If the travelling Tanners fans could not have dreamt for a better start on Saturday, going a goal up inside 60 seconds, they most certainly would not have imagined such a nightmare finish as the hosts slammed in three goals in the last four minutes to run out 4-2 winners.

Leatherhead were not helped in their cause by a poor set of match officials, with a series of baffling decisions, which culminated in the dismissal of right back Jon Coke 15 minutes from time for an innocuous looking challenge.

With Tanners 2-1 up at the time this decision was undoubtedly a major turning point, although manager Mick Sullivan will doubtless be disappointed in the manner of the late capitulation.

It had all started so well though, when with less than a minute on the clock, Tommy Hutchings pressurised the YMCA defence and after stealing the ball away he unselfishly played in Greg Andrews, who kept up his fine recent goal scoring form by sweeping the ball into the far corner of the net from 15 yards.

However the YMCA team have returned from County football a much stronger outfit this time round and they gradually began to find their feet on a difficult surface, and were soon testing the Tanner’s defence.

Colin Harris pulled off a superb save on 22 minutes, flinging himself to his right to turn a fierce drive over the bar, but it was little surprise when the equaliser came, Tom Manton slamming home a loose ball from 12 yards in the 35th minute.

Tanners rallied, with both Hutchings and Marc Simmons testing the YMCA stopper just before the interval, but it was level pegging at the break.

The hosts started the second half brightly and Harris was relieved to see a cross shot flash narrowly wide, before another dangerous cross also went begging with the Leatherhead defence looking stretched.

However, having weathered the storm, Leatherhead broke upfield, and when Matt Francis played Hutchings in behind the defence, the Tanner’s top scorer made no mistake and slotted home with ease to restore their lead.

Just when this goal seemed to have taken the sting of the YMCA attack Coke then saw red, the hosts sensed a chance; and when Michael Corbett’s rash challenge led to a free kick 20 yards out, Luke Gedling stepped up to curl home a fine free kick.

There was only one team in it now as Horsham poured forward and it was little surprise when in the 90th minute, Gedling fired home again, this time from close range following a right wing cross, and then to rub salt into the wounds, in injury time Matt Geard’s 20 yarder bounced over Harris’ outstretched arm to give the score line a somewhat flattering look.

A disappointing finale after such a fine start and Mick Sullivan will now need to raise his troops going into Tuesday evenings long awaited clash at Fetcham Grove, against his former club Merstham.

Leatherhead: Harris, Coke, Corbett, Boulter, Goodwell, Francis (Pigden), Thompson (Williams), Simmons, Hill, Andrews (Barilli), Hutchings