Still In the Rut - Sunday Review

Hendon 1-2 Leatherhead

Ryman League Premier Division

Sunday 6^th November 2011

Vale Farm

I have thought long and hard about this one for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I don’t want to be too knee-jerk (emphasis on the jerk) in my reactions to yesterday and secondly, I don’t want to do Leatherhead out of any credit due for their efforts and fully deserved win. Perhaps it’s best to let the number to speak for themselves though. In our last three league matches, all of which have been at home, we have faced two newly promoted sides and two sides who were occupying the bottom two places in the division. Our return has been a single point.

I know there have been mitigating factors with the ever lengthening injury list, there were perhaps half a dozen stood watching when they could otherwise have expected to have started if fit, but the XVI players named in the squad lacked absolutely nothing for the required experience or quality to win games at this level. The feeling very much remains that having taken the lead in all three of these matches (plus the League Cup tie at Harrow) that 2 months ago, we would have come away with at least 6 or 7 points. That we have taken an early lead against Met Police and again yesterday and gone into the break behind asks quite a few questions.

In spite of this, we remain 5^th in the table, only Lowestoft have a game in hand behind us and we still have the joint best defensive record in the division with AFC Hornchurch so there are reasons to remain positive. Our next 5 league matches could well end up making or breaking our season as we have to play Canvey Island and Billericay Town (FA Trophy commitments permitting) at home and Lowestoft Town, Cray Wanderers and AFC Hornchurch away. We desperately need, somehow, to get key man back fit and in the side and look to regain the solid shape that we began the season with if this term isn’t to emulate last year and slither away down into the sewer after going out of the FA Cup.

Things began so brightly yesterday as well, Chico Ramos superbly tipping over an Isaiah Rankin header that was destined for the top corner of the net before from the ensuing corner, the ball bounced up and hit Rob Hill on the hand. The referee was well positioned and pointed straight away to the spot, and to Leatherhead’s credit, their players didn’t debate the decision. There was some debate as to whether or not it was a penalty, whilst it unquestionably struck Hill on his left hand, there was little he could do as the ball bounced up and struck him, his hand remaining by his side. It was a decision that would have gone against us as many times as it would go for us. The man whose opinion mattered gave the spot kick and in Jamie Busby’s absence, Elliott Charles gleefully sent Ramos the wrong way to give the Greens a 6^th minute advantage.

Chico tries to out-fox Elliott Charles from the Spot...

Rather than build on the early goal and go for the jugular, Hendon were unable to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Leatherhead began to settle, their 5 man midfield quickly getting the upper hand over James Archer and Kevin Maclaren in the middle for Hendon. Dave Diedhiou and Barnet loanee Mauro Vilhete began wide for the Greens, but they were unable to offer much in the way of help for the two in the centre. For all of that, Hendon were close to extending their lead when a superb pass by Maclaren found Charles on the edge of the box and he in turn found the overlapping Diedhiou on the right flank. The big fella swung a dangerous cross in around the edge of the 6 yard box that Vilhete flung himself at full length but was just unable to connect with, and as a consequence the danger passed.

As far as Leatherhead were concerned that is as play was swiftly transferred to the other end and Kev Terry, who was outstanding ploughing a lone furrow up front on his own found himself in behind James Parker and as Thomas spread himself, he dinked a beautiful little lob over the goalkeeper and into the net. It’s the kind of finish I used to dream about, but rarely executed as a kid. 

A decent re-creation of Kev Terry's goal yesterday, in mirror image.

That was the catalyst for the visitors to take complete control of the half, and although they didn’t trouble Thomas unduly, they looked the more cohesive unit and played some good stuff, taking advantage of the extra body in the middle of the park. What turned out to be the winner came 11 minutes before the break when the ball fell for Mark Simmons just outside the D, he struck a low shot that appeared to take a deflection on it’s way through and wrong foot the Hendon custodian, before nestling in the bottom corner of the net. The half petered out pretty quickly with Leatherhead in complete control, and bafflement being the look on most Greens Fans brows.

Most of the 2^nd half was played out in the Leatherhead half as Hendon looked for a way back into the game. For all the possession they enjoyed, they lacked the guile and wit to breach the stoic Leatherhead defence superbly marshaled by joint boss Jamie Coyle. Loud shots for a penalty were waved away early on when James Archer broke into the box before being stopped by what looked to this observer, a good clean challenge by Hill or Chris Boulter before Elliott Charles stretched to meet a Parker cross but couldn’t direct his header on target.

I couldn’t help but feel at times that we were a bit predictable in our approach at times (this is something I agreed with from the twitter feed from the game). I have no problem with playing a target man and looking to hit him early, but I’m not sure how wise it is when the centre half, in this case Coyle, has the beating of the striker in the air 80% of the time and there are no green shirts around Charles to contest, never mind pick up, the 2^nd balls. It meant that all too often attacks broke down before they’d really got started and it was only when we got tried to get in down the sides or into the channels that we looked at our most dangerous.

Coyle was again at his best blocking a powerful Rankin shot at point blank range, and Hendon forced a number of corners, which were either dealt with by Ramos coming out to punch clear, not always convincingly, or on one occasion, scrambled onto his near post as Cousins neatly whipped a low one in towards goal. Chris Boulter cleared off the line late on, and a late effort went narrowly wide, but if the second half was to be described as a siege, then it was one where the battering ram was made of foam rather than wood, where the arrows were made of paper rather than flint. Despite the balls into the box, despite the half chances created, I never really felt we looked like we were going to equalise and as such, I couldn’t begrudge Leatherhead the points.

They were whole-hearted, committed and playing for each-other. They were well organised, well drilled and looked lively going forward. It’s hard to see them going down on this evidence, particularly when you consider that they were without their two leading scorers, Tommy Hutchings suspended and Greg Andrews on honeymoon. Coyle and Richard Brady have clearly done a good job so far in getting the side united and believing in themselves, that they can compete in the Ryman Prem. To be honest, I’d really like to see them stay up. They seemed like a good bunch yesterday, good luck to them in their battle to stay up.

For the Greens, things don’t look quite so rosy at the moment, but as we know, that can turn around in a heartbeat. A clean sheet, a scrappy 1-0 win against Canvey next Saturday and all of a sudden belief returns, and the trip to Suffolk and Lowestoft doesn’t look so daunting. James Fisher continues his rehabilitation and talk was of Elliot Godfrey and Greg Ngoyi both nearing a return within the next week to 10 days. It was also good to see Carl McCluskey return from the substitutes bench yesterday. But the fact remains that things need to improve quickly if we’re serious about looking at a play off bid this term. I know there’s still 29 matches to play, but we saw last season just how quickly the wheels can fall off and a campaign just peter out into a slightly depressing anti-climax. A big challenge awaits the management team and players to see how they can respond. We’re still fully behind you.

I was going to use this pic before the Aveley game. But Carl Griffiths (Red & White) has left them now. So y'know, meh.

Player Ratings

1. Sean Thomas: Left no chance with either goal and otherwise had little to do. One fairly straightforward save from a Simmons chip in the 2^nd half and a couple of good catches in the first half from crosses. 6/10

2. James Parker: I’m not entirely convinced about Parks at right back. Terry got in behind him for the first Leatherhead goal, although he has played there before, I think he’s better in the middle. 6

3. Scott Cousins: Defensively sound, lured into overhitting some of the balls into Charles on a couple of occasions. Very nearly scored direct from a corner in the 2^nd half. 6

4. Ryan Wharton: Another very sound display from the centre half, good in the air, even better on the ground and a little bit of class when bringing the ball forward in the second half. Another good performance. 7

5. Bradley Fraser: He may be suffering from not getting a run of games, and although generally defended pretty well, I don’t have the same confidence in him as I do Michael Peacock, I always get the impression he’s moments away from dropping a rickett. Did well enough yesterday though. 6

6. Kevin Maclaren: I thought considering he was pretty overwhelmed in the midfield in the first half he put in a good performance. Passed the ball well and made two or three very good challenges indeed. Shame he’ll be suspended next week. 7

7. James Archer: Worked hard in midfield, and came alive a bit after the break when he played a bit wider. Don’t think he’s a natural central midfielder and was out-fought at times in the first half. Better at full back on this evidence. 6

8. Dave Diedhiou: Sometimes you just to shake him and ask him to make the most of his imposing figure and dominate games from the midfield, put himself about a bit more. 5

9. Elliott Charles: Smartly taken penalty, and probably as usual, our liveliest attacking threat again. Dominated in the air for a change though, and I do wish he’d learn to stay onside, particularly considering he has pace to burn. 6

10. Isaiah Rankin: Some touches of class, and did well considering he spent much of the afternoon out on one flank or the other. Unlucky early on when his header was saved, and probably carried as much goal threat as anyone did. Ran out of puff. 6

11. Mauro Vilhete: Definitely has something about him, but was largely muscled out of things. Could have done with changing his studs in the first half, but there were moments of promise. 6

Substitutes

13. Carl McCluskey: Came on for the last half an hour, which was good to see after his knock last week. Unable to really influence proceedings though. 5

14. Belal Aite-Ouakrim: Replaced Rankin with 20 minutes remaining, ran up a couple of blind alleys and got little change from the Leatherhead back line. 5

15. James Fisher: Late replacement for Dave Diedhiou

Star Man: Kevin Maclaren

Match Rating: 6/10

Verdict: Once again Hendon fail to hold on to a lead and look a shadow of the side that they were at the start of the season. Leatherhead fully deserved the 3 points based on their work rate and organisation alone. More performances of this ilk, and they will stay up reasonably comfortably. There are plenty worse sides in the division on this evidence.

Supersonic Storming Sunday Swannell Derby Preview

Hendon v Leatherhead

Ryman League Premier Division

Sunday 6^th November 2011

Vale Farm

September 9^th 1978. I would presume that only a handful of people at the game this coming Sunday would have been present the last time Hendon hosted Leatherhead in an Isthmian League Premier Division match in what has never become known as the John Swannell derby. Mick Garrini was the Hendon goalscorer in a 1-1 draw during the Tanners’ last season at this level before their play-off win against Dulwich back in May saw them return to the top flight of the Ryman League.

John Swannell: The legend who hasn't lent his name to Hendon v Leatherhead matches.

The two sides have met since Leatherhead’s relegation, most notably in the League Cup during the fast, furious and mostly fecking awful reign of Gary Farrell (one of the nicest, most genuine blokes I’ve ever talked to about football, simply not a manager). Rumours that Danny Butler was awarded the champagne post match in the away team’s dressing room for his performance in extra time have never been confirmed, but his defending for the 3 Leatherhead goals that sealed their 6-3 win had to be seen to be believed. I’ve seen plenty of bad centre backs over the years playing for the Greens, I’ve seen even more with little in the way of pace. I have never ever seen a 15 minutes from anyone, not even Mavuto Sakala, Christian Hyslop or Simon Underwood, that was as abhorrent as Butler’s that night. It wasn’t just that he was caught ball watching on 3 occasions, it was that he quite clearly couldn’t give a fiddling fart. I don’t mind players being crap so long as they at least give the impression of putting a bit of effort in. Butler, who had come with a decent reputation as being a good centre half in his time at Northwood and Wealdstone, never really convinced me in his time at Hendon, but that quarter of an hour was absolutely staggering.

The Tanners found life difficult in the Premier Division as Mick Sullivan largely kept faith with the players that had done so well in getting them promoted last season. Although only really taken apart by Cray Wanderers, the Tanners picked up just 2 points from their first 10 matches of the season, six of their defeats coming by just the odd goal. Although clearly frustrating, there were suggestions that actually, they weren’t too far off being where they needed to be. Sullivan departed at the end of September and was replaced by Jamie Coyle and Richard Brady, previously the management team at Division 1 South side Sittingbourne.

Since the change in management, the side have enjoyed an excellent run in the FA Cup that included a superb 3-0 win at Billericay Town and ended only in extra time against Sutton United in a midweek replay after 3-3 and 2-2 draws after 90 minutes. The Tanners have also progressed in the League Cup against Wealdstone, on penalties after a 2-2 draw and although they were knocked out of the FA Trophy a fortnight ago by Cirencester Town, they have picked up their first league win of the season beating East Thurrock United 2-1 three weeks ago. With mostly the same players, Coyle and Brady appear to have managed to solve their biggest problem which was scoring goals. Greg Andrews has 8 to his name in all competitions and Tommy Hutchings has netted in each of his last three matches. On the flip side however, they have conceded quite a few goals in recent weeks, 11 in their last 4 matches which suggests that the Greens will get opportunities this weekend.

Goalden Greg: The Tanners' leading scorer

The question then will be whether or not we are able to take them. Since Greg Ngoyi’s injury at Canvey Island two weeks ago, we have struggled up front. Against both Met Police and Horsham we created enough opportunities to have taken at least four points from the games, yet came away with one. The conviction and ruthlessness we’d shown in front of goal at the beginning of the season had gone, and to be honest, it’s cost us dear. We’re still 5^th in the table, we still have games in hand on teams around us, but that means Bo Diddley if we don’t pick up the points in them.

Which is why Wednesday evening was such a disappointment. We ought to have had the game won by half time and we ought to have come away with three points. I’ll be honest, I expected us to win the match (that is a rarity in itself) and in spite of our injury list, the starting XI wasn’t exactly filled with players lacking in Ryman Premier Division experience. There was plenty more in our XI than there was in Horsham’s, who I might add, deserve enormous credit for their gritty display and were full value for their point. It’s going to be a long road for them, but I really hope they survive this season. The fact remains however, that clubs with real pretentions of achieving a place in the play offs need to be winning games, particularly at home, against sides in and around the relegation zone.

There is a danger that this season could unravel as last season did. We’re in the middle of 3 home matches, the last of which is a real toughy against Canvey Island next weekend and a return of 7 points from these matches wouldn’t be bad at all. Even 6 would probably be acceptable. Anything less, and I think expectations and hopes might have to be re-evaluated.

The one major positive from Wednesday evening was the return to action of James Fisher for his 2^nd substitute appearance of the season, the hope is that he has now put his injury problems behind him so that he can really kick on with his Hendon career. Lee O’Leary is also back in full training and when fully fit, will add a lot to the centre of midfield, particularly in the absence of Jamie Busby. There are a couple of players who, if they start, have something to prove in my opinion. I’m not going to name them, but suffice to say that both have proven themselves in the past to offer a lot more than they’re currently delivering and that if there comes a time for the squad to be pruned as players return to fitness, they would both, at the moment, be very near the top of the list.

So, our second Sunday kick off of the season against a side beginning with ‘Le’ has come about because of Margate’s participation in the FA Trophy against Wealdstone on Saturday, and allowing us to re-schedule our previously postponed league match. I’m not confident that we will come away with three points. League record suggest a home banker, but current form certainly doesn’t. Since beating Maldon & Tiptree we have at best flattered to deceive, and more generally been poor. Leatherhead meanwhile, have certainly improved markedly since the first six weeks of the season. The porous nature of both back fours suggests that there will be plenty of goalmouth action at both ends, and both sides will be looking for the points to kick start themselves again after the cup interlude. Hendon to show that the first 10 matches weren’t merely a flash in the pan, and Leatherhead to show that they have what it takes to stay in the division. So, what better way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon than watching two green shirted sides contesting the inaugural imaginary John Swannell Shield. See you there.

Three Reasons For Leatherhead Fans To Be Cheerful

Last night Leatherhead lost their fourth game out of four back in the Premier Division at last season’s Division 1 South rivals Met Police by the odd goal in 3. Personal experience suggests to me that Tanners fans will be feeling pretty bleak this morning about what they’ve seen and what their prospects are for the rest of the season. In the midst of such a start to the season, it is nigh on impossible to see any light at the end of the tunnel, any sunshine through the clouds, any sign of Wally in the picture of the fairground. In actual fact, there are plenty of reasons for Leatherhead fans to be cheerful because they are far from doomed. Below are three such reasons for the Green Army to raise a hopeful smile once again.

Reason 1: Hendon 2006/7

Greens fans (Hendon, not Leatherhead) will not thank me for returning to that bleak late summer and early autumn of 2006 when we began the season like a staggering tramp after a week on intravenous White Lightning. After 11 league games we were sat bottom of the league with just 2 points and 7 goals scored. We’d also been knocked out of the FA Cup, FA Trophy, London Senior Cup and League Cup in that time, leaving us with just 2 wins from 17 matches in all competitions. Following the FA Trophy defeat at home to Ramsgate on Saturday 21^st October, Gary McCann tendered his resignation. A number of players weren’t up to standard, Dean Thomas, Dwane Williams, Nas Richardson to name but 3. One player had proven himself to be of the necessary standard elsewhere but couldn’t motivate himself to be arsed in a green shirt, stand up Jermaine Hunter (actually, don’t bother, it’s probably too much effort). Other players went through a very steep learning curve. Jamie Busby, Craig Vargas, Lee O’Leary, Wayne O’Sullivan, Rakki Hudson for example who dug in and improved quickly.

Ross Pickett: Kick Started Hendon's 2006/7 season

Thankfully, Macca’s resignation was rejected and he was advised to think things over. The general feeling I got around the terraces was that in spite of everything, he was still very much the right man for the job. Suffice to say, Gary was in the dugout the following Saturday at Walton and Hersham having undergone a change of heart and the side responded with their first league win of the season thanks to a couple of Ross Pickett goals. 

A pair of Dean Green penalties a week later brought a second league win and the great escape was on. In came Brian Haule, Belal Aite-ouakrim, Marc Leach, Darragh Duffy, Davis Haule and of course, Bontcho returned.The last 31 league matches saw 52 points picked up, a total that would have seen the side finish 4^th had the first 11 games been ignored. There was the famous win at home to AFC Wimbledon, 1 of only 2 defeats they suffered in the league in the 2^nd half of the season and the season ended with a 6 match unbeaten run and a finish in the dizzy heights of 14^th, 19 points ahead of Worthing, who filled the final relegation spot that season.

Reason 2: Bedford Town 2001/2

Bedford Town had ended the 2000/1 season on a high achieving promotion to the Premier Division of the Ryman League for the first time in their history. They began life in 2001/2 not so much with a whimper, as a great piercing scream for mercy losing their first 7 matches, all of them by the odd goal. 1-0 defeats, 2-1 defeats and a couple of 4-3 thrillers for good measure as well.

On September 11^th 2001, thoughts on the terraces of Claremont Road were less on the easy 3 points on offer as Hendon took on Bedford in both side’s 8^th match of the season than events unfolding over in America. Paul Towler’s 40^th minute header from Paul Johnson’s corner that thundered in off the underside of the bar was celebrated mutedly. Afterall, this was all in the script. We remained a goal to the good until the 72^nd minute when a free kick was diverted past David Hook into his own net by Lee O’Donnell (yeah, I’d forgotten all about him as well) before Nando Perna broke clear 10 minutes from time and claim what turned out to be a winner for the visitors. If I’d felt flat before the game had even started, I had been well and truly punctured all over by the time Chris Sparks trudged off the pitch in the last minute having been dismissed for dissent. Bedford used this 2-1 success as a springboard to picking up 45 further points throughout the season and finishing 17^th, a comfortable 8 points above Hampton & Richmond Borough who suffered relegation.

Reason 3: Kingstonian 2009/10

1-3, 3-5, 1-6, 0-5. No, I’m not speaking to you in binary, or any other digital language. This was the sequence of results Kingstonian suffered in their first 4 matches of 2009/10, their first season back following promotion from Division 1 South. 4 games, 4 defeats, 5 goals scored, 19 conceded. Talk about out of their depth. Games against Ashford Town, Harrow Borough, Aveley and Dartford. Who would be next to benefit from the most generous defence in Non League Football?

Saturday 29^th August 2009, Kingstonian traveled to Vale Farm with no fewer than 7 new signings in their ranks after major surgery undertaken a couple of days before by Alan Dowson. Five of these new faces started, a further two were named as substitutes. In spite of this, there was no doubt that it would take time for the new faces to bed in, for the team to settle. Hendon would still take full advantage. Bobby Traynor opened the scoring four minutes before half time for the visitors who had been in pretty much complete control up until that point. Second half substitutes Simon Huckle and Karl Beckford added to that first half strike to give the away side not only their first points and clean sheet of the season, but also the launch-pad from which they ended up contesting a controversial Play Off Final against Boreham Wood at the end of the season.

So you see, there is plenty of hope remaining for Leatherhead this season. Nothing is decided at the end of August, nor the end of September – nor even at the end of October. If the worst happens and come the 29^th October, Tanners fans arrive at Vale Farm still winless then arrive in good heart. History is on your side. Our first win of 2006/7 came on 28^th October. Bedford and Kingstonian both got their first wins away at Hendon.

Omen.