Leatherhead moved off the bottom of the Ryman Premier League with a solid 1-1 draw at Carshalton Athletic, which left Robins manager Paul Dipre frustrated, writes James Barrett and Rod Ellis.

Tommy Hutchings scored what was surprisingly his firsst league goal of the season with a penalty after 17 minutes before Dean Lodge notched his first goal for Carshalton with 37th minute equaliser.

Although Carshalton are unbeaten in eight matches, Dipre was not happy.

“It was another slow start to our game, we didn’t wake up for 30 minutes and by that time we were a goal down,” he said.

“The penalty was a laughable decision and ultimately cost us two points, but Leatherhead probably deserved a point through their work rate and commitment.

“They played five in midfield, often all of them behind the ball and that made it very difficult for us to break them down.

"It’s the same system they used to nearly toppled Sutton United a couple of weeks ago, so all credit to them.

“We have been cursed with team selection problems all season, either through injury and more recently illness.

"It’s affected stability and, in turn, confidence, but we have done very well to get through it and pick up useful points on the way.”

Dipre welcomed captain David Ray, the versatile Craig Tanner and striker Laurent Hamici back into the fold and all three started in place of Kieran Murphy, Luke Nolan and Luke Pigden.

But it was Leatherhead started the match well, with a Jack Macleod shot and a Colin Richmond header testing Robins’ keeper Nick Hamann.

The match sparked into life after 17 minutes when Tanners were awarded a penalty after Richmond was felled by Justyn Roberts on the edge of the box.

The referee sought guidance from the touchline, with his assistant having a much clearer view of the incident, before awarding a penalty.

None of the Carshalton players questioned the decision, although from a distance it looked as though Richmond was a yard outside the box when the contact was made. Hutchings firmly struck the spot kick low to the keeper’s left to put the visitors ahead.

Leatherhead continued to press forward, keeping their hosts pegged back in their own half for long periods in the first half.

Just when it looked as though Tanners were taking control of the match, Carshalton hit back with an equaliser.

Tom Davis broke clear of his marker in the centre circle and played the ball forward into the path of Lodge.

Tanners’ keeper Chico Ramos was in two minds on whether to come out of his area in an effort to get to the ball before Lodge or to hold his ground.

Following a moment’s hesitation, he opted for the latter but may have regretted the decision as Lodge latched on to the ball and fired home from the edge of the box.

Ramos showed tremendous bravery early in the second half, coming off his line to make a save at the feet of Paul Vines.

The Carshalton forward made a heavy contact with the Leatherhead keeper and play was held up for a couple of minutes while Ramos received treatment for a head injury before being able to continue.

The Leatherhead keeper had to be alert after 74 minutes, when Vines hit a speculative cross into the box from the right touch line.

The ball curled over everyone’s heads in the area before being tipped behind by Ramos for a corner.

Leatherhead created a number of winning chances in the final stages of the match.

Hutchings beat Hamaan with a shot from a tight angle but the ball ran wide of goal and stayed in play.

Kev Terry reached it first, playing it back into the path of Greg Andrews, but instead of taking his time to place the shot he opted to blast the ball high and wide of the goal.

Hutchings had another fine effort on target after 81 minutes, but this time Hamann produced a good save low to his left.

Terry had a chance from a wide angle four minutes later, but saw his shot go into the side netting.

Following the Ramos head injury the referee added five minutes of stoppage time and during the first of these added minutes Leatherhead had their best chance to win the match.

The Carshalton defence were all over the place when Terry won the ball on the edge of the box with enough time to look up and think about where to place his shot.

He hit the ball firmly towards the centre of the goal, but found Michael Kamara standing in his way to clear the ball off the line with a powerful header.

Carshalton go to AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday before heading to Maldon and Tiptree on Saturday for an FA Trophy match, while Leatherhead host Wingate & Finchley in the Charity Shield tomorrow and welcome Lewes in the league on Saturday.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Pestle, Hill, Boulter, Coyle, Simmons, Francis (Dean), Richmond (Manners), Terry, Hutchings, Macleod (Andrews) Carshalton Athletic: Hamann; Kamara, Ray (c), Roberts, Tanner; Lodge, Crook, Davis, Finn (Nolan); Vines, Hamici (Ayers). Unused subs: Badialli, Murphy, Pigden.