We hosted Selsey FC at Fetcham Grove having beaten them 3-2 at their ground 6 weeks ago with a last minute winner; it couldn’t happen again could it!!

A good crowd just over 3 figures were entertained in a five goal thriller which was won by ourselves in the 91st minute; more of that later.

We took the field with one change from the team that drew with Mile Oak the previous Wednesday with Steve Springett slotting into the centre back slot for us.

We started the game brightly and took the lead through a shot by Athan Smith-Joseph in the 9th minute which evaded the Selsey back line to put us 1 up; it was the last real action of the game for Athan as he limped out shortly afterwards with an injury.  We were looking very comfortable for our lead and had a couple of half chances to extend our lead and then all of a sudden we found ourselves level after a piece of mis communication in our back line.  However, we did go into the break in front after a superb goal from Jamie Byatt who scored with a glorious shot from around the penalty box and in fairness was a just result for our dominance in the first half.

More or less as we were settling into the second half we found ourselves level again after another slight mix up in our back line; it was a harsh way to concede.  However, our opponents then had their best spell of  the match and were very unlucky not to take the lead.  We made a raft of substitutions to try and break the deadlock but nothing seemed to be working and then the mercurial Alex Penfold came on into the defence and his presence on the pitch was felt as we scored in the 91st minute through a header from Lewis Pearch (his first goal for the club).  There was still some time left but we weathered whatever our opponents could throw at us and we ran out winners with the same score line as when we played them earlier in the season – it was a tough game.

What does this mean for us? There are still games to go which can have an affect on who gets into the play off places; we are certainly in them and can probably secure a home tie in the semi-final of the play offs by securing some points at our local rivals Chessington and Hook on Thursday or at Billingshurst next Saturday.

What was noticeable at this game was that the Leatherhead Football Club supporters who come to our games when we are at home are completely shocked that we are moving on as our Chairman announced in our previous match programme.  We have explained to those supporters that it is none of our doing and they should ask the same question to their Board for their decision to curtail our ground sharing agreement at Fetcham Grove.  We will certainly miss them and the wonderful staff at LFC who make us so welcome.