Leatherhead 1 Ashford Town 3

Like the Tanners, Ashford Town are a side who have been underperforming this season.

With the nucleus of a side based on Clive Walker and his tenure at Dover, they sat some four places below Leatherhead in the league.

Ian Hazel took over the home side only the previous Tuesday and immediately brought in ex-Sutton United midfielder, Mark Hammond.

Of the remainder of the side that had started the season, Steve Sargent was serving a three-match ban and Gavin Bolger and Jamie Beer have departed the Grove, the popular Beer to local rivals, Kingstonian.

The first 20 minutes saw a positive start from the Mole Valley side.

That Ashford took the lead was an injustice after an opening period where the Kent side were largely pinned back in their own half and a very lively looking Billy Marshall both created and went close with their visitors very much on the back foot.

But it was Ashford who took the lead.

A cross from the left was met by Barry Gardner on the volley and the Tanners were a goal behind.

After the dramatic events of the last few days, the air of uncertainty that had pervaded the side prior to Ian Hazel's appointment seemed to return as Ashford started to apply pressure.

The Ashford second goal was controversial.

When Lynvall Duncan tripped an Ashford defender, it was arguable as to whether the offence occurred inside or outside the box.

Certainly the Tanners fans took the latter view. The referee did not agree and a spot kick was given.

Duncan escaped with a yellow card and Walid Matata stepped up to convert despite Paul McCarthy having guessed correctly where the shot was going.

Of the Ashford forwards, Matata started to test the home defence with some fine close control and pace.

It was becoming an uncomfortable afternoon for a home defence where Iain Hendry battled with his usual commitment.

Half-time saw Hazel ring the changes. Replacing Duncan and young full back, Aaron Murphy were Scott Bennetts and Terry Bowes.

The Leatherhead goal was not long coming and involved a good passing move that involved some good work down the right flank from new signing Mark Hammond.

His ball inside to James Greenaway was passed on to Billy Marshall wide on the left who found enough space to drill a cross for Scott Forrester to fire home with a low shot.

Any hopes of a revival were dashed a few minutes later when a free kick was flicked on for Matata to score his second after the Leatherhead defence failed to clear safely the ball falling to the lively Ashford striker inside the area.

The Tanners could have pulled another back after substitute Julian Thompson was narrowly judged to be offside when his break and calm finish hit the back of the net.

On this occasion, the decision was probably correct nut some erratic interpretation of the offside laws from the linesman had frustrated the Leatherhead forwards all afternoon.

Billy Marshall who had impressed with his willingness to run the the Ashford defence, was pulled back once too often for his liking.

His vehement protest was deemed to be too extreme and, with some justification, the Tanners youngster was red carded for his indiscipline.

With the clock running down, Leatherhead continued to press - inevitably leaving spaces at the back.

Both sides had their chances but there were no further goals and Ian Hazel was left with a better idea of the task at hand to bring an undoubtedly talented Tanners side up to scratch. There are likely to be some new faces at the Grove over the coming weeks.

Leatherhead: McCarthy, Murphy (Bennetts), Shannon, Hendry, Baker, Duncan (Bowes), Hammond (Thompson), Greenaway, Holmes, Marshall, Forrester.