Ryman League Division One South

Chipstead 1

Leatherhead 3

CHIPSTEAD "shot themselves in the foot" as they were sent to a defeat at home to Leatherhead on Bank Holiday Monday.

After going behind to a first half strike from Greg Andrews, the Chips pulled themselves back into the game with a Jason Thompson penalty in the 69th minute, but "poor defending" led to Andrews completing his hat-trick late on to claim all three points for the Tanners.

Assistant manager Mick Read refused to blame tiredness from Saturday's 4-3 FA Cup triumph over Whyteleafe.

He said: "There could possibly have been some tiredness but that's not an excuse, Leatherhead played Saturday as well, we just didn't come out with the right attitude in the first half.

"We changed things round at half-time and we were getting on top in the second half, but we gifted them some goals. We got ourselves back in it, but we shot ourselves in the foot with some poor defending and giving silly free-kicks away – you can't do that."

Chips defender Wayne Grizzle might have scored two own goals as twice his clearances might have gone anywhere, but one floated just over the bar and the other was clawed away superbly by home keeper Martin Grant, before Andrews netted the opener in the 13th minute, smashing home a low left footed shot after indecision in the defence.

Thompson really should have equalised six minutes later when Dom O'Shea squared for him in the box, but his effort rose high over the bar.

The Chips enjoyed the better chances and had the lion's share of possession after the break and equalised when Ray Freeman was brought down in the box by Jon Coke and Thompson stepped up to send Chico Ramos the wrong way to level.

Half-time substitute AJ Morrison was causing all sorts of trouble for the Leatherhead defence, but the hosts could not force a way through the Tanners defence in open play, and just like the home side were made to pay for not scoring more than one in the first half, the Chips were also left thinking about what might have been when Andrews completed his hat-trick to hand the Tanners all three points.

He first converted from the penalty spot four minutes from time, after Jon Boswell had bundled his cross home, via a handball from defender Lee Coburn.

The linesman signalled, the goal was not given, Coburn saw red and Andrews stepped up to score the goal that should have been given in the first place.

The striker then took advantage of the gaps in the home defence, easily sidestepping Grizzle before coolly placing a shot past the keeper in stoppage time to wrap up the points and leave the unfortunate Chips empty-handed.

Chipstead: Grant, Bedford, Chattaway, Grizzle, Coburn, Matthews, Conroy, Thompson (Arlcadlusz 77), Martin (Morrison 45), O'Shea (Moody 72), Freeman.

Unused subs: Rubacha, Peck.