VWhyteleafe 1 - 2 Leatherhead
Tommy Hutchings was the last gasp hero as his 86th minute strike delivered a vital three points to keep the Tanner’s dream of a play off spot alive on Tuesday night at local rivals Whyteleafe.
Manager Mick Sullivan will be particularly delighted as his two substitutes combined to create the chance which Hutchings buried with aplomb to send the travelling Tanner’s fans into raptures, in a game in which for long periods they were on the back foot.
Sullivan made two changes from Saturday’s team which had defeated Ramsgate bringing back goalkeeper Colin Harris and starting with Elliot Thompson in place of midfielder Rob Hill.
Carrying on from where they left off against Ramsgate, Tanners took the game to their hosts and were soon causing problems down both flanks.
When they awarded a free kick 30 yards out on the right after 16 minutes, up stepped Saturday’s hat trick hero Greg Andrews who deceived the ungainly looking Rob O Hara in the home goal with a low curling strike just inside the near post to give Tanners an early lead.
However, Leatherhead failed to capitilise on this breakthrough and it was their hosts who then proceeded to enjoy the better of a disjointed first half.
Ex Tanner Josh Smith was a constant thorn in their side, delivering a series of dangerous crosses from the right wing, and eventually Leafe’s route one strategy paid dividends as Darren Watson stole in at the far post to equalise on 43 minutes.
If Leatherhead were somewhat fortunate to go in level at the break, they were left cursing their luck 5 minutes after the restart when Hutchings fine strike was disallowed for a marginal off side call.
Leafe continued with their aerial strategy, boosted by Delap style long throws which caused a number of heart stopping moments in the Tanner’s box, but the defence, once again superbly marshalled by the ever dependable Chris Boulter, held firm.
As the game entered the final quarter, the tide began to turn with Marc Simmons becoming increasingly influential in the centre of the park and Sullivan threw caution to the wind bringing on Dom O Shea and Matt Francis to bolster the attack.
The warning signs were there for Leafe when on 78 minutes Andrews burst into the box and crashed a shot against the post, and Leafe began to wilt in the face of concerted pressure.
And sure enough with just 4 minutes left on the clock, the pressure told as Francis sent over a deep cross, O Shea headed back from beyond the far post and there was that man Hutchings to thrash a shot into the roof of the net from 6 yards.
Tanners could have made the game safe as Hutchings burst clear and found O Shea unmarked 12 yards out but his effort sailed just wide.
However this proved academic as despite injury time pressure which saw the Leafe keeper join the attack, Tanners held on to record another victory which keeps them hot on the heels of the chasing pack.
Leatherhead: Harris, Coke, Boulter, Dean, Goodwell, Thompson, Simmons, Pigden (O Shea), Terry (Francis), Andrews, Hutchings
Report by Sir Richard Wilkinson