Woods thwart Tanners top spot hopes

Leatherhead went into last night’s match with Northwood two points behind leaders Raynes Park Vale with a game in hand- but their chance of taking over at the top was thwarted as a determined Northwood arrived at Fetcham Grove. The Woods made the journey on the back of seven consecutive defeats, but were quite sure there wouldn’t be an eighth, digging in and thwarting the Tanners at every turn to earn a valuable point.

The Woods are seventeenth, the Tanners remain second- above Chertsey Town on goal difference and a point behind the leaders.

Image- Stu McAlister.

We had a mid table battle as Hanworth Villa welcomed Hartley Wintney. The visitors were only three points away from the top five, and had won three of their last four in the league- and their good form continued as they moved up to sixth with a comfortable victory, only goal difference keeping them out of the play off places.

Hartley Wintney went ahead in the eleventh minute, Mason Obeng making the breakthrough, and with twenty one minutes left they made it two, Jayden Smith with his seventh of the campaign. Villa converted a penalty with a minute left on the clock, Sam Merson holding his nerve and making the closing stages interesting- but that interest for the home fans was soon ended, Smith taking his campaign tally to eight and his sides tally for the night to three, taking the scoreline to three-one and securing three points.

Ashford Town played host to Ascot United, as Tangerine took on Yellow (well, Yella). Town had won two of previous last three and took that run to three in four- but they turned what looked like one point into three right at the end.

Jack Arnold put the hosts ahead just after the start of the second half, but with nine minutes remaining Brendan Matthew took his tally for the season up to fifteen, and seemingly earned his side a point. United’s problems this season haven’t been up front, however, and this was their ninth match in a row without a clean sheet- and defensive frailties cost them once more, Qasim Khan stepping up right at the end to send the home fans home happy and his side up to eighth.

The Yellas are sixteenth.

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