalty and we went into the break 2-0 down.  Better than 3-0, I suppose.

 

The ref was keen to even things up and awarded an equally surprising penalty to us; Fitzgerald stepping up to put it away to make it 2-1 with 12 minutes to go.  Any hope of gasping an unlikely point drifted away when the hosts grabbed a stoppage time goal.

 

Onto Dulwich then…