Leatherhead's push for promotion took a heavy knock with Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Horsham YMCA.

The Tanners started brightly enough. Within the first few minutes a long throw unsettled the visiting defence and an Iain Hendry header was just scrambled clear. In addition, Dave Stevens, still one of the leagues highest scorers this season, contrived to screw his shot wide after a good, effective ball over the defence from an inform James Greenaway, left the Leatherhead skipper in front of goal with a good scoring chance.

The opening exchanges certainly belonged to the Tanners. Their third chance came within the opening ten minutes. Once again, Stevens was the unfortunate player concerned. A passing exchange between Gavin Bolger and Marc Charles-Smith allowed Bolger to play the ball through to Stevens who shot only to see Horsham's Dean Ruddy block with his legs.

Despite having the best of the game so far, Leatherhead were unable to break down the Sussex side's defence and, as their confidence grew, began to exploit some glaring gaps on the left hand flank. The absence of a true wing back gave Horsham's latest signing - from the more senior of the two Horsham sides - Jose Gonslvos far too much space. Luckily for the Tanners, at that stage in the game he did not enjoy great support but the signs were there that he could become a threat.

This game had a distinctly end of season feel about it. The crowd and the team were muted and the pace and commitment showed in past Tanners performances this season were curiously lacking. YMCA are a very different side to the one that Leatherhead comprehensively beat back in September but one that the home side should have buried as part of their drive toward the top.

As the half was lurching toward an unsatisfactory but even end, the visitors broke the deadlock. With 45 minutes played, the Leatherhead back division was c aught flat-footed and Scott Kirkwood found enough room to easily place his shot wide of the onrushing Paul Borg.

At first, it seemed that half time, Dave Harlow team talk had worked. Within 2 minutes of the re-start, Steve Sargent, a largely peripheral figure wide on the right played in a good ball for James Greenaway.the mid-fielder was unable to make contact and Ruddy comfortably collected the ball.

The revival effectively ended a few minutes later when the increasingly dangerous Goncalvos found acres of space on the left, measured his cross well and defender, Glen Woodburn got in front of his marker to head home.

With Leatherhead now chasing the game, Harlow brought on Jo Sheerin and Julian Thompson for Dave Stevens - who had a quiet game - and Gavin Bolger. There was no immediate effect as, when YMCA worked the ball out to a, largely ignored, Gonclvos, he had the beating of a defence that could not handle his pace and he soon had the home defence scrambling the ball away for a corner.

Some hope for the Mole Valley side came a few minutes later. Iain Hendry, always a danger from set pieces, was picked out by Steve Sargent from a free kick and the central defender's header crashed against the bar and down over the line.

The increasing effect of Goncalvos on the left flank put the final nail in the Leatherhead coffin when he, for the umpteenth time that afternoon, was picked out in space and crossed to the far post, Scott Kirkwood yet again met the ball - this time with his head and the game was over for a very disappointing Tanners.

With each passing game narrowing down the opportunities for a top 5 spot, each game assumes a great deal of importance. On this showing Leatherhead will find it hard to fulfil the expectations of their supporters and make that move to the top of the division.

Leatherhead: Borg, Sears, Carpenter, Hendry, Lavender, Holmes (Bennetts), Sargent, Bolger (Thompson), Charles-Smith, Greenaway, Stevens (Thompson)