SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2009

Sittingbourne 0 Leatherhead 3

The Tanners made a mockery of their poor away form by thumping mid table Sittingbourne 3-0 in what was probably their best performance of the season to date.

Leatherhead started strongly, pinning the hosts back in their own half, with a fluency and confidence that has been lacking so far away from the comforts of Fetcham Grove.

With just three minutes on the clock, Tanners could have gone ahead when a superb 50 yard cross field pass from Tommy Williams found the marauding Josh Smith on the right hand touchline who then ghosted past his marker and sent in an inch perfect cross to Kev Terry whose first time effort was blocked by a desperate lunge by a the home defence.

Just two minutes later, Man of the Match Dom O Shea played in Smith with a superb reverse pass and his first time cross was skewed over the corner of the goal by a stretching defender.

Leatherhead, with Williams outstanding in midfield and O Shea a constant menace in attack, continued to dominate but despite several corners could not make their possession count.

On 26 minutes, a long throw from Jon Coke on the left caused chaos in the host’s area, but when the ball fell to Smith 8 yards out, he failed to connect with the goal gaping.

As the half gradually wore on, Sittingbourne rallied and took control of the corner count as their pressure mounted.

Tanners had been defending solidly but when the ball fell to Jimmy Bottle 8 yards out, Colin Harris in the Tanner’s goal was forced to make a fine stop with his feet and the defence scrambled the ball clear.

The Brickies were soon to rue this missed chance when a clearance from defence found Terry wide on the right. A sublime first touch kept the ball in play and then a slide rule pass found Dom O Shea in the centre, who deftly knocked past his marker and ran on to finish with aplomb, giving Tanners a 1-0 lead on 42 minutes.

If Sittingbourne were hurt by that goal they were stunned on the stroke of half time when O Shea was fed by Billie Joe King and then turned his man to fire a scorching shot off the inside the post into the back of the net with Brickie's keeper Darren Ibrahim left motionless. Sittingbourne came out fired up the restart, but after applying pressure with a series of long throws which were well dealt by the outstanding Tanners defence, were dealt a mortal blow on 53 minutes. Kev Terry picked up the ball in his own half, and went on a blistering run at the retreating defence.

Just as it seemed he had lost control, the last covering defender intercepted but sold his back pass short and Terry’s never say die attitude was rewarded as he beat Ibrahim to the ball and fired home to give Tanner’s an unassailable three goal lead. The Brickies were reeling, but despite having the lion’s share of possession and a number of corners could not find a way back as Tanner’s defence, superbly marshalled by the outstanding Chris Boulter, held firm.

A very welcome three points on the road, and hopefully a springboard for the Tanners as they strive to kick start their season.

Leatherhead: Harris, Coke (Goodwell), Corbett, Boulter, Hill, King, Williams, dean, Smith, Terry (Collins), O Shea (Hutchings)