V
Walton Casuals 1 Leatherhead 0
Leatherhead slumped to a now depressingly familiar looking scoreline away from home, as for the fourth time this season they were defeated on their travels by the only goal of the game.
The away supporters would have hoped for better, particularly as Tanners fielded a side boosted by the midweek loan signing of former favourite Tommy Williams from Kingstonian, and the return from injury of Liam Collins and Dominic O Shea.
It all seemed to be going to plan as Leatherhead dominated the early exchanges and should have wrapped the match up well before Walton Casuals scored with what turned out to be their only effort on target all game.
On just 6 minutes, Leatherhead were awarded a free kick 25 yards out on the right hand side and Tommy Hutchings produced a powerful dipping shot that skimmed the bar but unfortunately pole axed an elderly supporter behind the goal.
Five minutes later Tanners were denied a clear cut penalty when Dominic O Shea found space 10 yards out and saw his shot parried by a defender who threw himself in front of the goal, but unfortunately the referee was unsighted and the assistant was unwilling to make a decision.
Leatherhead were now pouring forward at every opportunity, with Williams at the heart of most of their moves as the home side were paralysed by Tanner’s quick movement and slick passing.
Another sweeping move, this time down the left hand side saw Hutchings played in behind the defence but his first time cross was inches in front of the lunging O Shea as it flew across the 6 yard box with Chico Ramos in the home goal left spellbound.
Hutchings was seeing plenty of the ball and on 20 minutes ended a trademark surging run by launching a rocket from distance which just cleared the bar, and then minutes later Hassan Nyang nearly got on the end of a cross from Collins but the ball fell kindly for the Walton defender who hacked clear.
Walton had been restricted to just one corner, but shortly before half time were gifted a golden opportunity which they gratefully accepted.
Iain Hendry’s weak free kick led to Chris Boulter attempting a rash back pass, and it was easily intercepted by Casual’s striker Martin Grant who confidently rounded Craig Bradshaw to slot home and give the home side a shock lead.
After the interval, a fired up Tanners side, having seen Josh Smith replace Collins, took the game by the scruff of the neck but could not find a away past an inspired Chico Ramos in the Casual’s goal.
On 52 minutes he dived full length to his right to tip a Dan Dean effort around the post, and then spread himself to deny O Shea from close range after Dean’s pass had been cleverly dummied by Nyang.
However having survived this spell Walton gradually fought their way back into game, and as Tanner’s pressed forward a quick counter by Casuals saw a cross fizz across the face of the goal with no one on hand to apply a finishing touch.
Leatherhead’s efforts were subsequently restricted to wild shots from long range, and the home side finally found some confidence to retain possession, and the game fizzled out into yet another 1-0 defeat for the travelling Tanners.
Leatherhead: Bradshaw, Goodwell, Hendry, Boulter, Dean, Coke (Osuwu–Bekoe), Nyang, Williams, Collins (Smith), Hutchings O Shea (Graham)