Leatherhead manager Richard Brady has labelled Monday’s crunch trip to bottom-side Horsham as a relegation six-pointer.

The Tanners did their survival hopes some good last Saturday by rescuing a 1-1 draw against Wealdstone thanks to Tommy Hutchings’s late strike.

But they still sit third from bottom in the Ryman Premier League, three points from safety and three points above Horsham, leaving Brady under no illusion as to the importance of their Boxing Day clash.

“It’s a six pointer,” he said.

“We are going away from home and the boys will understand that we’ve got no right to go there expecting a win.

“I know the manager and they have been unlucky at times, they aren’t the whipping boys they maybe were at one point this season.

“They will be working hard to get a result.”

The Tanners trailed early on on Saturday when the prolific Richard Jolley netted after just five minutes.

But they fought their way back into the game and equalised six minutes from time thanks to Hutchings, the club’s top-scorer last season.

The striker has struggled to find the net since returning from injury at the start of the campaign but has begun to find his form again.

“Tommy was a difficult one when I first came into the club,” said Brady.

“He had had his injury and had never really been rehabilitated – just thrown back in because of the situation Leatherhead were in.

“But we are starting to see the best of him now.

“Saturday was a bit of a ding dong game on reflection.

“We hit the post after 30 seconds and then they went 1-0 up after five minutes.

“They tried to spoil the game which I think shows how far we have come that teams are happy to come to Fetching Grove, nick a goal and shut up shop.

“In the second half, we passed the ball much quicker and much sharper and got the equaliser as a result.

“There only looked like one team who would win it in the last 10 minutes but in the end it was a well-gained point but we were in the ascendancy to get three.”

Meanwhile, Brady has been able to strengthen his backline with the addition of former Crystal Palace youngster Jerry Nnamani.

The 19-year-old centre back has joined from Brady’s former side Sittingbourne.

Nnamani came up through the youth ranks at Palace but couldn’t make the step up to first-team football and was released in the summer.

The 6ft 3in defender made his debut on Saturday and will not be the last addition to to the squad if Brady gets his Christmas wish.

He said: “It’s been a busy time trying to strengthen in areas and we’ve got a few irons in the fire.”