Hello everyone, Lee Jackson here on a cool, misty evening at The Dripping Pan ahead of a potential goal-filled match between Lewes, who sit 6th in the league looking to break into the top three with a win, and Leatherhead who sit bottom of the league after ten games with only one victory to their record.
Conceding has been a major problem for Leatherhead, conceding 29 in just ten games. On the contrary, Lewes haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet in their past five games which can provide some encouragement for the away side. It may come as a surprise for some people that the head-to-head between the pair is level at 5-5 despite the distance between them in the table.
Can Leatherhead provide an upset here or will Lewes centre forward Joe Taylor further cement his place at the top of the goal-scoring charts? Here are the starting lineups.
Lewes and Leatherhead clap hands as the game gets underway under the lights.
KICK OFF! ’01 – Lewes get the action underway.
’06 – Early pressure from Lewes proving tricky for the Leatherhead players as they are being rushed on the ball.
CHANCE! ’12 – A clear cut opportunity for Lewes here as tricky Ollie Tanner with a venomous shot from close range but is denied with a strong-handed save from Myles Bowman.
’21 – “Ole, ole, ole” chant the Lewes faithful as they are passing the teeth off of Leatherhead here. Guardiola would be proud of this possession football.
CHANCE! ’22 – Not long after the belittling chants of ‘ole’, towering centre back Mitchell Nelson goes agonizingly close, just unable to get a touch on a free-kick that was caressed into the back post.
’24 – A lot of cynical fouls being carried out here but no bookings as of yet, a cagey affair so far but who will get the breakthrough?
’27 – The first shot registered for Leatherhead as Chidubem Onokwai plants a long-range effort to the keeper’s left resulting in a corner.
’29 – Zidane-like footwork from Onokwai making it tricky for the defender to stick a foot in, gets the shot away to catch the keeper at his near post but good reflexes result in a corner for Leatherhead.
’34 – Dispossession in midfield results in a quick break with some elegant build-up play but no finish to top it off. Bradley Pritchard with a wayward shot from 30 yards going well over the Leatherhead bar.
🟨 YELLOW CARD ’36 – Tension rising here as the deadlock is yet to be broken. Lewes holding midfielder Michael Klass wins most of the ball but just appears to trip his man resulting in the first yellow card of the game.
🟨 YELLOW CARD ’38 – A feisty few minutes here with two bookings in quick succession. Leatherhead full-back Guy Kiangebini going into the book this time for a cynical foul on Taylor Maloney.
⚽ GOAL! (LEWES 1 – 0 LEATHERHEAD) ’39 – Joe Taylor takes his tally to nine for the season with some top draw link-up play with winger Razz Coleman De-Graft as he plays it into Taylor’s feet and a nice little pivot away from the defender and smashes it in off the underside of the crossbar.
🟥 RED CARD! ’43 – Sumptuous lofted pass over the sleeping Leatherhead defence as Ryan Huckle misjudges the flight of the ball leaving Taylor through on goal, a professional foul but completely deserved of the red card. Leatherhead is making a mountain out of a molehill here.
⚽ GOAL! (LEWES 2 – 0 LEATHERHEAD) ’45 – A wicked deflection from a Maloney free-kick wrong-foots the goalkeeper resulting in it bouncing into an open net.
🕑 HALF TIME – (LEWES 2 – 0 LEATHERHEAD)
SUBSTITUTION ’45 – Second half underway and Leatherhead really looking poor this evening, no drive, no guile about their play and really lacking leadership. This could be a real drubbing if they aren’t careful. Lewes making a like for like change at fullback as Kenny Yao is replaced by Killian Colombie whilst Leatherhead look to fill the gap at the back from the sending off by bringing off Stephane Bombelenga for Cameron Black.
’47 – Substitute Colombie getting into the thick of the game straight away combining well with Pritchard down the right flank as they look for the third goal and to put the game beyond the reach of Leatherhead.
Lewes can move into the top three if the result stays the same here.
⚽ GOAL! (LEWES 3 – 0 LEATHERHEAD) ’50 – Taylor taking a break from the goals by turning provider this time as Pritchard fires the ball into him, great hold up play and a delicate layoff to put it on a plate for Pritchard to fire home from 25 yards to make it 3-0 to Lewes.
’56 – The midfield pivot of Pritchard and Maloney has been great to watch, the understanding between the pair is something that cannot be taught. Really running the middle of the park and stamping their authority on the game.
SUBSTITUTION ’59 – Klass has been class all evening but he has run his course this evening as he makes way for creative midfielder Freddie Parker.
⚽ GOAL! (LEWES 4 – 0 LEATHERHEAD) ’60 – A scramble in the Leatherhead box as Taylor bullies the defenders once more winning the second ball and slotting home his 10th of the season and brace for the game. A worthy man of the match performance from the prolific frontman so far.
CHANCE! ’66 – A beautiful switch of play from Nelson to Tanner which has been happening all game but the accuracy of the passing is just sublime. There is no wonder why Leatherhead aren’t able to stop it as Kiangebini misjudges the flight of the ball and Tanner controls well to force a good save from Bowman.
SUBSTITUTION ’70 – Another change for Lewes as tricky winger Iffy Allen comes on for Coleman De-Graft who has really given the fullback a torrid time all match.
’72 – “Lewes till I die!” chants blanket The Dripping Pan as the Lewes crowd are really enjoying themselves tonight.
⚽ GOAL! (LEWES 5 – 0 LEATHERHEAD) ’74 – Yet another opportunity for Tanner as a delicious ball over the top presents a delightful opportunity but Tanner hits the post and it’s Allen who gets onto the rebound making it 5-0.
SUBSTITUTION ’78 – A dejected Jack Skinner unable to influence the game is replaced by Callum Manning for Leatherhead.
’80 – A crowd of 449 is in attendance tonight to witness a mauling but you have to feel for Leatherhead keeper Bowman.
CHANCE! ’86 – Another chance goes begging for Tanner as a brilliant dribble into the box beating three men results in another good save by Bowman. Just not his night tonight but has played really well nonetheless.
🕑 FULL TIME – (LEWES 5 – 0 LEATHERHEAD)
Lewes players console dejected Leatherhead players after the 5-0 thrashing taking them into the top three.
Reflecting on the Match
Looking back on the match it was business as usual for Lewes as they stamped their authority on the game early on ensuring Leatherhead weren’t able to gain any encouragement from early pressure. Taylor’s contributions for Lewes were instrumental in the victory as he further cemented in his place at the top of the scoring charts as well as registering an assist. Despite early pressure from Leatherhead, they were never able to kick on and make it count conceding five in the end to end a disappointing night for the away side.
