On a sultry September afternoon in Sussex, substitute Dominic O'Shea’s 66th-minute shot secured a well-deserved replay for the travelling Tanners in the FA Cup second qualifying round.

Conference South side Lewes entered the match having failed to win any of their first 11 League games, albeit they had drawn 6, whilst Leatherhead had yet to win away from home, so a nervy encounter was the order of the day.

After a fairly even opening period, on 20 minutes Leatherhead burst into life when Kwabena Agyei fed Tommy Hutchings inside the box, and his well struck shot beat the keeper but was brilliantly deflected behind by a lunging defender.

Lewes were stung into action, and after some neat football a long cross from the left saw David Wheeler throw himself at the ball but head well over.

An exchange of corners by each side still didn’t threaten to break the deadlock, though Tanner’s Hassan Nyang would have hoped to have done better when sending an unchallenged header over the bar.

The talk at half time of whether either side would ever score soon disappeared as almost immediately after the restart Wheeler picked up the ball in midfield and then went on a mazy run past several desperate tackles before finding the corner of the net with a low shot, to give the hosts an undeserved lead.

If the home fans hoped that would calm their team’s nerves they were soon mistaken, as inexplicably Lewes sat back, apparently satisfied to defend a one goal advantage.

On 53 minutes they were nearly made to pay when a corner caused chaos in the six yard box, but neither Marc Elston or Dean Gunner were able to make enough contact to force the ball home and eventually Lewes cleared their lines.

However, Tanners deservedly equalised on 66 minutes, when O’Shea having replaced Agyei moments earlier, slotted home with ease from 10 yards after Hutchings had burst clear of the defence on the left hand side and unselfishly squared the ball.

As the game wore on Leatherhead, injected by further subs Tony Cuff for Gabriel Emechette, and Dan Dean for Iain Hendry, nearly stole the spoils when Elston got clear on the left wing but his shot was too close to Rikki Banks in the Lewes goal and he was able to palm the ball over the bar.

Leatherhead then lost Jon Coke to injury, and were forced to play out the final 15 minutes with 10 men, having made all their substitutions.

However, despite a late flurry of Lewes corners, Tanners comfortably held out and will entertain Lewes in the replay at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday night.

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