Leatherhead 3 Hartley Wintney 0
Leatherhead ended the season with a comfortable 3-0 win against Hartley Wintney at Fetcham Grove on Saturday.
Goals from Ghas Sow, Trey Masikini and Ibrahim Olutade saw Tanners secure third place in the league table to give them home
advantage in Wednesday’s play-off semi-final.
Following a tentative opening period of play, Leatherhead won the first corner of the match on 14 minutes. An unmarked Ollie Cook rose to meet Fabio Saraiva’s in-swinger but headed over from ten yards out.
Tanners Supporters’ Player of the Season Tyler Cox tested the visitors with a low shot from the corner of the penalty area, but goalkeeper Adam Melville saved comfortably.
Olutade initiated a quick break for Tanners a minute later but was denied by George Winser’s well-timed interception for the Row. Melville did well to block Cook’s powerful long range effort on 29 minutes before Leatherhead took the lead with their next attack.
Olutade and Sow latched onto a pass played through a gap in the visitors’ penalty area. Sow got the final touch, stabbing the ball across the line from six yards. Sow missed a chance to double Tanners’ lead a couple of minutes later, firing wide
from a tight angle.
As Leatherhead continued to press forward Melville had to make a flying save to keep out a goal-bound header from Olutade.
The Row missed an opportunity to level on 39 minutes when Momodou Jallow’s powerful shot was well blocked by Leatherhead keeper Amadou Tangara.
Tanners struck back, doubling their lead from the penalty spot on 42 minutes. With the ball at his feet Alpha Diallo jinked his way into the visitors’ area before being brought down by a rash challenge from a Hartley defender. Masikini collected the ball
and calmly struck the ensuing spot kick into the corner of the net.
Masikini nearly nabbed another goal for the hosts just before half-time, but his long range effort was well blocked by Melville.
Leatherhead secured the win with a third goal on 47 minutes. Olutade received a through ball from Diallo down the middle, before rounding the Hartley keeper and firing home from close range.
Isaac Ebejer missed a chance to pull a goal back for the visitors on 69 minutes. The Row’s young Maltese midfielder chested down a cross into the box before firing over from close range.
Tangara denied Sam Bartlett with a fine block to on 80 minutes as the Hartley winger attempted to lob the Leatherhead keeper from the edge of the box.
Tanners missed out on opportunities to extend their lead in the closing minutes. Masikini rounded two defenders on his way towards the goal but was unable to make an effective shot. And deep in stoppage time Melville denied Hector’s well struck
effort with an outstretched leg.
Leatherhead: Amadou Tangara, Alpha Diallo, Fikayo Atewologun (Omarr Lawson
70), Jamie Splatt, Ollie Cook, Fabio Saraiva, Trey Masikini, Ghas Sow (Michael
Elechi 64), Ibrahim Olutade, Trevan Robinson (Daniel Hector 70), Tyler Cox
Hartley Wintney: Adam Melville, Noah Chengun, George Winser (George Wallace
54), Jenson Mansel, Liam Gavin, Reece Wylie, Momodou Jallow, Mason Obeng,
Connor Lynch, Sam Bartlett, Isaac Ebejer