Leatherhead FC 2 vs 2 Central

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">LDSFL Division One <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">LEATHERHEAD&nbsp; 2&nbsp;&nbsp; CENTRALS FC&nbsp;&nbsp; 2 <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">H-t: 1-1 <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">League leaders Leatherhead were held to a draw by a well drilled Centrals side in the hard fought contest, although a controversially disallowed goal robbed Leatherhead of all three points. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">A much changed Leatherhead side were without 7 players through injury and unavailability, but a gutsy performance that showed real determination resulted in arguably Leatherhead best performance of the season. The home side took a while to settle into their new 4-4-2 formation, but the defence always looked sound, and easily repelled the attempted long passing of Centrals midfield starlet Elliott Thompson. Tom Dale and Joe Findlay epitomised the teams spirit with their excellent defending, and it was Findlay who made a perfectly timed last ditch tackle to deprive Thompson of an excellent scoring opportunity when he only had Peak to beat having beaten the offside trap. Centrals took the lead on 24 minutes with a well worked goal following quick interpassing, and this was the moment that Leatherhead immediately regrouped and played their best football for the rest of the first half. Ed Savitt equalised on 33 minutes finishing off a Will Ashdown delivery from the left side.&nbsp; Justin Holman should have scored with only the keeper to beat, but shot wide. On the stroke of half time Stu Burge worked the ball from the right side, passing back to Will Ashdown to finish from close range only for the linesman to inexplicably rule it offside even though the ball was clearly passed backwards. The referee apologised for the linesmans error at half time but this was of little consolation. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Leatherhead began the second half the way they finished the first, much the stronger side, playing good passing football exposing the visitors lack of pace in defense, but too often mistiming their runs which led to numerous off side decisions. Quicker delivery of passes to the speedy Leatherhead front line was needed. On 59 minutes Will Ashdown volleyed home a Fitzgerald corner to put Leatherhead 2-1 ahead. Eyres and Sime continued to cut out all long balls, with their aerial superiority, and Savitt and Burge looked dangerous. Thompson equalised on 82 minutes with a solo effort, and the spoils were shared, in a good tempered sporting game. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Team:&nbsp; Joe Peak, Tom Dale, Matt Sime, James Eyres, Joe Findlay, Will Ashdown, Steve Fitzgerald, Tom Ashdown, Justin Holman, Ed Savitt, Stu Burge; SUBS: Mark Leyland, Neil Grant <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&nbsp; <p>&nbsp;