Leatherhead advanced to the third round of the Surrey Senior Cup with a less than convincing 4-2 win against Combined Counties League Dorking.

Tanners made hard work of beating their hosts on a heavy pitch at Meadowbank. Dorking took a surprise lead in the ninth minute following an abysmal piece of defending from the visitors. Martin Smith intercepted what should have been a fairly straightforward back pass from Dan Dean to Chico Ramos, before beating the Tanners keeper with a confident strike from the edge of the box.

Dorking’s lead was short lived, however, as Leatherhead drew level within three minutes. Greg Andrews gathered the ball on the edge of the penalty area and cleverly looped a shot over goalkeeper Tim Brewster to find the corner of the net.

Chicks came back at Leatherhead with some positive attacking football. Leroy Hyett saw a long range effort go wide, then had another shot well blocked by Ramos.

Leatherhead responded by taking the lead after 24 minutes. Tom Hutchings was put through in the box by Andrews, forced a good block from Brewster, before smashing home the rebound from close range.

The Ryman Premier side dominated the remainder of the opening half, creating several good chances to build on their lead.

Hutchings and Andrews should have done better, sending long range efforts wide, before Kev Terry fed a ball through to Hutchings to tuck away Leatherhead’s third in the 44th minute.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Kev Terry made a lunging challenge on the edge of the Dorking area, colliding with Brewster. The Leatherhead forward received treatment on the pitch, limping on for a few more minutes before being replaced by Ryan Thomas.

Dorking pressed forward and grabbed a second goal from an undisputed penalty in the 61st minute. Smith got clear of his marker to force a good save from Ramos, before Tanners’ defender Billy Manners bundled into the Chicks forward as he attempted to hit home the follow up. Hyett stepped forward to send the spot kick into the corner of the net.

With Dorking increasingly exposed at the back, Leatherhead should have punished them on the counter-attack but they allowed a string of chances to go begging.

In the 64th minute, Thomas broke clear of his marker on the half way line and bore down on the Dorking goal before rounding Brewster. The young forward attempted to drill the ball home from a tight angle, but his shot went narrowly wide.

Chicks refused to roll over and the Leatherhead keeper had to stay focussed, making two good saves from Tyrone Oliver and Billy Ramsey.

Tanners had another chance to seal the win in the 80th minute. Brewster spilled a long range shot from Andrews, before Thomas sent the rebound wide.

Hutchings set up Pestle down the right for another crack at goal, but the Tanners defender got his foot under the ball, firing over from the edge of the box.

Leatherhead settled the tie in almost comical fashion after 87 minutes, as Hutchings completely mishit a shot in front of goal from 10 yards out. The ball trickled forward a few feet for Thomas to dispatch it from close range.

Tanners comfortably saw out the remaining minutes and now travel to Reigate-based South Park in the next round. The Combined Counties League side caused the biggest upset of the Second Round on their Surrey Senior Cup debut, beating Kingstonian 2-1.

Leatherhead will have to put away their chances and defend a lot better in that match if they wish to progress to the quarter finals.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Pestle, Hill (Coyle), Dean, Manners, Francis (Thompson), Macleod, Richmond, Terry (Thomas), Hutchings, Andrews.