The old saying goes that successful sides pick themselves, and there can be little doubt that that adage has served Folkestone well, as their ever present back line have conceded a paltry 16 goals in 31 games this season, a statistic that has helped sustain the Kent based team’s lofty League position.

And when facing the League’s best defence, it certainly isn’t helpful to be without your two top scorers, but that was precisely the situation facing Leatherhead manager Mick Sullivan on Saturday.

The exploits of the previous week, which had seen a League win at Whyteleafe on Tuesday and a gripping penalty shoot out victory over Aveley in the League Cup Semi final on Thursday, meant the fatigued front pair of Tommy Hutchings and Greg Andrews were both rested on the bench.

It was of little surprise then that what ensued for 90 minutes was plenty of endeavour, some neat passing movements from both sides, but ultimately no goals as the defences finished well on top, which in truth that will have suited Tanners the better, and Folkestone can have few complaints as they refused to throw caution to the wind but seemed more content in recording an incredible 17th clean sheet.

Tanner’s shaded the first half, with Dom O Shea dragging a shot wide midway through the period after being played in by Kev Terry, and then just failed to get on the end of another Terry cross, when any sort of contact would have resulted in the opening goal.

However Folkestone also had their moments and as the half wore on forced a series of corners and very nearly snatched a half time lead but a free header was directed straight into the arms of the grateful Colin Harris in the Tanner’s goal.

The home side stepped up a gear after the break, and after Brendan Cass had blasted over from 12 yards, Tanner’s Rob Hill made a crucial block on the 6 yard box to deny a certain goal, but Tanner’s defence with keeper Harris in commanding form, and Tommy Williams having an excellent game in the place of the suspended Jon Coke, stood firm in defiant fashion.

Both midfields were moving the ball around well, and as the half wore on Tanners continually probed down both wings as they searched for a way to unpick the tightly locked home defence.

Mick Sullivan threw on debutant Jack Macleod for Kev Terry on 60 minutes and he immediately breathed some life into the game with some pacey runs but the Folkestone keeper remained untroubled.

With 15 minutes left Hutchings and Andrews entered the fray, but apart from a late Hutchings shot which was comfortably saved, neither could alter the course of the game which petered out into a somewhat predictable goalless draw, but nonetheless an excellent point earnt on their travels by Leatherhead., Leatherhead: Harris, Williams, Boulter, Dean, Hill, Francis (Macleod), Simmons, Thompson, Pigden, Terry (Andrews), O Shea (Hutchings)