Leatherhead 1 Metropolitan Police 2

Leatherhead failed to hold a slender lead against play-off hopefuls Met Police, who included three ex-Tanners in the side.

Ian Hazel has been busy since the last game – a poor showing against Ashford some 10 days ago.

In addition to confirming a season long loan deal for Neil Etheridge from Fulham, Ryan Gray (Kingstonian), Aaron Cole-Bolt (Chipstead) and Jason Henry (Sutton) have been added to the squad. Still missing was the inspirational Iain Hendry.

The difference in league positions was not evident in the early exchanges, with play switching from end to end and ex-Tanner Steve Sargent creating some good passing moves from wide on the right.

Leatherhead also played to their strengths with centre-back-cum-striker Will Jenkins causing severe problems to the visiting defence.

There were signs of things to come when, halfway through the first 45 minutes, a Billy Marshall cross was met powerfully by Jenkins but the target man was too far under the ball and the Police goal was not threatened.

He made amends just five minutes later. A poor clearance from the Met’s Michael Cobden was hit low back into their area.

Despite the ball arriving just behind him, Jenkins struck a superb low volley to comprehensively beat Mo Maan and give the home side the lead.

Although still not firing on all cylinders, Leatherhead began to play some useful football with Stewart Holmes – restored to his central midfield position – covering every inch of the pitch and competing fiercely for every ball.

Given that two of the starting XI had only signed during the week, there were signs that this was a team that would be hard to break down.

With the Tanners lead preserved into the half time break, Leatherhead took their advantage into a second half that saw a fine piece of skill from Tom Hutchings the ended with a cross shot that was only narrowly wide.

Of the two sides, it was the home side that created the better chances.

On loan from the Gunners, Mark Elston is gradually getting back to fitness – his four goals for the reserves last weekend will have helped his recovery – when he was put through from a clever ball from the industrious Hutchings, his persistence nearly paid off but his shot screwed wide.

The Esher side drew level with the home defence losing their concentration.

With more space than he should have been allowed, Rob George was able to capitalise on the Tanners inability to clear the ball and fire a low shot that gave Etheridge little chance.

Hazel was forced to make changes as Mark Elston succumbed to a knock on the ankle and Tom Hutchings, who had run himself into the ground, started to feel the effects of a long term injury and was replaced by Harry Ottaway.

Although this was an evenly fought contest, Leatherhead did have their chances to bury the game.

Jenkins showed on occasions that he has still not mastered the striker's art fully with some wayward finishing and, with another Fetcham Grove favourite, Tommy Moorhouse slotting into the heart of the Police defence, chances began to dry up.

It is fair to say that Scott Forrester was not the most popular of players at the Grove.

The ex-Bollywood actor had often flattered to deceive during his time in the green shirt and had offered precious little during this game.

He proved his worth, however when a slumbering home defence left him in the clear and he rifled a low shot to seal the game for the Police.

Jenkins did have a good chance as the match drew to a close when his far post header crashed off the bar but it was not to be.

This was always going to be a tough contest and the Tanners could well feel aggrieved that they did not at least share the points.

At the end of the day, they will need to take their chances when they appear and make sure that the defence can keep tight at the other end.

The next few matches will now be crucial for Hazel and the Leatherhead squad.

Tanners: Etheridge, Dean, Gray, Palmer, Cartledge, Holmes, Marshall (Jones), Cole-Bolt, Hutchings (Ottaway), Jenkins, Elston (Henry).