Leatherhead 4 Uxbridge 0
Leatherhead maintained their pressure on the play-off places with a convincing 4-0
win against Uxbridge at Fetcham Grove on Saturday.
Goals from Trevan Robinson and Michael Elechi and two from Tyler Cox gave the
hosts a comfortable four goal lead inside 52 minutes.
Uxbridge had the odd attempt to reduce the arrears in the final half hour but rarely threatened either goalkeeper Mikey Allen or the resolute Tanners defence.
The match was preceded by an immaculately observed minute’s applause to mark the
passing of Leatherhead’s nineteen seventies goalkeeping legend John Swannell.
Tanners made the perfect start, scoring with only ninety seconds played. With
Uxbridge pushing men forward, the Reds’ defence were left exposed by a swift
Leatherhead counter-attack.
Robinson latched onto a long ball pumped into the visitors’ half. Seeing the Uxbridge
keeper off his line, the Tanners striker lobbed him from thirty yards out and the ball
dipped into an unguarded net.
Wingback Elechi made it 2-0 on 11 minutes, skipping his way past two defenders on
the left before flicking a tight angled shot into the corner of the net.
With the Reds defence in complete disarray, Robinson nearly added a third goal for
the hosts on 19 minutes. With his back to goal, the Tanners front man received the
ball on the edge of the box before spinning round and whipping a fierce drive just
wide of the post.
Cox also missed out a minute later, receiving the ball in front of goal before blasting a
shot high over the bar.
Uxbridge tried in vain to make a dent in the Tanners defence. George Moore tested
Allen with a long range effort before further chances from Christian Johnson and
Moore went wide.
Tanners extended their lead with another quick-fire attack on 28 minutes. Cox found
space in the visitors’ box and this time produced a cool, calm and collected finish,
planting the ball beyond the reach of the keeper and into the middle of the net.
At the start of the second half Uxbridge won a free kick within shooting distance of
Leatherhead’s goal. Mahlondo Martin struck the ball firmly, but hit it straight to
Allen.
Tanners continued to pose a danger to the visitors on the counter-attack and added a
fourth goal on 51 minutes.
With Uxbridge attempting to press forward Alpha Diallo made a telling interception
at the half way line. A few short passes later the ball arrived at Cox’s feet. And with
an intelligent flick, the Tanners midfielder looped it over the keeper and into the
corner of the net.
With a four-goal cushion and the three points firmly in Leatherhead’s grasp, there was
little further excitement for the remaining forty or so minutes.
In the final minute of normal time, Tanners sub Fransisco Fernandes broke clear at
half way and set off towards goal. An Uxbridge defender attempted to pull him back.
But Fernandes remained unperturbed, continuing to press forward before eventually
being fouled thirty yards from goal. For some reason the referee thought neither
offence was worthy of a yellow card and the follow up free kick came to nothing.
Results elsewhere on Saturday went in Leatherhead’s favour, with fellow promotion
contenders Southall losing at South Park (Reigate) and Raynes Park Vale drawing at
Northwood, while Marlow didn’t play.
All of which means Leatherhead remain in firm contention for a play-off finish with
the season slowly building its way towards an unpredictable climax at the end of
April.
Tanners will now briefly turn their attention to Tuesday’s Surrey Senior Cup Third
Round tie against South Park (Reigate). Kick off at Fetcham Grove is at 7.45pm.
Leatherhead: Mikey Allen, Alpha Diallo, Michael Elechi (Francisco Fernandes 70),
Luther Williams, Ollie Cook, Jamie Splatt, Daniel Hector, Ghas Sow, Trevan
Robinson (Trey Masikini 62), Fabio Saraiva, Tyler Cox (Omarr Lawson 62)
Uxbridge: George Legg, Elijah Anthony, Jaden Sharman, Alan Hedley, Luke Paris,
Hamilton Antonio, Wilson Chingoka Ezra Ndukuba 77), Prince Ogunmekan (Lewis
Cole 58), Christian Johnson, George Moore, Mahlondo Martin