Travelling Tanners

Leatherhead kick off an hour earlier, today, to allow for floodlight issues at Imber Court. Ian Selley appears to have shone a light into our recent form and brought in some new players.

Both teams sit precariously above the relegation zone. A win is needed, not just to help give our play-off hopes credibility but to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle over the festive period.

Kick off at 2pm. See you there!

Hayes & Yeading 2 - 2 Tanners

On the ground where they film Ted Lasso, I hoped to see some entertaining football but alas we got a Storm Bert inspired wet and windy mess.

 

There was a certain amount of controversy to the host side's opening goal.  Hayes & Yeading launched a swift counter attack, but we had cover in the middle of the park.  The problem was, so was the referee.  He blocked off the run of our defender and allowed them to run on and score.

 

The referee was unrepentant, but perhaps with a guilty conscience as he rushed to give a penalty when the Hayes & Yeading 'keeper slid in to tackle a Leatherhead player.  Fitzgerald stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.  Just before the break, the hosts go 2-1 up, but I missed this as I sheltered in the bar.

 

The second half was largely unwatchable.  Both sides were now really struggling with the slippery conditions, and I really couldn't see how we could get anything from this game.  Then on 80 minutes, the 'keeper opted to block a shot with his feet rather than dive to catch it and the rebound fell to Bartlett-Antwi who smashed it home.

 

Could we get a winner?  This certainly didn't look the case until we got into the five minutes added time when we suddenly started playing the most dynamic football I have seen this season.  We kept them hemmed in as we won corners and free kicks but we didn't do enough to carve out a clear chance.

 

On to Tuesday then and the visit of Abbey Rangers in the Southern Combination Cup…

Travelling Tanners

It's on.  Well, subject to a heavy downpour,

For me, as I missed the Trophy game, this is a NEW GROUND KLAXON game.  Our hosts sit in mid-table and we cannot go above them today, should we win, due to the gap that has opened up.

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

Game off

Rain and snow prevent this game from going ahead. See Saturday, where the New Ground Klaxon (for me anyway) with the trip to Hayes & Yeading.

Tanners 0 - 1 Moneyfields

In two games where we probably would have targeted six points, we ended up with one; a lucky one at that.

This was another game where Leatherhead failed to inspire.  Slow and lateral movement rarely troubled a Moneyfields defence, led by their Number 5.  A pantomime villain that has everything in his locker; heading, shepherding the ball out and shithousery.  

Again, 999 was called three times only for him to get up, smiling to the home fans.  I actually thought he had gone too far in the second half when he feigned being knocked out - a move that should have earned him an instant substitution - but he smiled at the ref and he was allowed to play on.

In the last 30 minutes we finally showed some urgency and pressed for a winner.  We won a series of free kicks and corners but couldn't find a way of scoring.  It was early into this spell that we were undone though.

We won a freekick just outside the box, despite a non-injury to a Moneyfields player (guess who).  The free kick was cleared with a long ball that sent their 11 away with only Sonny in front of him.  Out Sonny came to greet the ball outside his area and the newly contracted player completely misjudged the bounce and watched helplessly as his leap was not enough to make any contact with the ball.  The 11 collected the ball and passed it into an open net.

Hitting the bar and having a shot cleared off of the line helped build the excitement for the home supporters but ultimately, they trudged home disappointed.  So, it's the visit of South Park on Tuesday.  Another side that can ruin a ruddy night at The Grove.

Moneyfields are coming

Leatherhead return to league action today and welcome our south coast friends, Moneyfields.

The away game was a real footballing low for me. A last minute goal gave them their first away win with extra time to contemplate this on the drive home due to the Hindhead Tunnel closure. Hopefully, revenge will be ours.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Tanners 2 - 1 Westfield

The bogeyest of bogey teams were finally beaten last night, as Leatherhead progress in the Velocity Cup with a win over Westfield.

The game started brightly enough and Leatherhead had two early shouts for a penalty waved away.  Then the half went rather stale until we finally did get a penalty for something I missed myself.

In a recent penalty, Lukas has put the ball down inititially then passed the honours to Tom Kavanagh who re-spots, takes and scores.  And so was the case here.  1-0 on the stroke of half time.

Second half and Westfield wanted to continue their winning streak over us and probably played some of the better football.  We had our moments, and in a good spell of pressure we forced a defender into handballing to prevent a cross from finding Lukas in front of goal.  A red card for the defender and a penalty to us.  This time there was no roleplay with Lukas and Tom and the penalty was missed.

A chance to bury the game was spurned and the ten men of Westfield rallied again and forced the seemingly inevitable penalty to take us into penalties.  But luck was on our side.

It was a great ball from Kane into the box, and a smart run from Marco but I doubt he meant to caress the ball with his shin to deftly lob the 'keeper.

Into the hat and onto Saturday with the visit of Moneyfields… 

Westfield are coming!

League Cup action tonight with the visit of Westfield. A side that has already beaten us 3-1 this season.

Sometimes this cup can produce the fixtures with the most number of changes. I don't think we can afford to muck about too much.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Ashford Town 2 - 2 Tanners

Leatherhead escaped with a fortunate draw after they came up against a stubborn Ashford Town.  This was a side we beat 4-0 just a few weeks ago, but today they outfought us for all but 20 minutes of the game.

In the first half we had our moments - Lukas forcing a save at the near post, for example - but it was Ashford Town who opened the scoring.  A low shot at close range could only be parried into a dangerous area and the ball was slotted under the 'keeper.  I went to the bar with about 5 minutes to go, as I was fairly confident nothing good would happen from it. 

Second half and Ashford Town really started to turn the screw.  We can ponder what would have happened if Lukas' close range shot had been put anywhere else but straight at the 'keeper or if the ball had crept in off of the post… but that would forget that in addition to Ashford's wonderful solo goal, they too hit the post after breaking free to be one on one with the 'keeper and had a goal disallowed for offside.

Then came the final run-in.  In the last 15 minutes of normal play, finally Leatherhead looked like a force to be reckoned with.  On the 80th minute, Ceesay fired in a shot that, for once, was not blocked by a defender and found the bottom left corner.

The home team were pretty angry with the referee for finding two additional minutes beyond the five he had originally indicated, that allowed us to score.  One of those minutes was to allow Lukas to trudge off after receiving a second yellow card (both for dissent), and the second to watch the ball loop off Marco's head and sail towards goal it went.  

Up the ball went, filled with hope, despair and a trace of disgust that we found ourselves in the desperate situation in the first place.  Eventually the ball landed safely over the line to secure a point to help claw back the five we have lost ourselves in similar circumstances.

 

Back to The Grove and hopefully the drawing board, for Tuesday, and the League Cup visit of Westfield…

Travelling Tanners

Luke Tuffs was seen at the Grove last Saturday. I hope he didn't learn much and we a similar display as we don't have planespotting as a distraction; we're off to Ashford Town at Cobham FC.

Kick off at 3pm. See you there!

Guernsey are coming!

A lesser prematch write up would make reference to the fireworks night, but remember remember… you won't get that here!

Guernsey make the tricky trip that I hope the fog won't interfere with. Our guests are very much the Southampton of this league; second from bottom and with only one win to their name… BUT a recent defeat only came at the hands of an own goal so perhaps their fortunes have turned…

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Tanners 0 - 1 RPV

Raynes Park Vale brought at least three ex-Tanners with them yesterday.  Tom Richards, Cameron Black (who I thought would be more fondly remembered until I heard "F Off back to Dorking" shouted at him and Dan Hector.  Annoyingly it was one of these players that ruined our day, with a goal.

A reasonably large crowd turned up and they were not rewarded with the type of play that has been on show over the past few weeks.  The first half showed some promise but the second half was very agricultural. 

Then the goal.  On 78 minutes, Dan Hector picked up the ball just to the right of goal, made a run to the centre and sent a low shot across the face of goal and into the bottom corner.  In the dying minutes we had a clear header that went wide which would have snatched an unlikely draw.

Onto Tuesday then, when Guernsey make the long trip for a midweek game.

Raynes Park Vale are coming

Another big game comes to The Grove tomorrow in the shape of Raynes Park Vale.  

They finished in the most painful place of sixth last year, and find themselves there again now… We also did the double over them…  They will no doubt come here tomorrow, looking for revenge.

Kick off at 3pm.  See you there!

Chipstead 1 - 2 Tanners

Leatherhead made a significant number of changes last night but still left enough quality within the team to secure a hard-fought win.

The starting lineup clearly indicated an attacking formation, with three or even four players up front. Date was back from his bench-warming duties, while Lukas played a slightly deeper role.

Seb opened the scoring, unchallenged as he leaped high to meet the ball and steer it back toward the far post. We mistakenly thought this would signal the floodgates opening, leading us to score another three or four goals, but Chipstead dug in.

They more than dug in when they equalised. Our new goalkeeper did well to stop the first shot but could only parry it back into the path of the striker, who finished clinically with a low shot. Were penalties looming…?

Thankfully not, as we were awarded a free kick in a dangerous area. Rhys took a low shot that took a slight deflection, finding the nearside post and going in. 2-1.

The second half, with more changes, became harder to watch. The highlight was seeing a couple of ex-Tanners on display for the hosts. Aaron Lamont played in central defense, demanding the ball short from the goalkeeper in an attempt to play it out from the back, only to constantly run into trouble. He'd fit right in at Southampton. Melford Simpson also came on and continues to prove he is not the kind of player who comes back to haunt you with goals.

On to Saturday, then, and the visit of Raynes Park Vale…

Travelling Tanners

It's not the FA Cup, but is a competition we should rightly take seriously as we travel to Chipstead tonight.

Our hosts sit in 17th place in the combined counties. It sounds like we are going to make some changes, but hopefully not too many to fall into the trap of underestimating our opponents.

Kick off at 7.45. See you there!

Travelling Tanners

I can't make this game as I'm going off for the weekend to celebrate my 50th - 50th! - birthday. My reward for reaching this milestone is my doctor telling me that I should by a blood pressure monitor and another supporter informing of the number of his friends who got serious health issues at this age. Happy ruddy birthday!

Enough about me and time to focus on the job at hand. Travelling to Ascot to try and notch up our fourth win in a row. Lukas hit a dry spell by not scoring on Tuesday, but hopefully we have enough to get a win and really start pressuring the playoff places.

Kick off at 3pm. Good luck fellas!

Tanners 4 - 0 Ashford Town

No Date night for Leatherhead, as Deondre returned to Tonbridge to sit on the bench while we went on to notch up four goals (or more) for the third game in a row.

Leatherhead opened the scoring on just night minutes, when Kelvin Manuel Massango fired in a low shot on goal.  A defender stuck out an instinctive leg to block it, but only served to put a thick enough deflection on it to score an own goal.

Ashford Town were not to be phased by this as they put some pressure on to score and had to relatively good chances blasted over until we got our second.  We got the ball on the left of the six yard box and our player avoided the tackle of a couple of players but not the 'keeper who missed the ball and took him out.  The ref thought about it for a long time but pointed to the spot.

Not for the first time this season, the opposing 'keeper then developed an injury that required the physio to pretend to do something. The delay was long enough to make Kavanagh take the ball off of Lukas and blast it down the middle with the 'keeper healed enough to dive.  2-0.

The second half and Leatherhead continued as they had finished off, playing fast flowing and attacking football.  Ceesay made it 3-0 when he received the ball from Lukas on the left and deftly chipped a diving 'keeper.

Sonny went on to make two crucial saves before we made it 4-0.  A salvo of shots were blocked until Karczewski found a way through the stubborn defence.

All in all, an entertaining evening and so we travel to Ascot on Saturday…

Ashford Town are coming!

Luke Tuffs – once of this parish – returns to the Grove tonight with his Ashford Town side.  Let's hope tonight isn't an after the Lord Mayor's Show performance.  Following our stunning win on Saturday, it may be we go into this game a little too cocky and hasn't Lukas scored too many times…?

Our visitors sit in the relegation zone with just seven points.  A feeling still fresh in our minds.

Kick off at 7.45.  See you there!

Tanners 4-1 Farnham

Leatherhead put out a display that was perhaps a little bit more than "one of them things" to end Farnham's impressive 58 unbeaten run in the league.

 

I couldn't make this game as I had to drive my wife to a medical appointment, so as I eased into Holland Park Reserves vs Smallfield I feared the worst for Leatherhead against a side that is top of the league.  My fears were misplaced as we opened the scoring on 38 minutes through Franzen -Jones (the website indicated he had scored twice in the same minute, but this was quickly amended).

 

Lukas was on hand to make it 2-0 before Farnham responded to make it a nervy 2-1… but nerves were calmed just a minute later as Lukas notched up an impressive hattrick and five from the last two games.

 

A great piece of improvisation saw a ball flicked on to allow Kane Fitzgerald to run through on goal.  He was soon brought under pressure from a 'keeper on the edge of his area and a covering defender, but he managed to wrong foot both and roll the ball into an empty net.   4-1 and then the majority of the 600 plus crowd could really enjoy the afternoon.

 

Onto Tuesday and the visit of Ashford Town.  Weather permitting.

Farnham are coming!

Hopefully this morning's rain has not spoiled our day, as we host Farnham today.

Farnham are on a roll. Since their change of ownership, they have won trophies and maintained huge winning streaks… and so unbeaten-in-the-league Farnham come to the Grove today.

Kick off at 3pm (but look out for announcements). Good luck fellas.