Match Report by Rod Ellis
Leatherhead 1 Harrow Borough 0
Leatherhead maintained their three point lead at top of the league with a narrow 1-0
win against Harrow Borough at Fetcham Grove on Saturday.
Nathan Hogan’s close range finish on 66 minutes was all that separated the two sides
in a tight encounter dominated by two well organised defences and two very good
goalkeepers.
Leartherhead were denied in the opening minute by Boro keeper Tom Clark. Jacob
Breckon played the ball forward to an advancing Hogan, but his goal-bound effort
was well saved by the keeper.
Clark did well again to turn away Billy Montague’s header after ten minutes as
Tanners pressed forward.
Harrow created a good opportunity to break the deadlock after 32 minutes. Sakeel
Balfour Brown broke clear of his marker to test Sonny Wheeler from the edge of the
penalty area. But the Leatherhead keeper got down low to his right to palm the shot
behind for a corner.
Tanners went close again on 41 minutes. Skipper Kane Fitzgerald headed on towards
Breckon, who fired a shot low to the keeper’s left. But once again Clark got down
well to make another fine save, tipping the ball behind for a corner.
New signing Alex Body was introduced as a sub for Tanners at the start of the second
half and almost scored with his first touch of the ball.
Straight from kick-off Leatherhead pushed forward towards the visitors’ goalmouth.
A shot from Breckon cannoned against the crossbar. Body latched onto the rebound,
but his follow up effort was well blocked by Clark.
The new striker went close again for Leatherhead on the hour mark, with the former
Hartley Wintney man latching onto Montague’s cross before firing just wide of the
post.
Jordy Gallagher’s introduction as a second Tanners sub played a big part in breaking
the deadlock on 66 minutes.
Gallagher picked out Breckon with a probing cross into the visitors’ box. Breckon’s
shot was blocked by a defender. But the loose ball went straight to Hogan, who fired
home through a busy goalmouth.
Gallagher almost added another for Leatherhead a minute later, but his goal bound
effort was headed away for a corner by a covering defender.
Tanners continued to pile pressure onto Boro’s defence, with Cameron Black heading
Hogan’s in swinging corner just wide on 69 minutes.
Leatherhead were content to sit on their lead in the closing minutes, defending deep
and allowing the visitors to press forward and attack.
The referee found seven minutes of additional time, but the visitors failed to break
down the well organised Tanners defence, allowing Leatherhead to celebrate a sixth
successive win across all competitions.
Tanners visit Hartley Wintney on Tuesday evening for another league match. Kick-off
at The Memorial Fields is at 7.30pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Mark Waters, Niran Butler, Cameron Black, Billy
Montague (Jordy Gallagher 63), Kane Fitzgerald, Anas Igozouln (Alex Body 46), Seb
Tauta-Caballero, Nathan Hogan (George Hedley 82), Louie Paget, Jacob Breckon
Harrow Borough: Tom Clark, Olu Akinode, Luke Brophy, Prince Mbengui, Harry
Nevins, Ruben Collins, Charlie Malin (Dernell Wynter 47), Jack Hutchinson, Lenny
Farhall (Gareth Chendlik 53), Reece Robins, Sakeel Balfour Brown (Will Bailey 79)
