Goal: Fitzgerald (pen) 73′.

Guernsey put up a brave defensive showing at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday night and pushed their hosts all the way but were eventually seen off from the penalty spot.

The Green Lions were without their five most senior players (Dave Merris, Ross Allen, Jamie Dodd, Matt Loaring and Sam Murray were all absent) and while riding their luck at times, the Sarnians were resolute at the back and frustrated their much fancied hosts, to the point that defender Alex Pearce was sent off for an elbow on Charlton Gauvain.

They sat deep for most of the game and tried to hit their opponents on the break. The Tanners had a few shots on goal in the first half but none were clear cut. The only real scare was when Ruben Bartlett-Antwi was slotted in to score but he was flagged offside.

Guernsey almost managed the suckerpunch right at the end of the half as they got into the Leatherhead box on the break. Gauvain, Fin Patterson and Brandon Wallace all had bites of it but the shots lacked conviction and were snuffed out. An earlier potshot from Alex Ward also rolled wide.

It was more of the same in the second half, with the odd sniff at the hosts’ goal. Gauvain collected a quick free-kick and drove in low but Wheeler got down to hold it before it crept into the corner.

Pearce was given his marching orders just before the hour. It actually helped the hosts a little bit as Guernsey now started being a bit bolder and left more areas for the Tanners to exploit.

Bartlett-Antwi should have put his side in front after Addison had parried at his near post and the ball rebounded into the middle of the area, but the number nine rolled the ball wide.

The breakthrough finally came with just over 15 minutes left. Kareem Akinnibi stumbled after challenges from Jacob Fallaize and Alex Ward and the resulting penalty was dispatched calmly by Fitzgerald.

Leatherhead had opportunities to make it two. Akinnibi left Dodds for dead on the byline and pulled the ball back for Bartlett-Antwi, who had the goal at his mercy but could only roll it straight at Addison.

Jacques Cauvin darted forward, cut inside and lashed a low one towards goal from outside the area but Wheeler gathered at the second attempt, while Fitzgerald’s free-kick right on the edge of the box dipped under the crossbar but Addison stuck out a hand to divert it over.

The momentum switched in the final few minutes as the 10 men of Leatherhead retreated and the Green Lions spent the majority of the closing stages in the Tanners’ half trying to snatch an equaliser. Wallace whipped in a dangerous free-kick across the six-yard box, curling away from the keeper and any contact would have diverted it in but two Guernsey players sticking their heads in were unable to get a vital touch.

The Green Lions sent high balls into the box in the dying minutes as Jacob Fallaize went up as an emergency centre-forward, but Leatherhead held firm to keep their play-off hopes on track. GFC had pushed them all away and could be proud of this defensive performance.

Guernsey remain 20^th in Isthmian South Central, their slender defeat keeping them out of the drop zone on goal difference. Tuesday night’s other results were as follows: Badshot Lea 2-2 Kingstonian, Hanworth Villa 1-1 Farnham Town, Horndean 1-1 Southall, Raynes Park Vale 2-2 Hayes & Yeading United.

LEATHERHEAD: 1 Sonny WHEELER; 2 George HEDLEY; 3 Niran BUTLER; 5 Alex PEARCE; 6 Cameron BLACK; 7 Rhys MURRELL-WILLIAMSON (18 Ty BUTLER, 71’); 8 Kenny BEANEY (c) (4 Alfie HUCKLE, 64’); 9 Ruben BARTLETT-ANTWI (12 Adam MORLEY, 86’); 10 Kane FITZGERALD; 11 Anuar CEESAY (16 Marco HAIGH, 64’); 19 Kareem AKINNIBI (14 Kelvin MANUEL MASSANGO, 81’).

Sent off: Pearce.