Leatherhead assistant boss Steve Wood says his side have finally laid the ghost of their FA Cup exploits to rest after securing the club's second win in five days.

The Tanners had not won a Ryman League Division One South league match since losing 2-1 at Coca-Cola League Two side Torquay United in the FA Cup third round.

But a Julian Thompson-inspired 3-0 win over Walton Casuals, coming after last Tuesday's 5-2 Surrey Senior Cup romp over Cobham, has raised spirits at Fetcham Grove.

And Wood is delighted his side can get back to the meat-and-drink of a league campaign he believes can still end in promotion.

"Reaching the first round was a fantastic thing for the club, but the players played nine games to get there and it certainly took its toll," he said.

"We suffered a bit of a hangover and Tuesday gave us the confidence boost we needed. I couldn't contemplate what defeat on Saturday would have done to the lads.

"Confidence was quite low anyway and another loss could have had a serious effect on our campaign.

"It was a must-win game for us, so to score three goals and keep a clean sheet against Casuals was a tremendous effort."

Leatherhead lost an entire back four through injury in the immediate aftermath of the cup defeat on the English Riviera in November.

But with Adam Gray returning in Saturday's triumph and Jamie Beer getting a cameo role under his belt, things are beginning to get back on track for boss Dave Harlow's stretched squad.

Thompson claimed the man-of-the-match award at the weekend as he added to midfielder Gavin Bolger's early strike midway through the second half.

Veteran defender Mark Harper lept to add a third to confirm Leatherhead's fourth home league win of the season.

The Tanners have four games in hand over most of their rivals and a maximum 12 points from those fixtures could put them second.

And Wood is confident his players can handle the pressure of coming from behind to secure a promotion that would cap a memorable season at the Grove.

"We've been playing two games a week for God knows how long and just playing once a week again will give us a chance to recharge the batteries," he said.

"We've got to get the points in the bag and that adds a different kind of pressure, but we can deal with it now we have the bodies back.

"We've only just come off the back of a 21-game unbeaten run and there is no reason why the players can't do that again."

The Tanners should have centre-half Lynval Duncan available for Saturday's trip to Godalming Town to make his first appearance since the FA Cup exit.

Leatherhead: Gibson, Carpenter, Gray, Harper, Hendry, Holmes, Bolger, Thompson (Charles-Smith) Greenaway, Stevens, Bennetts (Beer). Subs not used: Doherty, Lavender, Sears