Chris Boulter has left Leatherhead having asked the club to terminate his contract, which ran until the end of the season.

Injury has prevented the centre-back from training for two months, and he cannot contemplate regaining the level of fitness required to compete at Ryman League Premier Division level over the next three months.

With regret, the club have agreed to this request with immediate effect.

Boulter made 138 appearances for Leatherhead, scoring 11 goals over the last two and a half seasons, including both goals in the 2-2 play-off semi-final at Folkestone in 2010, which was lost on penalties, as well as captaining the
side during one of our most successful periods in our history, including
lifting the Ryman League Cup in 2010, and leading the side to promotion via
the play-offs last May.

Boulter had the extraordinary record of playing the whole of the 2009/10 season without missing a single minute of competitive football – a remarkable feat at any level. He also won the Player of the Year Award in 2010.

Chairman Peter Ashdown said: “As well as being a fine player, who always led by example on the pitch, he is a thoroughly nice man and dealings with him were always a pleasure.

“As a contracted player, when injured, he was entitled to continue to be paid, but typical of the individual, when he had to take a three-week
break before Christmas to attempt to recover from a series of niggling injuries that had taken its toll on his body, he immediately insisted on unpaid leave, forever concious that like all clubs at this level, we strive to balance our books, and he didn’t think he should be paid if he was unfit to play.

“Chris has been a first class servant to the Tanners and we all wish him
well in the future, and will of course always welcome him back to the Grove
to meet up with old friends, and he assures me he will be along next week to
support the team.

“Boults has been a superb ambassador for non-league football wherever he has played, and will be sorely missed by everyone. Thanks for everything Boults.”

By Rod Ellis

Leatherhead 2 (Hutchings, Manners) Margate 0

Second half goals from Tommy Hutchings and Billy Manners secured a vital win for relegation threatened Leatherhead on Tuesday.

Visitors Margate arrived at Fetcham Grove without the Ryman Premier’s leading goalscorer, after Crystal Palace snapped up Kwesi Appiah for an undisclosed sum on transfer deadline day.

Gate dominated possession in the opening half but had little to show for it. Matt Bodkin and Dan Stubbs threatened down the wing but found themselves up a against a resolute Leatherhead defence, determined not to repeat Saturday’s capitulation against play off hopefuls Bury Town.

Tanners were far more measured going forward against Margate. They were prepared to wait to create openings, by patiently holding onto possession and not resorting to hitting aimless long balls down the middle from the heart of their defence.

After a cautious opening half hour the game sprang into life with a couple of near misses at both ends.

With 38 minutes on the clock Margate’s Laurence Ball floated a cross into the Leatherhead box for Tom Bradbrook to head against the post.

Tanners had their own near miss two minutes later, with Hutchings forcing a diving save from Margate keeper Simon Overland. The ball came back invitingly for Manners, but the referee’s assistant flagged for offside as his follow up shot hit the post.

Leatherhead will have been relieved to have gone in at half time on level terms, but their confidence received a huge boost after 48 minutes with a superb opening goal from Hutchings.

Some neat interplay between new signing Ryan Dolby and Manners saw the ball played through to Kev Terry on the edge of the Margate box.

Terry unselfishly played the ball back into the path of the advancing Hutchings, who struck it sweetly into the corner of the net.

Dolby had a chance to add to the lead after the ball was fed through to him down the right, but he sliced his shot wide of the post.

Elliott Thompson entered the fray for Leatherhead on the hour mark, replacing Dolby, and immediately set about creating problems for the visitors with his blistering pace.

Terry continued to taunt the Margate defence with his clever footwork, playing through Manners in an almost identical position to Hutchings’ opening goal, but on this occasion there was no power behind the shot and the ball was safely gathered up by Overland.

Thompson was the instigator of Leatherhead’s second goal after 71 minutes, taking the ball past two Margate defenders before finding Terry in the middle, who fed it through to the oncoming Manners to drill past Overland.  

Ryan Andrew had a chance to sew up the points for Leatherhead after 85 minutes, rounding three Margate defenders before firing wide from the edge of the box.

Having conceded five goals on Saturday, Tanners will have been mightily relieved to have kept a clean sheet against Margate. The three points lifts them above Tooting & Mitcham United to 19th in the league table, with a chance to consolidate their position in another midweek home match against Wingate & Finchley next Tuesday.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Andrew, Gross, Coyle, Nnamani, Brunt, Dolby (Thompson 60), Simmons, Terry (Thomas 87), Hutchings (R Hill 82), Manners. Unused subs: Lambu, Sargent

Photos copyright of Neil Hood.

Leatherhead moved to within a point of safety last night with a deserved victory over in-form Margate.

After a cold first half bereft of entertainment, apart from a Tom Bradbrook header from the visitors that came back off the post, the Tanners came alive in the second half.

Kev Terry was sent scampering away down the left in the 49th minute, cutting the ball back for Tommy Hutchings to fire home.

Terry then laid off for Billy Manners, following good work by substitute Elliott Thompson, and he curled home the second to give the home side the priceless three points.

Full report to follow.

With a number of players unavailable to manager Richard Brady over recent weeks, the official website sought to find out which players are sidelined by injury and how long they will be out for.

Vernon Francis – Came off late in the game with Bury Town on Saturday and it has been revealed that he has broken his hand and faces some time on the sidelines.

Gary Drewett – Suffered a recurrence of the ankle injuries he has been beset by this season and will miss the rest of the campaign.

Liam Pestle – Originally thought to be a groin injury, looks like it’s a hernia problem for the right-back, which would keep him out for a considerable period of time.

Chris Boulter – Suffering from neck, back and foot injuries. Took some time off just before Christmas, but having come back into the side for a short period, the problems have resurfaced. Needs a break and will be taking time out to sort out the problems.

By Rod Ellis

Leatherhead 0 Bury Town 5 (Sands, Smith 3, Nunn)

Leatherhead suffered their worst defeat of the season, as Bury Town scored five goals without reply at Fetcham Grove.

It was a bizarre score line as the two sides had been evenly matched in the opening thirty minutes, with Leatherhead playing attractive, flowing football. All that was to change, however, as the visitors took a two goal lead at the end of the first half.

Richard Brady introduced two more new players into the Leatherhead starting line up and both looked useful additions. Nineteen year old midfielder Thomas Brunt arrived on a month’s loan from Gillingham, having held a professional contract with the League Two club, while 22 year old midfielder Ryan Dolby joined from Blue Square South front runners Welling United.

Bury had an early chance after 10 minutes, with Russell Short chipping over the bar. Leatherhead responded positively, as Dolby fired into the side netting from a wide angle.

Tanners’ best chance in the opening half came after 28 minutes, when Tom Hutchings broke clear down the left and drilled a probing ball through the heart of Bury’s defence, but he found no one in a green shirt to turn it home.

Bury’s John Sands opened up the Tanners defence after 36 minutes to force a diving save from Leatherhead goalkeeper Chico Ramos, who turned the ball away for a corner.

A Sam Reed header almost caught out Ramos two minutes later, but the keeper made another smart save to stop the ball from going over his head.

Bury were now starting to look threatening and they duly took the lead after 41 minutes. A shot from Lee Reed was well blocked by Ramos, but Sands latched onto the rebound to send the ball home.

Worse was to follow for the home side two minutes later. Tanners shipped a second goal, as Lee Smith effortlessly rounded his marker to slip the ball past Ramos.

Bury were then awarded a penalty in the opening minute of the second half. Tanners were caught out going forward and defender Adam Gross chased   back into his own penalty area before colliding with Sands, who fell dramatically to the ground.

The same player got up to take the spot kick, but sent the ball crashing over the roof of the Bernard Edwards stand behind the goal.

If Leatherhead thought that they had received a let-off, they were punished for their complacency five minutes later, as they conceded an untidy third goal.

A cross was floated into the home side’s penalty area and Bury centre half Sam Nunn rose up to nod it gently towards the far post. Ramos completely misjudged the flight of the ball, allowing it to float past him and into the corner of the net off the post.

Bury thought they had another perfectly good goal disallowed, after Sands took the ball past Ramos, before planting it into the back of the net, only to see the referee’s assistant raise his flag for handball. Sands’ disappointment turned to frustration, as he was cautioned by the referee for playing on after the whistle. 

By now Leatherhead could smell defeat and the visitors added a fourth goal after 64 minutes. Smith outsmarted the Leatherhead defence to fire past Ramos from the edge of the box, finishing off the best series of passes in the match.

Bury rounded off the scoring with their fifth goal after 75 minutes, as Connor Hall worked the ball in to the six yard box from the byeline, allowing Smith to  complete his hat-trick with a simple tap in.

Leatherhead pressed forward in the final stages, desperately searching for a late consolation goal.

Brunt and Thomas both went close before the referee blew the final whistle to save any further embarrassment for the home side.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Richmond, Gross, Coyle, Nnamani, Brunt, Francis (Thompson), Simmons, Terry, Hutchings (Manners), Dolby (Thomas). Unused subs: R Hill, Lambu

Manager Richard Brady has added two midfielders to his squad.

Ryan Dolby, 22 has been brought in from Blue Square Bet South side Welling United, while Thomas Brunt, who is just 19, has signed on loan from League Two high-flyers Gillingham.

Brunt joined the Kent side’s centre of excellence at just eight years old and earned a professional contract with the club for this season.

Both players go straight into the squad for today’s match with Bury Town.

Carshalton Athletic’s continued involvement in the FA Trophy means that the Robins’ visit to Fetcham Grove on February 4 will be postponed.

That match has been re-arranged and will take place on Tuesday, February 28.

The home game with Concord Rangers has yet to be re-arranged.

See the fixtures page for the full rundown of fixtures between now and the end of the season.

By Rod Ellis

Wingate & Finchley 1 (Smith) Leatherhead 0

Leatherhead went down to a one-goal defeat at a well organised Wingate & Finchley side in this wind-swept match at Summers Lane.

A well executed header from Leon Smith was all that separated the two sides in a scrappy match, made all the harder for both sets of players by a blustery wind.

Leatherhead hardly managed to threaten Wingate throughout the match. They lacked shape and cohesion in midfield as, time and again, they opted to pump long balls forward from defence, instead of using the full width of the pitch to take advantage of a good playing surface.

Tanners were fortunate not to lose by a lot heavier margin. Wingate missed chance after chance to build on an early lead, whereas a solitary Tommy Hutchings effort midway through the second half was the visitors’ only real goal scoring opportunity in an untidy match.

Former Aveley defender Ryan Andrew came in to Leatherhead’s starting line up at right back, replacing an injured Liam Pestle, while Elliott Thompson earned a start in midfield following his influential second half display last week against Hastings.

Blues took the lead after eight minutes. Tanners failed to deal with a cross from the byeline, leaving Wingate’s tall centre forward Smith with room to head home past the outstretched arms of Leatherhead keeper Chico Ramos.

Wingate created several chances to build on their opener. A Kieron Street shot was turned behind for a corner before an effort from David Laird came back off the post.

Leatherhead pressed forward but lost possession on the half way line after 24 minutes, allowing Smith to break clear and take the ball to the edge of the box before firing wide.

Blues created further chances during the final minutes of the opening half. Smith sent another close range header over the bar before Ramos made a fine save from another Laird effort.

Wingate had a great chance to double their lead after 50 minutes. Smith broke clear in the middle of the visitors’ half, but the Blues’ leading goalscorer took one touch too many as he bore down on the Leatherhead goal and Ramos bravely gathered the ball at the striker’s feet.

Thompson and Rob Hill made way for Jack Pallen and Adam Gross in a double substitution for Leatherhead after 51 minutes, but the hosts kept pushing forward in search of that elusive second goal.

Ross Parmenter fired wide and then Smith pulled away from Tanners’ centre back Jerry Nnamani before hitting another shot wide.

Leatherhead failed to produce a shot on target until the 62^nd minute. Hutchings broke clear in the box, but Wingate keeper Bobby Smith stood up well to block the shot from ten yards out.

Tanners had a half-chance to snatch a late equaliser when Vernon Francis got the ball back from the byeline, but Colin Richmond scooped his shot high over the bar from the corner of the box.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Andrew, Hill (Gross 51), Coyle, Nnamani, Simmons, Francis, Thompson (Pallen, 51), Terry (Lambu 64), Hutchings, Richmond. Unused subs: Manners, Thomas.