Canvey Island 3 - 1 Tanners

Oh to be in Canvey Island now that winter's here. The pretty Christmas markets, the stunning architecture, the cosy bars and restaurants, and the players inviting you to meet them after the game.

It didn't take long to count the supporters behind the goal because we both travelled in my car. It didn't take long for Canvey to knock two goals past us either, but it was the wind who will probably take the man of the match award. It was involved in every move and never looked like tiring.

We did rally after going behind and got a goal to bring us back to 1-2. For a while we looked like we might force an equaliser but we didn't adapt to the conditions as well as Canvey. I lost count of the number of balls that we over hit, the wind getting on the end of them and knocking them straight into touch.
We didn't show that much in the 2nd half and Canvey got a 3rd and saw out the game comfortably. However, we weren't awful and we kept up the effort throughout the game.

Let's hope for a morale boosting win over Carshalton in the Surrey Senior Cup on Wednesday.

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead are on the road again and travel to Canvey Island in this league fixture.  Not a happy hunting ground for us and certainly may bring back painful memories of one of a few 4-4 draws we “enjoyed” in the early part of the season.

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

 

Met Police 1 - 0 Tanners

After three weeks off the travelling contingent hoped for a fresh start and for the first 45 minutes they got it. 

In the opening five minutes Leatherhead won a penalty when the ball struck the arm of a sliding defender when we tried to cross.  A tad unfortunate for Met Police but their luck was in when Vas stepped up to take it.  I don’t think he is a convincing penalty taker and this proved right when, after sending the keeper the one way he proceeded to put the ball the other way… to far the other way and it went wide.  Moments later Wells made a save at point blank range.  It could have been 1-1 in the first 10 minutes.

The rest of the half was played out in much the same pace and spirit.  Vas shooting just wide, as did Hughes-Mason when perhaps squaring to Vas may have been the better option.  The home side were not shy at going forward either.

0-0 and into the half time break and despite the lack of goals, a game worthy of my prediction of a cracker.  Into the comfy members bar to warm up and I wish we had stayed there as Leatherhead decided to show a remarkable lack of ambition.

It was looking like a 0-0 game until Met Police made the most of a fumble by Wells.  This is unkind on the ‘keeper as he did well to get something on the deflected shot that was heading for the goal.  He was perhaps worried any attempt to tip it over would in fact send it into the back of the net so he opted to palm it up in the air.  With Wells now on the ground and the ball headed back across goal there were two Met Police players unmarked competing to head it in.  1-0 to the Met Police.

The game then got tetchy.  First Smith won a tackle which a home player took exception to and a scuffle broke out.  Both got booked.  Then Josh came on and straight away launched into a tackle that I was amazed was not penalized with a red card.  The game played on and another Tanners player slid in on the loose ball which the ref decided was over the top but while on the ground he received a stamp and another fracas erupted.  The referee’s assistant decided he hadn’t seen anything and no further action was taken.

It ended 1-0 and while the new right back looked good and Vas tried hard there was little else to shout about.  This could be a long  cold winter.

Travelling Tanners

Association Football gets underway again for Leatherhead after three weeks off.  The winter break should see the team well rested but may need a quick refresher course on the laws of the game in case they have forgotten anything.

Tomorrow we travel to Met Police.  Just two points above us and generally this game has turned out to be a cracker.

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

 

Folkestone Invicta Are Coming

It hasn’t just been our cup form that blows hot and cold, Storm Abigail arrives overnight which might put pay to any action.  Let’s hope not as Folkestone Invicta arrive with the league’s best away record to the Westhumble Community Ground.

Leatherhead’s alternative XI are in fine form themselves.  No wonder when they boast the likes of Elliot Thompson, Kev Terry, Phil Page and Chris Boulter… I also hear one Rook has landed.

Should be a classic… Surrey v Kent… kick off at 3pm… see you there!

 

Tanners 1 - 5 Ks

Three cup competitions have come (over four games) and three opportunities pass with barely a whimper from Leatherhead.  This is exactly why I contemplated watching a different team yesterday in the hope of finding a group of individuals who cared.

I wonder what the team talk was… “Just go out there boys and see if you can keep it down to just 2 or 3”.  They couldn’t even manage that.  OK, Ks are a side that are in form and have realistic hopes of making it into the play-offs but this was unacceptable.  Again.

Leatherhead concede late into the first half by their recent standards… on seven minutes Ks break down the middle with Wells initially saving but his parried shot fell kindly and that was blasted home.  Ks were playing their part brilliantly.  Not getting involved in any personal spats, as they did Wednesday, but quietly winding in their catch.  Leatherhead lasted a further 11 minutes before the game was effectively put to bed as a free kick was turned in… and on the stroke of half time it was 3-0 with Ks finding that our defense, even with Walsh placed back there, was in a accommodating mood.

The second half and I imagine Brady’s half time talk went something like “OK boys, try and get at least one goal…” and they did rally but this did not last.  Hughes-Mason had a half shout for a penalty turned down with Ks playing on.  They launched a long ball down the pitch and Wells came out to punch but it only skidded off his glove to set up an open goal.  It was now 4-0.

The fifth goal was simply a ruddy shambles and now Guy, who had won the free entry but somehow forgot to claim this godsend at the gate, was feeling the unluckiest man in Fetcham Grove.  I was close behind as Knaphill beat Cray Valley 5-4 and looked infinitely more entertaining at half the cost.

A complete waste of my time and money and a reminder that I will never watch a Trophy game while this current cup ethos of rolling over and having your belly tickled is in place.  Leatherhead now have to wait until 21 November until their next game… a well-earned holiday for the supporters to try and forget this nightmare.

 

Ks are coming... again...

Given how it ended Wednesday I dare say there may just be a few things that go bump in this game… Kingstonian come back to the Grove for this FA Trophy fixture.

Wednesday night we looked good in the second half, but Brady was photographed holding our tactics on Thursday night so they could well know what to expect.

Kick off at 3pm (festivities start earlier at the clubhouse).  See you there!

 

Tanners 0 - 0 Ks

Leatherhead turned in one of their best displays of the season, particularly so in the second half, to earn a draw against play-off chasing Ks.

Perhaps on chances Ks edged the first half.  A clear header going wide and a couple of scuffed shots where they hoped for better.  Other than that Wells continues to impress in goal making sure of his catches.

Not that we did not have our chances.  Had Jerry been able to direct his far post header back towards goal we could have taken the lead.  If the ref walked onto the pitch with his backbone he would have given us a clear penalty when Hughes-Mason was brought down.

Where Ks edges the first half on points, Leatherhead won the second on a unanimous decision.  For the majority of the second half we penned Ks in their own half while we applied pressure.  They could not handle the strength of Tashan who was holding the ball up in the centre.  Out wide Vas and Hughes-Mason were running at the defenders but lacked the goal scoring flare of Saturday.  Chance after chance flew just wide.  The best falling to Tashan, who had the chance to place into the bottom corner, pushed it just wide.  The Ks ‘keeper also made a fantastic save from a Hughes-Mason shot.  We were all surprised he could dive that fast as he spent most of the game time wasting.

The game came to a close but the ill feeling on the pitch did not.  A card was shown as the players left the pitch.  An invitation to do it all again Saturday perhaps…

 

Ks are coming

Bad news.  It is my birthday today and Leatherhead have a very poor record when competing in or around this date.  From memory we have won only once in the 20 odd years I have been coming to The Grove… OK, it was Sudbury to get us through to the First Round proper but other than that it has been slim pickings.

So it is local rivals, Kingstonian, who could benefit from the jinx I have placed on the club.  They sit just two points off of the play-offs and will no doubt be looking for revenge for the 3-0 beating we handed out in August… a month that seems a long time ago for some of us…

Kick off at 7:45.  See you there!

 

Lewes 3 - 4 Tanners

This was the very best and the very worst of Leatherhead, played out in the rolling beacons of the South Downs.

Leatherhead have been accused of being a soft touch in the opening exchanges and did nothing to start changing that opinion by conceding a penalty… after 38 seconds.  Lewes clearly informed to start brightly and on the first run into the box the ball bobbled up into Walsh’s arm.  A tad harsh but the ref gave it and the penalty was blasted past Wells, who did guess the right way but could only get a finger to it.

Leatherhead did respond by exposing Lewes’ biggest weakness.  Their left back was in all kinds of trouble trying to keep up with the likes of Vas and was puffing after just a few minutes.  Hughes-Mason was fed in down their left and retrieved the ball at an impossible angle to think he could score, but it turns out Lewes’ second biggest weakness is their ‘keeper as he allowed it so slide past him and the near post for 1-1.

Just two minutes Leatherhead took the lead.  Vas was brought down by the puffing no3 and from the free kick a Lewes defender tried to clear but sliced it past his keeper who was beaten near post for the second time in two minutes.

A side with only one win may have crumbled at this point but they equalized when they built a move down their left and crossed into the box.  Their Ciadini was afforded far too much space and he smashed it on the half volley past Wells.

When Leatherhead need something special they need to turn to one player.  Vas.  Today he did not disappoint with two curling left footed wonders that left their keeper flailing in desperate hope to get something on it.  Leatherhead go into halftime 4-2 up and seemingly in control.

Just before the game recommenced I witnessed where I think Leatherhead are going wrong.  Just before the game restarts they are made to do an elaborate hokey-cokey, jumping in and out of a circle in attempt to get them to focus.  It clearly does not work (and should cease immediately) as within a minutes of the restart a Lewes ball into the box was a stud away from being tapped in by an unmarked striker.

While Leatherhead had some chances it was Lewes who was looking the most likely to score.  Wells was forced into a fine save and the resulting tap in was deemed offside.  A lucky escape.

On about 70 minutes it looked like Leatherhead would weather the storm.  That was until Lewes’ left back deliberately pulled back Vas and was seen a second yellow.  Without a clear weakness to exploit Leatherhead looked lost for ideas and Lewes grew into the game. 

Wave after wave of attack followed with our right back now looking the weak link.  Lewes struck the post from close range before they get their goal following a mix up at right back.  4-3 and Lewes looked for the 4-4 draw that looked inevitable.  They had one more attack that was wasted before the ref blew his whistle to spare our blushes.

So we get a vital three points and an extra hour tonight for Brady to dream up a way to get this side to defend before we face local rivals Kingstonian…

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead head south Saturday after a trying week.  Two 2-0 defeats and by all accounts we looked quite below expectations.

Lewes would trade places with us though.  With only one win to their name they sit second from bottom.

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

 

Tanners 0 - 2 Tonbridge Angels

A horribly one sided game against a very strong Angels side who have dropped only 2 points away from home all season.

The first twenty minutes was "weak, feeble, useless and embarrassing" and I know our manger would echo those sentiments. In fact it was so bad that we subbed 2 players after 30 minutes.

The most interesting moment of the first half was a discussion about the nationality and previous club of the keeper. By the way the answers were Canadian and Peacehaven.

Angels took their foot off the pedal in the second half and spared our blushes. We were outclassed today but we get the chance to make amends on Saturday against struggling Lewes.

 

Tonbridge Angels are coming

More league action tonight with the visit of Tonbridge Angels.  They sit one place outside the play-off spots after having two draws on the trot.

Kick off at 7:45.  Good luck fellas from Barcelona!

 

Billericay 2 - 0 Tanners

Our usual result against the usual style of Billericay side. Physical, bullying, loud, whingeing, unsporting, with the referee buying into it. Their captain even found it necessary to barge into our management team as they came out for the 2nd half. That should be no surprise as the acorns don't fall far away from Craig Edwards' tree.

We often struggle against pressing physical sides who have no intention of playing attractive football. And we struggled from the start today creating very few chances. The first goal was unfortunate as Wells came out to get a cross he couldn't reach leaving the goal wide open for a Billericay head.

We had a couple of half chances in the 2nd half and a very good chance for Tashan who had a free header from 8 yards but Billericay converted a free kick and we never really looked like getting back into the game.

Anyway, for those that enjoyed this game there is more rugby to watch on TV this evening, and we have the visit of K's on Wednesday to look forward to and hopefully the return of football.

Travelling Tanners

After a fine double over Grays, Leatherhead will travel to Billericay in good spirits.  With the new look team we can hopefully call time on the bad run of results we had but look to move further up the table.  It will be a close one today, our hosts sit a single point below us.

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

 

Grays 0 - 2 Tanners (5-0 on aggregate)

Thank you very much for the 6 points Grays. Thank you very much. Thank you very very very much.

A very welcome second victory over Grays in a fortnight and only our second away win of the season, was earned courtesy of goals from two of our most recent recruits.

The first half was goalless but encouraging, our new look midfield much more lively and youthful than many of our performances this season. The shakeup in personnel seems to be starting to have an effect and there seems to be a more positive attitude amongst this current group.

On his debut, the much misspelt, Adeoye Yusuff (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeoye_Yusuff)

put us into the lead on 50 minutes. Then followed a period of Grays pressure which paid off when the referee gave a penalty for handball. The Grays player opted to stroke the ball down the middle of the goal but, unfortunately for him, Wells hadn't moved and was able to calmly pick up the ball.

Grays continued to search for an equaliser but were denied by a couple of stunning saves from Wells who had a blinder. In the second minute of additional time, we broke away and Tashan Adeyinka ran the length of the pitch to calmly make it 2-0. Tashan had previously played for FC Jazz  (http://uk.soccerway.com/players/tashan-adeyinka/294879/)  and it was certainly worth celebrating only our second consecutive league victory of the season with a cup of tea and a Jazz mag.

Travelling Tanners...

Tomorrow night Leatherhead travel to Grays Athletic.  They will no doubt be smarting from the last midweek encounter where we ran out 3-0 winners.  Our hosts also won their FA Cup game against Hanwell Town, thus avoiding a replay, so they will give us their undivided attention…

Kick off at 7:45.  Directions can be found here.  Good luck fellas!

 

Tanners 3 - 2 Burgess Hill

Leatherhead rode out the second half storm to gain all three points against a professional outfit that liked to chat to the ref.

The first chance fell to the visitors.  After a large appeal for a penalty the ball fell to their captain with not much to do other than beat the ‘keeper.  He missed and then promptly ran to the ref to complain.  This dialog went on for some time and set the tone for the rest of his time on the pitch.

Meanwhile Leatherhead quietly went about their business and applied much of the first half pressure.  The pressure told through the left foot of Vas you twice found space on the edge of the box to lash home to glorious goals.  The second better than the first.

Burgess Hill made two halftime changes and they had the desired effect.  They went on to dominate the first 30 minutes second half and soon found themselves level.  Leatherhead were unable to cope with the pressure and invited the shots on goal.

At 2-2 Josh was thrown into mix and soon the game was swinging back in our favour.  With five minutes to go Leatherhead won a corner from which Jerry headed what looked to be the winner until Burgess Hill’s number 7 stuck up and hand to punch it off the line.  Straight red for the would-be Maradona.  Vas stepped up, perhaps a little too near the ‘keeper for my liking but it did the job.  3-2 and the cheat didn’t prosper.

A tricky midweek away game at Grays awaits…

 

Burgess Hill are coming

Last years Ryman division one South champions of live at the Grove today.
Burgess Hill, who inflicted defeat on us in cup competition last year, sit in 10th place with a whopping six points difference.
Kickoff at 3 PM. See you there!

Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead’s Youth Team play in the FA Youth Cup tonight away at Worthing.

Kickoff is at 7:45.  Good luck fellas!