Southall 1 Leatherhead 1
Leatherhead kicked off the new season with a 1-1 draw away to Southall in a match
full of missed opportunities for both sides.
Tanners dominated possession for much of the opening half, taking the lead on 30
minutes. But they were fortunate to hold out for a share of the points in the second
half against a resurgent Southall, who equalised on 68 minutes before squandering a
hatful of chances to win the game in the dying minutes.
Leatherhead were forced into making a first half substitution when Niren Butler was
injured in a challenge on Southall’s Brendan Matthew on the edge of the visitors’
penalty area. Butler continued to play for a few more minutes before eventually
making way for Marco Haigh.
Tanners produced a fine display of attacking football in the lead up to half-time. On
28 minutes Deondre Date was fouled near the corner of Southall’s penalty area and
Matt Everitt fired a superb free kick over the defensive wall which clipped the top of
the bar.
Leatherhead maintained their pressure on the ‘All defence and opened the scoring
with a fine breakaway move from the half way line. Everitt played the ball out wide to
Anuar Ceesay on his left. Ceesay powered forward, jinking his way round his marker
before delivering a perfectly-paced through ball to Date for a superb close range
finish.
Ceesay missed a chance to add to the visitors’ lead on 37 minutes, once again getting
round his marker before producing a fierce shot, forcing a fine low save from Southall
keeper Koju Abayomi.
Date missed a chance to add to the visitors’ lead a minute later, firing over from a
tight angle.
Abayomi made an exceptional save to deny Leatherhead’s Trey Masikini on 42
minutes, deflecting the winger’s goal-bound effort over the bar and out for a corner.
With the game moving into first half stoppage time, Southall found themselves having
to defend in numbers as Tanners pressed forward in search of a second.
Haigh played a ball through to Ceesay on the edge of the box, but the former Badshot
Lea striker was unable to get any power in his shot and Abayomi saved comfortably.
Southall came out for the second half determined to work their way back into the
match and persistent pressure led to their equaliser midway through the half.
Substitute Anthony O’Connor powered his way forward before setting up Matthew
for a close range finish.
Tanners missed out on a chance to restore their lead on 72 minutes when Everitt
tested Abayomi with another long range free kick. But the Southall keeper made
another excellent save, flicking the ball over the bar for a corner.
Southall dominated the final ten minutes of play but missed a number of opportunities
to seal the three points on offer.
The hosts pushed forward with a wave of attacks and should have taken the lead on 82
minutes when two of their efforts were cleared off the line in quick succession.
Three minutes later Matthew forced a fine save from Leatherhead keeper Sonny
Wheeler after starting and finishing another probing Southall attack.
And deep in stoppage time Oliver Harris missed a golden opportunity to win the
match for the hosts after being put through on goal. But with only Wheeler to beat the
Southall substitute slammed his shot over the bar from ten yards out.
Tanners can consider themselves fortunate to have come away from this match with a
point as they now prepare to visit Sevenoaks Town in the FA Cup Preliminary Round
next Saturday.
Southall: Koju Abayomi, Rahim Jude-Boyd, Azeez Alabi, Ryan Hope, Romey
Eccles-Meoded, Joshua Green, Lucius Vine (Oliver Harris 80), Omarr Lawson,
Florian Ada (Anthony O’Connor 64), Brendan Matthew (Jack Blower 85), Patrick
Matejko (Remy Bennison 45)
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Kwesi Ntim, Kelvin-Manuel Massango, Niran Butler
(Marco Haigh 31), George Hedley, Trey Masikini (Tahjae Anderson 78), Kane
Fitzgerald, Deondre Date, Matt Everitt, Anuar Ceesay (Alex MacAllister 64), Alfie
Huckle