Leatherhead 1 Abbey Rangers 2
Tanners bowed out of the Southern Combination Cup with a home defeat against
Abbey Rangers of the Combined Counties League.
Leatherhead fielded a strong starting eleven while handing debuts to defender Cerny
Ando, signed last week from South Park Reigate, and new striker Dontaye Whittaker.
But the hosts were unable to break down a well organised Rangers defence in a
largely uneventful first half.
Despite Leatherhead having the majority of possession in the opening minutes, the
visitors were more creative and effective pressing forward. On 14 minutes Abbey’s
Milo Derham tested Sonny Wheeler with a fierce long-range effort that the Tanners
keeper did well to turn behind.
Leatherhead failed to effectively clear the subsequent corner and Derham struck a rasping shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
Rangers came close to opening the scoring on 38 minutes. Del Davies whipped in a
looping free kick from 30 yards that crashed against the post. Tanners once again
failed to clear away, allowing Davies to fire a shot over the bar.
Leatherhead’s best chances to break the deadlock came in the closing period of the
opening half. On 42 minutes Tom Kavanagh aimed a low free kick towards the
bottom right corner. But Rangers’ keeper Shay Honey did well to get to it and turn it
away. Two minutes later Ruben Bartlett-Antwi set up a good opening for Whittaker,
but the new signing rushed his effort and fired well wide.
Rangers opened the scoring on 49 minutes. The Tanners defence failed to pick up
Ahkim Brown, who latched onto a cross from the right to fire home past Wheeler.
The goal spurred Leatherhead forward and Tanners produced their best chances in the
following minutes. Rhys Murrell-Williamson went close wide a wide angled shot
before George Hedley struck a long-range effort straight to the keeper.
Tanners equalised on 62 minutes after winning a free kick on the corner of the
visitors’ penalty area. Murrell-Williamson struck the ball hard and low through a
crowded penalty area and somehow it evaded everyone on its way to the back of the
net.
Leatherhead immediately made an attacking double substitution, with Anuar Ceesay
and Leo Hams replacing Whittaker and Bartlett-Antwi. Wing back Kelvin Manuel
Massango was given free rein to press forward down the left, whipping a series of
crosses into the box as Tanners searched for a winner.
But by putting more men forward into their opponents’ half, Leatherhead were left
more exposed at the back. And on 82 minutes no one picked up Rangers sub Alfie
Burton, who escaped his marker to score a noteworthy winner.
Burton hit a fierce drive towards goal from 30 yards out and the ball was helped in as
it took a deceptive bounce just in front of the diving Wheeler.
Abbey Rangers advance to the next round where they will host either Sheerwater or
Molesey.
Tanners return to league action on Saturday when they make the short trip to Imber
Court to face Metropolitan Police. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Kelvin Manuel Massango, Cerny Ando, George
Hedley, Niran Butler, Tom Kavanagh, Lukas Franzen-Jones, Dontaye Whittaker (Leo
Hams 63), Rhys Murrell-Williamson, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi (Anuar Ceesay 63), Alfie
Huckle
Abbey Rangers: Shay Honey, Del Davies, Jery Antwi, Ross Nunn, Tremayne
Wooliscroft, Alex Andreou, Stuart Mortimor, Milo Derham, Maxwell Hurst, Kelvin
Karanja, Ahkim Brown Subs: Luke Robertson, Diego Bruno, Finley Warren, Jordan
Ikala, Alfie Burton