Leatherhead extended their winning run to five matches with a comprehensive victory against Faversham Town, writes Rod Ellis.

Tanners set out knowing that a win would take them back to the top of the League table while early front-runners, Met Police, were involved in FA Cup action this afternoon.

Following a quiet opening period the game sprang to life after 28 minutes. A throw in from Leatherhead’s Tom Williams was picked up by Tommy Hutchings and the Tanners sharp shooter forced a smart save from Faversham keeper Rob French who deflected the ball behind for a corner.

From the corner Hutchings found Jon Boswell at the far post, but the big Tanners centre back was unable to get sufficient power on his header and the ball was cleared away from danger.

From hereon onwards Faversham were on the back foot as Leatherhead piled on the pressure in search of an opening goal. It wasn’t long coming.

On 31 minutes Elliott Thompson broke into the Faversham half and played the ball through to Hutchings on the edge of the box. Hutchings looked up to see where the keeper was standing and calmly chipped the ball over French’s head and into the corner of the net.

Tanners should have added to their lead before half time. Some skilful interplay between Hutchings and Greg Andrews saw the ball reach Mark Simmons ten yards from goal. Simmons crashed the ball through a crowd of players but saw his effort deflected off the line.

Two minutes into the second period Leatherhead were awarded a direct free kick just outside the visitors’ penalty area. It was in an ideal position for Hutchings to have a go but although his effort was on target the shot didn’t have sufficient power behind it to trouble the Faversham keeper.

In a rare break at the other end Faversham’s Dane Luchford skirted around the Tanners defence and hit a tight angled shot into the side netting.

Leatherhead continued to press forward and got their second goal after 61 minutes. Hutchings won the ball in the visitors half and hit a powerful shot that French could only parry into the path of an advancing Andrews. Leatherhead’s top scorer seized his chance and smacked the ball into the back of the net to claim his ninth goal of the season.

In the final half hour Leatherhead created enough chances to add another three or four goals, but they had to settle for just one more; and what a goal it was.

Throughout the match Marc Elston had operated down the right side causing all kinds of problems for Faversham’s defence. Leatherhead’s midfield dynamo collected the ball in the visitors half after 75 minutes and seeing French off his line lobbed it over the keeper’s head from thirty yards out with pinpoint accuracy.

Late efforts from substitutes Kwabena Agyei and Kev Terry should have added to the score line but Leatherhead boss Mick Sullivan will have been very pleased with this performance and delighted to see his defence keep their first home clean sheet of the season.

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