AFTER suffering an embarrassing defeat at home to Bury Town on Saturday, Leatherhead immediately put things right with a fine victory over in-form Margate.

Manager Richard Brady would have been delighted to see the news that Ryman League Premier Division top scorer Kwesi Appiah had signed for Championship side Crystal Palace earlier in the day.

Without Appiah, the Kent side lacked a little bit of bite up front, though they came within the width of a post of taking the lead in the first half when Tom Bradbrook met a Lawrence Ball cross, unmarked, but with Chico Ramos beaten, the ball came back off the woodwork.

Unlike on Saturday though, Leatherhead were sharp up front and put away their second half chances well to claim a valuable three points that has seen them move within a point of safety.

There was little to warm the cockles at a freezing Fetcham Grove in the first half, though immediately after Bradbrook's header off the post, Tommy Hutchings was played through at the other end, but Simon Overland was out of his goal quickly to block at the feet of the Tanners front man.

Off the pitch, cups of tea were needed to warm the fans up, on it at the start of the second half, Leatherhead were warming to their task.

It took just four minutes of the second period for the hosts to open their account and Kev Terry was at the heart of it.

Billy Manners played a lovely through ball for Terry to run onto in the left hand channel.

Behind the last defender, it looked as though Terry would go it alone, but he had the presence of mind to cut back, look up and lay the ball off for the onrushing Hutchings who coolly slotted past Overland.

Dan Stubbs looped a free header on to the top of the home crossbar in the 57th minute as the visitors, who had won five of their last six games, looked to get back into the match, but they were always kept at arm's length by a disciplined Tanners backline, who kept a clean sheet that will please Brady as much as the win itself given the five goals shipped on Saturday.

Elliott Thompson made his usual energetic super-sub appearance from the bench and he set Terry free once more down the left.

Once again Terry cut back rather than going it alone and gave it back to Manners, but the left sided midfielder hit a weak shot straight at the keeper.

Five minutes later the same three players linked up once more, and this time bore a second goal.

Thompson skipped past two challenges, played a square ball to Terry, who once again could have had a shot himself, but decided to roll in Manners, who curled an effort past the outstretched hand of Overland for 2-0.

Hutchings blazed over the bar and Thomas Brunt should have made it three when he had all the time in the world in the visitors' area to pick his spot, but unfortunately he picked wide, but it didn't matter, the precious three points were safe.

Leatherhead: Ramos, Andrew, Gross, Coyle, Nnamani, Brunt, Dolby (Thompson 60), Simmons, Terry (Thomas 87), Hutchings (R Hill 82), Manners. Unused subs: Lambu, Sargent.