PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE
SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION
TUESDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2022
UXBRIDGE 0 LEATHERHEAD 2 (HT 0-0)
Uxbridge failed to repeat their performance from Saturday at Chertsey Town, falling to defeat at home to Leatherhead, following two second half goals from the visitors. Let’s get the stats out the of the way to start with. This was our tenth home game against the Tanners in the Isthmian League and our first defeat. Since Danny Edwards took over as manager in 2019, we had never failed to score in consecutive league games. This was the first time we had lost two league games in a row for just over two years. Therefore, I think we need to see this as a blip and I’m sure everyone will be working hard to put this week behind us and get our promotion push back on track. Two changes were made to the team that took to the field at Chertsey Town. Gareth Chendlik and Elliott Poley coming in for Scott Donnelly and Andy O’Brien respectively.
The Reds got off to a lively start and Dan Williams forced Joe Ringer into a smart save in the second minute. The Leatherhead keeper getting down well to his right to push his well struck shot round the post for a corner. Williams got another goal bound shot away a couple of minutes later, however, it hit Chendlik in front of Ringer and was cleared. Victor Osobu looked to be carrying on where he left off on Saturday – beating the fullback and putting in a dangerous low cross which Chendlik just failed to force home. The visitors responded with two chances of their own. Dave Tarpey hitting a shot against the post and minutes later he failed to get a good contact on a cross into the box and the ball trickled into the hands of Henry Grad. The opening quarter of an hour concluded with Williams firing over when well placed. Ten minutes later Uxbridge had a great chance to take the lead – Osobu once again got to the bye-line and pulled the back ball back into the path of Joe Jackson – unfortunately, he trod on the ball as he attempted to side-foot home from six yards. The Tanners were also creating chances and Josh Andrew made a great covering tackle, after Tarpey had put Reise Allassani through on goal. The theme of the evening for Uxbridge was blocked shots. No less than five efforts on goal from inside the box were blocked by defenders throwing themselves in the way to deny Williams, Witham, Osobu, Jackson and Donnelly. In the last five minutes of the half tempers boiled over with two Leatherhead players going into the referee’s book for late tackles. Handbags were exchanged and the half-time whistle sounded with the scores level.
The second period started with the visitors forcing a number of corners, which were dealt with by the Reds defence. Chendlik sent a header just wide from Jackson’s cross and Grad got a faint touch to deny Allassani after he had been left to run at Babs Jarra in a one-on-one situation. From the corner kick Lewis Patrick sliced his attempted clearance and from the second set-piece Leatherhead took the lead. Louise Collins’s sent over a well struck kick that Grad mis-judged and Andrew at the far-post could only help the ball over the line. In an attempt to snatch back the initiative Danny Edwards sent on Donnelly and Jordan Ireland in place of Osobu and Witham. Grad had to be quick off his line to block Daniel Hector’s shot as the forward closed in on goal but ten minutes later, in the 84th, a similar situation saw Tarpey play the ball through to substitute Lewis Pearch who slid the ball past Grad as he sped from his line to cut down the angle. Grad was called into action late on to deny Tarpey a goal that his performance probably deserved. He was at full stretch to push the hard-working forwards shot, from the edge of the box, round the post as Leatherhead finished the game on top. Full-Time 0-2.
Uxbridge will look to bounce back from this set-back when they welcome National League South side Dover Athletic to Honeycroft on Saturday in the 2nd Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy. Your support will be vital if we are to repeat last season’s exploits when we won at Chippenham Town, also from the National League South.
COME ON YOU REDS!
Uxbridge Line-up: Grad, Andrew, Patrick, Jarra, Poley, Jackson, Osobu, Hedley, Williams, Chendlik, Witham. Subs: Donnelly for Osobu, Ireland for Witham, Bitmead for Jackson. Not Used: Nugent, O’Brien.