Leatherhead’s New Year got off to the worst possible start with a defeat against mid-table Chipstead.

Two late goals from Ray Freeman were answered by an injury time penalty from Greg Andrews.

There was no hint of the impending upset before kick off, yet right from the start Chipstead looked more solid at the back and more purposeful going forward. Chips first good break came after six minutes when Freeman dispossessed a hesitant Jack Macleod and broke clear to test Chico Ramos with a probing cross from the edge of the box.

Leatherhead’s first opportunity came three minutes later when they were awarded a free kick just outside the visitors’ area but Tommy Hutchings failed to get his shot over the Chipstead wall.

The Tanners’ defence was exposed by Chipstead after 18 minutes as Freeman beat Liam Pestle in the middle of the Leatherhead half, but this time he rushed his shot and failed to find the target.

Leatherhead’s Dan Dean went off after 40 minutes with a recurring back injury and was replaced by Mu Mann, making his first Tanners appearance since signing from Corinthian-Casuals in December. Leatherhead’s best chance of the opening half fell to Macleod just before half time as he forced a smart stop from Chipstead keeper Martin Grant. Moments later Grant had to be sharp to produce another good save from an advancing Marc Elston.

In the second half Leatherhead pushed forward in search of an elusive opener leaving themselves vulnerable to the Chipstead counter-attack. Freeman almost punished the league leaders after 55 minutes, beating the offside trap and narrowly missing the target from a tight angle.

Tanners were again caught on the break ten minutes later when Sean Rivers put through Ronnie Green who smashed the ball against the post from ten yards out. Moments later Mann broke clear at the other end and thundered a shot against a post.

Leatherhead replaced Macleod with Kev Terry for the final twenty minutes and the substitute almost made an immediate impact after being put through by Elston. Again goalkeeper Grant kept Chipstead in the match by saving bravely at Terry’s feet.

Chipstead broke the deadlock at last after 84 minutes when Freeman scrambled the ball home through a crowded Leatherhead penalty area. The Tanners almost drew level moments later when a ball chipped into the visitors’ area was headed against the post by Mann.

With the fourth official indicating five minutes of stoppage time Leatherhead pushed everyone into the visitors’ half in search of a last gasp equaliser. Chipstead pumped another long ball forward to Freeman who raced down to the other end unopposed and hit a perfect shot past Ramos to seal the points for the visitors.

In the final minute of added time Leatherhead were awarded a penalty after a Chipstead player was adjudged to have handled in the box. Greg Andrews stepped forward to smash the ball past Grant but the striker’s twenty-first goal of the season was little consolation for Leatherhead as they went down to a second home defeat in their last four matches.

And as if to rub salt in the wounds, Whitehawk’s 5-3 win at Eastbourne Town brought an end to Leatherhead’s three month stint at the top of the table.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Pestle, Hill, Boulter, Boswell, Dean (Mann), Macleod (Terry), Simmons, Andrews, Hutchings (Ottley), Elston