Leatherhead 3 South Park (Reigate) 0
Report by Rod Ellis
Leatherhead maintained their fine start to the season with a 3-0 win over South Park at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday.
Second half goals from Sam De St Croix, Jacob Breckon and Kane Fitzgerald gave Tanners a hard fought win against a well organised Sparks’ side, who were difficult to break down until the closing minutes of a tightly contested match.
The first half created very few chances for either side, with both teams guilty of giving away possession far too easily.
Neither goalkeeper was severely tested until first half stoppage time. But in the second minute of added time, Leatherhead’s Mark Waters fed the ball through to Nathan Hogan to force a close range save from Sparks’ keeper Danny Bracken.
And moments before the half time whistle, South Park’s Shamal Edwards produced a shot on target at the other end which was well blocked by Leatherhead keeper Sonny Wheeler.
The match finally burst into life with a goal inside the opening twenty seconds of the second half. Straight from the kick off, Tanners worked the ball forward into the Sparks penalty area. The visitors failed to make a telling clearance and the loose ball dropped invitingly for De St Croix to fire home past Bracken.
Leatherhead missed an opportunity to extend their lead on 52 minutes when Kareem Akinnibi was put through on goal by Nathan Hogan. But the Tanners winger briefly hesitated as he bore down on goal, allowing defenders to cover back, and his eventual shot was blocked for a corner.
Midway through the second half Sparks had a shout for a penalty when Alex Keating went down in Leatherhead’s box, but the referee saw no foul and waved play on.
Tanners sub Breckon tested the visiting keeper with two shots in quick succession before Sparks came close to levelling at the other end. Kai Hamilton-Olise got past his marker on the wing and delivered a pin point cross into Leatherhead’s six yard box, but Edwards’ goal-bound close range effort was well blocked by Wheeler.
Leatherhead doubled their advantage with a second goal on 80 minutes. Fitzgerald curled a cross through a crowded penalty area and Breckon met the ball at chest height with a fine glancing header into the corner of the net.
Fitzgerald made certain of the win with a third Tanners goal on 86 minutes. Akinnibi worked the ball down the left channel before squaring to the Leatherhead skipper who fired home from the edge of the box.
The Tanners management team could have hardly asked for more from their players, who have scored nine goals without reply in their last three outings. This result should give them a big confidence boost as they prepare for Saturday’s FA Cup Preliminary Round tie against Westfield. Kick off at Fetcham Grove is at 3.00pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, George Hedley, Niran Butler, Sam De St Croix (Alfie
Huckle 60), Mark Waters, Lukas Franzen-Jones (Louie Paget 77), Kane Fitzgerald
(Tyrell Butler 88), Kelvin Massango, Ross Stepney, Nathan Hogan (Jacob Breckon
60), Kareem Akinnibi (James McLeod 88)
South Park: Danny Bracken, Jerry O’Sullivan (James McElligott 81), Jack Tucker,
Will Seager, Teddy Perkins, Dan Moody, Kai Hamilton-Olise (Regan Clarke-Salter
88), Callum McAllister (Tom Smith 71), Alex Keating (Brad Sweeney 68), Jordan
Hamilton-Olise (Craig McGee 24), Shamal Edwards
