Ramsgate snatched a point with a last gasp equaliser to deny Leatherhead three points in an entertaining end to end match at Fetcham Grove, writes Rod Ellis.

Tanners took the lead within ninety seconds of the start. Greg Andrews was fouled just outside the Rams box and took the subsequent free kick. The ball wasn’t cleared and Tommy Hutchings cracked it past keeper Brett Mills with his right foot from 12 yards out.

Leatherhead kept up the pressure and almost doubled their lead five minutes later when Andrews delivered a ball into the middle of the box but Marc Elston was unable to get his head on the end of it.

Ramsgate slowly worked their way back into the match after defending for much of the opening 20 minutes. An Ollie Gray effort from 25 yards went narrowly wide before Mitchell Sherwood smashed home an equaliser after 27 minutes as Leatherhead failed to clear their lines.

Tanners were rocked further as Ramsgate took the lead two minutes later. James Gregory launched a free kick into the Leatherhead area, Luke Wheatley out-jumped the Tanners defence to head the ball against the foot of the post and Aaron Beech was on hand to turn in the rebound.

Leatherhead pressed forward in search of an equaliser and it came from the penalty spot after 37 minutes. Hutchings burst into the Rams area and was nudged off the ball. Referee Daniel Robatham showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Hutchings hit the ball hard and straight offering Mills no chance.

Tanners had a great opportunity to retake the lead at the start of the second half when Gabriel Odunaike was put through with only Mills to beat, but the keeper got down well and blocked his shot. Further efforts from Elliott Thompson and Marc Elston went wide before Tanners themselves had a lucky escape at the other end.

Rams broke quickly from defence with only Tom Williams standing between three Ramsgate players and Chico Ramos in the Leatherhead goal. Paul Axon got past Williams but rushed his shot when through on goal and fired wide.

More chances came Leatherhead’s way as Mills saved another good effort from Hutchings with his feet and Andrews’ follow up went over the bar.

Tanners restored their lead after 84 minutes with a lovely piece of work down the right from Williams. The young right back played a clever one-two with Kev Terry and delivered a scorching cross to within inches of the Rams goal line, only for Axon to turn it into his own net in his effort to clear.

Leatherhead thought they had won the game two minutes later when Dan Dean bundled the ball across the line for what looked like a perfectly legitimate goal only to see the referee’s assistant raise his flag for offside.

With the clock ticking down Ramsgate were awarded a corner deep in stoppage time. Tanners cleared the ball only as far as Beech who hit a wonder strike past Ramos from 25 yards.

Leatherhead should have had the game won within the ninety minutes, but full credit to Ramsgate for never thinking the match was lost.

Tanners have gone unbeaten through September with five wins and two draws and as they head into October they will seek to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Williams, Hill, Boulter, Boswell, Thompson, Elston, Dean, Andrews, Hutchings (Agyei), Odunaike (Terry)