Leatherhead 2 Blues 2

Two goals from Matt Blake lifted the Blues into the play off places following this draw at Leatherhead. The hosts went into the break a goal to the good thanks to Derry’s stoppage time goal and a fairly scrappy game looked to be slipping away from the Blues until some late drama in the final ten minutes when Matt Blake levelled the scores before another Derry goal was followed by a stoppage time leveller from Matt Blake.

In truth, the game never really got going until those final few frantic minutes. Early pressure saw the hosts Tom Richards’ cross-cum shot clawed over by Marcus Garnham as both teams struggled on a bumpy pitch. Leiston’s first chance came when Chris Henderson picked up the ball outside the box and after exchanging a neat lay off from Jake Reed, he weaved his way into the box but he shot over Manny Agboola’s crossbar. Byron Lawrence shot wide of Agboola’s left hand post before Niall McManus appealed for a handball in the penalty area but the Referee waved away any protests. The opener came in first half stoppage time. Byron Lawrence's attempted pass fell kindly to Nana Boakye-Yiadom whose shot was beaten out by Marcus Garnham but Tom Derry just beat Joe Jefford to the loose ball and smashed home from close range.

The second period continued with Leiston still struggling to get a foothold into the match. Blues boss Glen Driver decided to bring on Matt Blake to spice up the attack and the change soon paid dividends. But first they had Marcus Garnham to thank for blocking Jack Midson’s effort to keep them in the game. With ten minutes remaining the visitors were level. Both substitutes were involved as Darren Mills effort from outside the box looked to be heading into the bottom right hand corner only for the intervention of a fine Agboola save but from the tightest of angles Matt Blake turned home the loose ball to restore parity. But Leatherhead came back again and four minutes later they were back in front. D’Sean Theobalds shot was saved by Marcus Garnham but the ball fell again to Derry who found the net despite the best efforts of Marcus Garnham. But the visitors refused to give in and in the second of four minutes of stoppages they were back level. Marcus Garnham’s long kick found Matt Blake inside the box via the head of centre back Jerry Nnamani and after controlling on his chest Matt Blake calmly volleyed past Agboola much to the delight of the away support.

FT - Leatherhead 2 Blues 2

Leatherhead - Agboola, Clohessy, Shaw, McManus, Gallagher, Nnamani, Boakye-Yiadom, Theobalds, Derry, Midson, Richards. Subs not used:- Davies, Williams-Bowers, Wood, Seager.

Blues - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar, Ainsley (Docherty 55 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson, Reed, Brothers (Blake 70 mins), Finch (Mills 75 mins). Subs not used - Marsden and Eagle.

Man of the Match - Marcus Garnham

Attendance - 393