Walton & Hersham 1 - 3 Tanners

Leatherhead long awaited return to winning ways was compete today thanks to three goals to get us on our way.

Tommy must have torn up the boot deal he signed just prior to the Maidstone game and got us on our way with two opening goals.  The Elliott Thompson got on the score sheet with a wonder strike.

Walton & Hersham did find the back of the net themselves but thankfully the damage was done.

Bogey club on Monday then... Corinthian Casuals!

Travelling Tanners

Big game.  Walton & Hersham are not quite in play-off contention to make this a six pointer BUT we have to get back to winning ways this Easter Weekend.

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

Tanners 2 - 2 Tooting

For just a few the prospect of watching England play out a draw in the warm was not enough, we needed to endure Leatherhead come back for what, at one point, looked like a rather unlikely one.

Leatherhead have had some poor luck recently and this was a feature of our opening goal.  A powerful shot took a wicked deflection and rather apologetically flopped in.  Prior to this Leatherhead arguably had the better of the game.

Tommy pulled a shot wide and Bradbrook headed over from close range.  Tooting did force our man between the sticks into a pretty good save but we were certainly having more than our fair share of play.

There was nothing lucky about Tooting's second early on the second half.  A fast move down just right of goal, then a neat ball to slip in a striker just to the left and finished with ease.  This was looking like it was going to be a total disaster.

Leatherhead were given a life life when a ball bobbled up and struck the hand of a defender at waist height.  The ref pointed to the spot and Simmo finished powerfully to make it interesting.  Leatherherhead were to shout for penalties at least another two times.  The first of which looked more a penalty than the one that was given.

Tooting were probably guilty of showing a lack of ambition, looking to time waste.  Leatherhead were probably more guilty of over playing.  Getting the ball wide, then passing the ball back round the box to the other side.  Rinse and repeat.  That said it was from taking a cross from a deeper position that found Bradbrook and this time he headed home.  2-2.

A string of late corners created some genuine excitement for the home fans but the game ended a draw.  Total disaster averted.  Just a disaster then...

Tooting are coming

The omens are good if not a little cold that tonight's game will go ahead.  A picture tweeted shows a pitch free of surface water with no rain since.

Richard Brady as stated he is more than aware of the significance of tonight.  Our form has let us slip out of the play-off places and now we need points from our games in hand.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead hope to host Crawley Down Gatwick tomorrow but a familiar threat of the weather sets to ruin another Saturday.

No news of pitch inspections yet but judging by the picture tweeted earlier today it may be beyond that...

Keep looking at twitter for updates!

Game off but pub on

The trip to Eastbourne is off but the club house will be open from 1pm.

Darts. Beer. Rugby.

Travelling Tanners

Hold your horses though.  According to their site the pitch is still thick with snow and subject to a morning pitch inspection so be sure to check on twitter for updates.

If the game does go ahead hopefully we can play without gifting them a goal as we have the past two opponents.  Not that they may need it as they, despite their mid-table standing, have outscored us by one goal...

If the game doesn't go ahead the next one isn't until Saturday when we host Crawley Down Gatwick.

Tanners 1 - 1 Folkestone

Well this game pretty much followed on seamlessly from the Hythe game.  Nothing of note happening other than Tommy pulling up with a hamstring injury.  Considering this is two sides trying to reach the promised land of a top five finish this was hardly an advert for what we could "enjoy" come May.

Second half and we thought we might come out on top 1-0 thanks to a lucky goal.  Their No 5 completely mucked up his back pass which fell nicely to Bradbrook who slotted it away with a composed shot around the 'keeper.

Things were going nicely until Folkestone lofted a ball into the box with Jerry and our 'keeper coming together much like Shilton and Maradona.  Due to Jerry's superior height he managed to win it fairly and lob the ball perfectly into the back of his own net.  Habemus calamitas.

One all it finished and now we face a long trip to Eastbourne Saturday...

Folkestone Invicta are coming

Just eleven games to go and we are truly in the home straight now.  This Wednesday night fixture has become increasingly important as we begin to lose our way against higher placed opposition.

Another threat to this fixture is the cold.  The temperature is forecast to be freezing by half time so it could be another failed attempt.  Keep looking at twitter for updates.

Under starters orders at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 0 - 1 Hythe

With a heart as heavy as the pitch I report that we lose again to a side chasing the play-off spots.  Scant reward for Dave Blaz who worked on the pitch since 8am.

While it had its moments today was far from entertaining.  If World War I trench warfare was a spectator sport this is what it would have looked like.  Dulce et Decorum est indeed as the futility of our season is potentially unravelling before our eyes.

The high spot was a Tommy powerful strike that rebounded of the base of the post to fall to the new Burns.  His right footed shot bent round the players guarding the goal and narrowly missed the same post that Tommy had just struck.

Second half and Leatherhead were brighter and limited the visitors to just one attempt.  That attempt came courtesy of a Boulter slip leaving the striker to run clear on goal which was clinically finished.

Folkestone come on Wednesday looking to get a nose in front too... another big game!

Hythe Are Coming

Well I hope they are.  I was feeling pretty confident about the game going ahead before the big freeze sets in but then I realised it hasn't stopped drizzling for the last 48 hours.  Hopefully our pitch will cope with the rain that is set to fall until kick off.

If the game does go ahead we will face a Hythe Town side that have come to life in the league.  Five wins and a draw in the last six games has been their recent form.  I remember those days...

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there (weather permitting)!

Ramsgate 4 - 1 Leatherhead

Well.  Leatherhead suffer their heaviest defeat of the season away to Ramsgate tonight.  The arrival of Simon Glover, who made it straight into the starting line up, failed to have the same effect as Tait.

It took only 15 minutes for Ramsgate to open their account.  While it only took 15 minutes for Hutchings to respond the hosts restored their lead after just five minutes.

Second half and Hutchings and Tait missed some good chances which may have changed the game but Ramsgate went on to score two more against a flagging Leatherhead side.

Hythe Town on Saturday for a chance to bounce back then!

Travelling Tanners

Down as another game I would like to go to but sadly it is not on the cards.  Ramsgate on a Tuesday night?  Blimey.

That said it is another crucial game with the home side just six points behind (albeit with us with some games in hand) and looking to sneak into the play-offs no doubt.

We have found our scoring boots again in the league but lets not forget that was against more modest opposition.

Directions can be found here.  Kick off at 7.45.  Good luck Tanners,

Whitstable 0 - 5 Tanners

Tait has proved to be an instant hit since making his debut last week inspiring us to a four and now five goal wins.

He opened and went on to get a hat trick to outclass our hosts.  Tommy and Elliott also chip in to make the annihilation complete.

Kent away again as it is Ramsgate Tuesday...

Travelling Tanners

Today, we are away in the League to Whitstable Town. We find ourselves sitting in 5th albeit with a couple of games in hand.  Whitstable sit (for us) dangerously third from bottom but lets hope for a repeat of Saturday so we can come away with all 3 points.

Don't forget if you fancy a plate of cockles before the game parking can be a bit tricky in town...

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

Met Police 4 - 2 Tanners

Leatherhead beaten on the road but not without a fight.  Leatherhead soon found themselves two goals down but Flack struck back to make it two one.

Not soon after Hutchings blazed wide after being through on goal and then when finding the target saw his effort ruled out by the officials.  If Leatherhead were upset by having a goal ruled out they were even more incensed when a poor decision allowed The Met to make it three... then going on to make it comfortable with four.

Tommy was not to be denied a third time, scoring to make the scoreline slightly more respectable but the game was won.

No trip to Sutton then!

Travelling Tanners

Wednesday night is Quarter Final Night in the Surrey Senior Cup and we travel to our old friends Met Police.

From my understanding the winner will go onto to face either Godalming or Woking before the mouthwatering prospect of another trip to Sutton for the final.  What a fine choice of ground that is Surrey FA...

Directions can be found here.  Kick off at 7.45.

Tanners 4 - 0 Walton Casuals

A frustrating game from a personal view point.  Due to trips to A&E I missed the opening 30 and last 10 minutes which was exactly where all four goals were scored but in between I saw enough to know it was a solid performance today.

Tait got his first goal for his new club by bursting through Walton's rather open defence and finishing with confidence.  Soon after Coyle headed home from a free kick.  The cheer from the car park was spectacular!

Second half and the Tim Henman-esque ref missed a rather obvious decision of a back pass which, had the keeper left it would have left Tommy through on goal.

According to some, Leatherhead have become a team of moaners and this was certainly on show today.  There was plenty to moan about though as Walton gave a good physical account of themselves and with so many ex-Tanners out there (Maan and Andrews to name but two) it may have been a bit more heartfelt than usual.

Late in the game Blackman scored, beating the 'keeper from outside the area with a powerful shot.  Liam Wright rubbed salt into Walton's (and mine come to think of it) wounds by firing into the roof of the net at close range after one of those goal mouth scrambles that so rarely bare fruit

Leatherhead hold onto forth place but see four sides just three points behind so plenty of looking over our shoulder to come...

Walton Casuals are coming

A flurry of snow in the air is forecast but hopefully we can welcome Walton Casuals to The Grove tomorrow.

Walton Casuals are starting to find their feet and creep up the table.  They have only lost twice in the last seven games and throw in our recent (let alone home) form and this could be a tricky encounter.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Faversham 1-0 Tanners

Just one point from nine since we outclassed table topping Maidstone at a ground we would have hoped for more... i.e. away in Kent.

Leatherhead certainly looked up for it.  New signing Tait fluffed his opening lines by missing from close range.  Tommy appeared to have put the same pair of boots he wore at Maidstone and missed a sitter in the second half.

Fear not though as we were pretty much in control until a freekick was flicked on and prodded home for the home side.

Second half and Leatherhead still had their chances albeit making slightly heavy weather of it.  The breakthrough never came though and now we look off the pace.

Walton Casuals at home Saturday anyone?