A double from Tom Hutchings helped send Mick Sullivan’s side to the top of the Ryman League Division 1 South on Saturday, as they capitalised on their nearest rivals being in FA Cup action.

Hutchings, having ended his 11 game goal drought in the midweek victory at Fleet, showed that he is returning to his best with two venomous strikes either side of half time, and then selflessly providing the pass that saw top scorer Greg Andrews seal the victory with a late third.

In their past two visits to Moatside Tanners had never even troubled the scorers, let alone won, but they started in confident fashion and the home outfit were soon buckling under concerted pressure.

The Merstham central defensive pairing of ex Tanner Michael Corbett and Bradley Duke were forced into a series of rash clearances from the marauding Leatherhead attack, with the searing pace of Gabriel Odunaike causing constant problems.

But Tanners were unable to make their early corner supremacy count, and then Odunaike should have opened the scoring on 20 minutes when just failing to get on the end of Marc Elston’s rapier cross from the right wing.

However in the 25th minute when a ball down the opposite wing found Greg Andrews he nonchalantly flicked it first time to the darting Hutchings, and one movement from his precocious left foot was enough to send the ball flashing low and hard past Merstham keeper Ian Chatfield.

Most keepers look at themselves when beaten at their near post but the ferocity of the strike gave him absolutely no chance.

Merstham had showed some attacking intent of their own, and after Billy Marshall had spurned a great chance when hooking over with Tanner’s keeper Chico Ramos out of position, Dale Marvell then forced Ramos into action turning a fierce drive around the post.

It was the away side however, who looked more dangerous and Odunaike had another great chance just before half time but shot just over with only Chatfield to beat.

Merstham, perhaps buoyed by that let off restarted after the interval in determined fashion and the visitors were soon under pressure as the home team dominated.

However, as is so often the case in football, possession wasn’t turned into goals and when Tanners finally broke free the ball was quickly worked to Hutchings and his 20 yard drive ripped past Chatfield as he was once again beaten at his near post.

That hammer blow put Merstham firmly on the ropes and they were still reeling when in the 70th minute another lightening attacking saw substitute and ex Moatsider Kwabena Aygei’s flick find Hutchings advancing again with intent on the home goal.

After toying with Duke, he unselfishly played a sublime chip into the path of the Andrews who was calmness personified as he finished with a delightful first time shot across Chatfield into the far corner of the net.

There could have been a fourth when substitute Kev Terry broke clear, was thwarted by Chatfield, and then hauled down when about to pounce on the rebound, but referee K Howick who otherwise had a fine game, obviously decided that Merstham had suffered enough and dismissed the penalty appeals, before shortly after ending proceedings.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Pestle, Boswell, Boulter, Hill, Elston (Macleod), Thompson, Simmons, Andrews, Odunaike (Agyei), Hutchings (Terry).