Leatherhead slipped back to the bottom of the Ryman League table with a 2-0 defeat against Harrow Borough.

A poorly defended corner gave Harrow a first half lead. Tanners were then denied a second half equaliser when Kev Terry was adjudged offside, before Borough sealed the points with a second goal after 78 minutes.

Tom Hutchings, returning to the Leatherhead attack after serving a one match suspension, was inspirational for the visitors. The Tanners sharp-shooter hit a series of blistering long range strikes that either went inches wide of the post or else were dealt with by a memorable final appearance from Borough’s on-loan goalkeeper, Nick Pope, before he returned to Charlton Athletic.

Harrow were well organised in defence and tested Leatherhead with some incisive attacking moves in the first half, orchestrated by Jon-Jo Bates and Evandro Delgado.

Chico Ramos had his first severe test after nine minutes. Sebastian Schoburgh was given acres of space to run through the centre of the visitors defence before forcing a very good save from the Tanners keeper.

Bates then found his way past Leatherhead centre back Jamie Coyle, but his goal-bound effort was well blocked by Chris Boulter.

An inswinging corner from Garry Jones was missed by everyone in the Leatherhead penalty area, as the ball hit the far post before coming back into play.

Harrow’s opening goal followed a shot from Bates after 23 minutes. Ramos got down well to make a sharp save from Borough’s leading scorer, turning the ball behind for a corner.

Leatherhead captain, Mark Simmons, failed to deal with the poorly taken corner, allowing the ball to pass under his right foot at the near post, before seeing it bundled over the line by Delgado from two yards out.

The goal sparked some life into Leatherhead’s attack. A long range effort from Rob Hill produced a flying save from Pope, as he stretched to tip the ball over for a corner.

Terry was then held back by Quincy Rowe 25 yards out, giving Hutchings a chance with a finely driven free kick. The shot sizzled just wide of the post with Pope stranded on his line. Leatherhead continued to push forward and Hutchings unleashed another long range belter that went just wide of the goal on the stroke of half time.

Early in the second half Hutchings had another long range effort turned behind by Pope. Tanners made a double substitution after 50 minutes, with Macleod and Billy Manners making way for Richmond and Elliott Thompson.

Leatherhead thought they had equalised after 67 minutes. Richmond broke clear in the box and forced another smart save from Pope, who could only parry the ball into the path of the advancing Terry, who buried it from close range. Tanners’ celebrations immediately turned to disappointment however, as the referee’s assistant raised his flag for offside.

Harrow pushed further forward in an effort to increase their fragile lead. A Jones corner from the right was only half cleared and the same player fired in a shot from a tight angle that required another fine save from Ramos.

Bates continued to tantalise the Tanners defence with his skilful turn and pace. He set up an advancing Reggie Savage, but the much travelled Harrow forward sent the ball wide with a full stretch diving header.

As Leatherhead pressed further forward in search of an equaliser, Harrow killed off the match with a well taken second goal. Bates beat an offside trap just inside the Leatherhead half, played the ball wide to Schoburgh on the right. Schoburgh’s well timed cross found Savage on the edge of the box to fire home past Ramos.

Tanners boss Richard Brady was philosophical in defeat. “That’s football. We mustn’t think about all the ifs or buts or what might have beens today. The lads will just have to dust themselves down and get ready for the next match.”

Leatherhead: Ramos, Pestle, Hill, Boulter, Coyle, Francis, Macleod (Richmond), Simmons (Dean), Terry, Hutchings, Manners (Thompson)