Tanners and Hornets fail to strike

It’s difficult to walk into Fetcham Grove for a cup tie and not be assaulted by the ghosts of past glories.

Those of us who can remember the 1970’s, a decade when the FA Cup really was the highlight of the football calendar, will recall most of the things that Leatherhead FC are famous for. Wins over Colchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion before narrow defeat against Leicester City in 1974-75. The ‘Leatherhead Lip.’ Victory over Cambridge United the following year, a win over Northampton Town and a narrow defeat to Wimbledon in the 76-77 campaign, before a draw against Swansea City preceding eventual defeat as the decade progressed; truly the Tanners glory years.

The younger members of our fraternity might also remember a trip to the Second Round in 2017, a televised victory over Tamplin’s Billericay and an eventual defeat against famous former Isthmians Wycombe Wanderers, but it seems rather a long time since the fine folks in Green tasted real glory. The last couple of years have seen relegation from the Premier Division and a highly unsatisfactory South Central season, although the latter became rather more palatable after Hayden Bird took over the side and led it upwards, sadly at a pace not quite quick enough to make the Play Offs. But, just perhaps, things might be taking a turn for the better.

As we entered Fetcham Grove for today’s FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie against Premier Division Horsham, the Tanners sit in third place. The season is five games old in league and cup, and our hosts were yet to taste defeat. The first team contains a plethora of players who proved they were good enough for the division above. An advertisement on the website heralded the return of Chris Kelly- the aforementioned ‘Lip of Leatherhead,’ for a fundraiser in October. Perhaps it was an omen? We were about to find out.

The Tanners opponents today hadn’t needed to travel too far up the A24, so rather unsurprisingly looked rather fresh, and didn’t seem short of confidence as they warmed up prior to the match. The Hornets hadn’t yet hit full stride in Pitching In Isthmian Premier, but there had already been moments when they’d looked a fine side, and it was rather easy to understand why they were many people’s dark horses for a Play Off berth. They were hoping to bounce back from defeat at Whitehawk on Monday, and also hoping that this would be the first step on the road to some cup glory of their own, memories of their run to the First Round two years ago still fresh in the minds of the Lardy Army, a large number of whom had made the journey to support their side.

It was a beautiful day; so warm that a number of the home fans arrived early and took the opportunity to stretch out on the grass bank by the scoreboard, trying to work on their tans. The sides arrived at five to three, and the talk was of the Tanners new keeper, Brian Okonkwo, who had just arrived on loan from Arsenal. He was easy to spot, not just because he stood out in his sky blue strip, but because he is six foot four in his stocking feet. How much extra height was added by his studs we didn't ask.

The match was immediately end to end, with both sides passing the ball crisply and moving quickly. The Hornets earned the first corner as we reached the fourth minute, and it was headed over by Jack Strange, but the Premier Division side were very much on top, and had another corner within two minutes, a shot from Lee Harding deflected wide. The corner went through everyone in the box and looked certain to be knocked in at the far post, only to be stopped on the line and cleared. It was then the Tanners turn to attack, and Tyler Cox did incredibly well down the right, getting in a cross which brought some desperate defending. A corner followed, and it was the hosts turn to dominate. Cox was again central to their endeavours, and a fabulous turn and pass gave them another corner, cleared once more, Daniel Hector forced to hare back to deliver a crucial tackle on Daniel Ajakaiye. Immediately at the other end a great run from Trevan Robinson saw more desperate Horsham defending, but again the ball was cleared. A Horsham break, and Charlie Hester-Cook tried to fight his way through the Tanners defence and was awarded a free kick just to the right of the box, the kick headed out for a corner.

We reached the quarter hour mark, and already had enough action to fill a half; a fabulous match that you couldn’t drag your eyes from, despite the lack of goals so far.

A loose ball from Jamie Splatt led to another Horsham break, and another Horsham corner, headed behind by Ollie Cook for one more. The deliveries had been fabulous, the defending just as good- and just as we wrote that Lee Harding sent the next corner directly out of play, the ball landing on the top of the net.

The game slowed down a little- unsurprisingly, given the pace of the early stages- and we had the first yellow card, Tanners penalty expert Gus Sow shown yellow for pulling back an opponent, as we reached the half way mark in the first half. On twenty eight minutes some Horsham dithering in their own half let the Tanners in, the ball dropping to Fabio Saraiva just inside the box. The Tanners number seven had time to think, perhaps too much time. With only Lewis Carey to beat he side footed his shot at least eight yards wide of Carey’s left hand post. Immediately up the other end we went, and the Hornets had a chance of their own, Jack Brivio firing wide.

On thirty four minutes the Tanners came close. A good passing move saw the ball end up at the feet of Sow, and his effort had Carey beaten, but came back off the inside of the post and was cleared. A minute later and Saraiva tried his luck once more, and this one was much closer, but still wide of Carey’s left hand post. Another Tanners chance, a cross from Splatt and Trevan Robinson headed over, the hosts having their best spell of the match. That continued, Hector charging through the middle, leaving defenders in his wake and firing…wide. It was the story of the half for the hosts, lots of opportunities but a failure to really work Carey.

We reached the break goalless, but despite the lack of goals the six hundred and five in attendance were being royally entertained. And to credit the Tanners, a casual observer wouldn’t be able to recognise which of the two sides was from the Premier Division.

Half time: Leatherhead 0 Horsham 0

The supporters changed ends, and amongst the away fans collection of banners was a flag that just said ‘FLAG.’ Which was handy, because that’s exactly what it was. The folks standing behind the flag named flag saw their side dominate the early stages of the second half, although they were a little lucky when an error saw Robinson charge through on goal for the Tanners, beat the first defender, and lose the ball to the second one.

The game had become a little nervy, the first ten minutes of the half characterised by errors on both sides. “Horsham, Horsham,” sang the Horsham fans, reminding themselves where they were from; but in truth both sets of fans were rather quiet, the most oft-heard sound a groan when the ball was given away. The Tanners had a chance, and Ollie Cook’s shot cleared the bar by about five feet. It rather exemplified the quality of shooting we’d seen so far.

The Tanners made the first change of the match, Michael Elechi off for Alpha Diallo, with twenty five minutes remaining. Tyler Cox moved from right back to left back to accommodate the new arrival, and the hosts immediately looked energised. Horsham responded immediately by taking Harding off for Kadell Daniel, swapping pace for pace.

A penalty shout for the hosts, Robinson hitting the floor, the home fans- and indeed the home commentator- sure it should be a spot kick, the referee rather sure it wasn’t. It seemed, from a neutral perspective, that Robinson had run into the defender rather than being deliberately impeded, so perhaps the referee was right.

We moved into the last twenty minutes, the hosts shading the game but not testing the keeper. The game was crying out for a little quality at this point, or even a shot on target. We nearly got one, Daniel turning inside his man twenty yards out but seeing his shot deflected for a corner. That was headed out for another, and the box was packed, the ball curling in and another corner the result. The ball was cleared, but there wasn’t a single man in green left forward to receive it.

The Tanners weathered that storm, and then earned a corner of their own. “Leather, leather, leather, Leatherhead,” encouraged the home fans, and another corner was awarded, this one clearing everyone and going out for a goal kick. On came Jack Mazzone for Daniel Ajakaiye for the visitors, like for like. Hester-Cook was also removed, for Charlie Harris, whilst the Tanners decided to get in on the act and take off Gus Sow for Trey Masikini. Mazzone quickly decided to shoot, thirty yards out, but there was no power and he seemed to hurt himself in shooting, an impact that left him limping.

Into the last ten, and trickery from another sub, Masikini, saw the Tanners awarded another corner, which, as usual, was headed clear by Jack Strange. On eighty three minutes, finally, a shot on target, Saraiva bringing a fine save from Carey at his near post, and another chance once again saw Strange- perhaps the man of the match- charge back to rob Robinson as the striker bore down on goal.

A run from Masikini- a real live wire since his introduction- set up Hector, but again the shot was wide. Into the last two minutes, and it looked increasingly like we were heading to a replay on Tuesday night. Into added time at the other end, and Mazzone was free ten yards out, but his shot, not wishing to change the pattern of the game, was well over the bar.

Just before full time Cox fired a ball into the box and Robinson just failed to connect, and…that was that.

Full Time: Leatherhead 0 Horsham 0

It was rather strange that two sides with an array of striking talent had been let down throughout by a lack of striking quality- although it was perhaps less strange that almost every cross or corner the Tanners sent into the box was met by…Strange, the Hornets big centre half dealing with everything that came his way. This was a match with some fine build up play, but no end product whatsoever...and something of a Strange masterclass.

We’ll do it all again on Tuesday night.

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