Leatherhead went into this match knowing that nothing less than a win would guarantee them a place in the play-offs.

Instead they had to settle for a draw, after making hard work of breaking down a resolute Walton Casuals defence.

The draw turned out to be enough to earn Leatherhead a place in the play offs, after rivals Fleet Town lost 1-0 at Worthing in the day’s other key fixture.

But with the significance of this final League match weighing heavily on their minds, the Tanners started anxiously and could have gone a goal behind after four minutes. Casuals’ Steffan Gaisie broke through the heart of the Tanners defence but struck his shot straight at goalkeeper Colin Harris.

It wasn’t long before Leatherhead’s nervous start proved costly, as the relegation-threatened visitors took the lead after seven minutes.

Ashley Lodge burst into the box and hit a rasping shot towards goal. Harris could only take the sting off the ball and was left watching helplessly as Lodge pounced onto the rebound to steer it over the line.

Casuals could have scored another goal two minutes later, as Mu Maan broke clear of his marker and forced a good save from Harris.

The Tanners gradually settled into the match and began to push forward. The equaliser came after 17 minutes, as Leatherhead won a free kick on the left side of the Casuals penalty area. Tommy Hutchings floated the ball across the goal mouth to Kev Terry, who rounded a defender before delivering a delightful chip to Kwabena Agyei to head home in front of goal.

Elliot Thompson’s recurring back problem led to the midfielder being replaced by Luke Pigden after 25 minutes.

As the Tanners grew in confidence shots at the Casuals’ goal came raining in from all quarters. But they were either too high, or too wide, or were comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Chico Ramos.

Leatherhead kept up the pressure in the second half. After 59 minutes Jon Coke burst into the visitors’ half and picked out Pigden, whose shot from the edge of the box grazed the top of the crossbar.

Leatherhead dominated play for long periods but a second goal proved to be elusive.

On 67 minutes Ramos did well to turn a dipping free kick from Hutchings over the bar.

Leatherhead substitute Greg Andrews had a great opportunity in front of goal after 83 minutes. He did all the hard work in taking the ball around Ramos but then missed the target from a tight angle.

There was still enough time for a goal bound effort from Hutchings to be cleared off the line by Rico Morris.

As the match moved into injury time, Ramos collided with Rob Hill in the middle of the Casuals penalty area. But instead of awarding a penalty to Leatherhead, the referee gave the free kick to Casuals.

The vocal Tanners supporters behind the goal began cheering loudly before the final whistle, as news filtered through from Worthing that play off rivals Fleet Town had lost.

Leatherhead’s players joined in the celebrations at the final whistle, after hearing the Worthing score line confirmed.

The Tanners players can now prepare for their play off match at Folkestone Invicta while Walton Casuals must wait anxiously to see if their points total is enough to earn a reprieve from relegation to the Combined Counties League.

Leatherhead: Harris, Coke, Hill, Boulter, Dean, Thompson (Pigden), Terry (Andrews), Simmons, Agyei (Cooper-Smith), Hutchings, Macleod Walton Casuals: Ramos, Walters, Morris, Lewington, Jenkins, Arthur (Hunt), Lodge, Sankoh, Gaisie (Yarnie), Webb (Gale), Maan