Match Report by Rod Ellis
Leatherhead 2 Phoenix Sports 2
Leatherhead fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a Monday night replay against Phoenix Sports in this FA Cup Extra Preliminary round tie.
The visitors unsettled Tanners with their height and strength at the back and quick pace in attack and raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening fifteen minutes.
With six minutes played Phoenix produced a good build up down the left and striker Jerson Dos Santos was well positioned in the box to fire home from close range.
Leatherhead’s defence was exposed once again after conceding a corner on 14 minutes. Phoenix piled players around Tanners goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler and when the ball was firmly driven into the six yard box and not cleared, Jake Goodman was well placed to bundle it over the line to double the visitors’ lead.
Leatherhead hit back. Nathan Hogan tested Phoenix keeper Sam Freeman with a powerful low shot from the edge of the box before George Hedley and Kareem Akinnibi went close with half chances in front of goal.
Anas Igozouln forced a good block from Freeman. Hedley latched onto the loose ball but was unable to hit the target.
Tanners made two changes at half time with Jacob Breckon replacing Akinnibi and James McLeod on for Lukas Franzen-Jones. McLeod moved into the left side of the back four, allowing makeshift left-back Isaac Olaniyan more opportunities to press forward.
The restructure paid dividends for the hosts as they quickly pulled a goal back at the
start of the second half.
On 47 minutes an advancing Hogan was tripped in the visitors’ box and the referee showed no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Breckon was given the ball and coolly slotted the spot kick past Freeman.
Tanners levelled on 60 minutes after Igozouln broke clear down the right in the visitors’ half. Approaching the penalty area, the former Ascot United winger instinctively picked out an advancing Hogan on his left, who confidently swept the ball past the keeper.
Both sides were eager to avoid a replay and the final half of the tie saw chances come and go at each end.
McLeod was shown a yellow card after blocking Tyler Anderson as the Phoenixwinger broke clear at the half way line.
Niran Butler and Sam De St Croix created further opportunities for Tanners in the closing minutes, but Phoenix saw out almost six minutes of added time to earn a well- deserved replay on Monday evening.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Ross Stepney, Kane Fitzgerald, Niran Butler, Isaac
Olaniyan (Tyrell Butler 69), Nathan Hogan (Louis Prendergast 81), Sam De St Croix,
Anas Igozouln, Lukas Franzen-Jones (James McLeod 46), Kareem Akinnibi (Jacob
Breckon 46), George Hedley
Phoenix Sports: Sam Freeman, Jerald Aboagye, Ahkeem Belford, Harry Barnes, Jake
Goodman, Jensen Grant, Will Efambe (Harry smart 70), Lyle Della-Verde, Jerson
Dos Santos, Dominic Mogan-Griffiths, Tyler Anderson
