Chatham Town 4 Leatherhead 3

Leatherhead’s players were left kicking themselves at the final whistle, having worked so hard to draw level - with two goals in the last five minutes - only to lose out at the very end to a poorly defended corner.

Mick Sullivan introduced new signing Matt Francis to the starting line up with the former Chertsey Town and Merstham player taking the place of an injured Kev Terry in midfield.

Chatham took an early lead with a goal after six minutes. Ray Powell dribbled his way into the Leatherhead box and looked to have been brought down after a challenge from Jon Coke.

The referee waved play on, but instead of clearing their lines, Leatherhead lost possession to Lee Barnett who calmly placed his shot past a diving Craig Bradshaw.

Play moved quickly from end to end during the first half with chances going begging for both sides.

Chatham’s front three formation of Powell, Barnett and Brendon Cass tormented the Tanners defence, but were unable to build on their opening goal.

At the other end Leatherhead could not penetrate the Chats defence with a succession of corners, although a shot on the turn from Iain Hendry produced a good save from goalkeeper Richard Stroud.

Chatham doubled their lead three minutes into the second half, when Powell hit a shot from the edge of the box low to Bradshaw’s left.

The Leatherhead keeper must have seen it late as the ball squirmed under his body and into the corner of the net.

Moments later Chatham almost added a third, as the Tanners defence failed to pick up Cass, whose free header sailed over the bar from six yards out.

But Leatherhead weren’t beaten yet. On 61 minutes Marc Elston, who looked dangerous whenever the ball was played to his feet, took possession 30 yards out from the Chatham goal.

The wide midfielder took two touches before looking up and driving an exquisite shot from the edge of the box beyond the outstretched arms of Stroud and into the back of the net.

Chatham then made a double substitution, replacing strikers Powell and Cass with two fresh pairs of legs in the shape of Justin Ascheri and Jim Lyons.

Ascheri was quickly into action, colliding with Bradshaw on the edge of the Tanners penalty area.

The big Tanners keeper received treatment for a leg injury but was able to continue.

Leatherhead had a great chance to equalise after 65 minutes, when the ball was played through to Tommy Hutchings on the edge of the Chatham penalty area. With only the keeper to beat, Hutchings shot wide.

The Tanners made a double substitution on 67 minutes with Francis and Hutchings replaced by Josh Smith and Dominic O’Shea.

Chatham increased their lead in the 76th minute, as Barnett won the ball on the edge of the Leatherhead box and was allowed time to turn and shoot by a tiring Tanners defence.

Bradshaw’s desperate dive was to no avail and the ball crept through a crowded penalty area before crossing the line.

Chats had a golden opportunity to seal their win a minute later when Hendry was adjudged to have brought down Ascheri in the box. Barnett stepped forward to take the penalty but his ineffective stab at the ball was well saved by Bradshaw.

Leatherhead now pulled out all the stops in an effort to get back into the match. In the 83rd minute Dean Gunner’s floated free kick from the edge of the box scrapped the top of the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Gabriel Emechete found an unmarked Elston who took the ball down to the by-line.

Elston’s lofted cross into the box was headed home by O’Shea from six yards to bring the score back to 3-2.

Two minutes later it was 3-3, as the desperate Chatham defence failed to clear their lines. The ball fell to Hassan Nyang and he blasted a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

But there was still time for one more goal, as both sides went all-out for a winner.

Chatham won a corner in the 89th minute and Ascheri’s delivery found the unchallenged head of Ben Payne to make it 4-3. Leatherhead should be admired for their never-say-die attitude but they need to learn how to defend set pieces.

Leatherhead: Craig Bradshaw, Jon Coke, Dean Gunner, Chris Boulter, Iain Hendry, Hassan Nyang, Matt Francis (Josh Smith), Tony Cuff (Gabriel Emechete), Kwabena Agyei, Tommy Hutchings (Dominic O’Shea), Marc Elston