With the scrap for play-off places becoming crucial, Leatherhead let two vital points slip by being held 3-3 at home by lowly Ashford Town on Saturday and the gap between them and fifth place has widened to eight points.

Dave Harlow rested both Dave Stevens and Mark Charles-Smith, with ex-AFC Wimbledon star Jo Sheerin making his first league start for the club and Julian Thompson partnering him in attack.

The Tanners went ahead in just four minutes after Steve Sargents' free-kick was headed back across goal by Sheerin for Iain Hendry to nod home.

A crude challenge then forced Julian Thompson out of the game with a cut eye and substitute Charles-Smith made his 51st apperance of the season. Charles-Smith wasted no time in getting on the score sheet after James Greenaway worked the ball to him.

But when the otherwise dependable Paul Borg let a high ball slip through his hands George Fenwick stabbed the ball home to reduce the arrears.

Hendry then scored his second goal with a close range shot to make it 3-1, before another defensive error allowed Anthony Allman to reply on 34 minutes.

A punch on Sargent in the penalty area went unpunished, but in injury time Leatherhead were awarded a spot kick for hands'.Sargent's kick was not well struck, however, and Jake Whincup palmed the ball away.

Leatherhead lost their way in the second half and three minutes from the end the tricky Walid Matata equalised with a spectacular overhead kick.

Leatherhead: Borg, Beer, Hendry, Duncan, Harper, Holmes, Sargent, Greenaway, Thompson (Charles-Smith), Sheerin (Stevens), Bennetts.