Whitstable and Leatherhead fought out an entertaining cup tie in front of a good crowd at the Belmont and must do it again on Tuesday night at Fetcham Grove after neither team could find a winner. Cameron Black shot the Tanners ahead from close range and they threatened to extend their lead until Aaron Millbank equalised when Whitstable were awarded a penalty just before half time. The game became end to end in the second half and after Alex Sami had put Leatherhead in front again, Millbank fired in his second to put the game in the balance. Whitstable finished quite strongly, but there were chances at both ends and probably neither team deserved to lose in the end.

These two had not met since Leatherhead gained promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division a few years ago and had never played each other in the FA Cup. Leatherhead may still be remembered for their famous run to the Fourth Round in 1974-75. Whitstable have never got past the Third Qualifying Round and had not progressed beyond this stage since September 2010, when they eventually lost 1-0 at Canvey Island in the Second Qualifying Round. It was good to see injured pair Harry Stannard and Will Thomas back on the bench, although several players remain on the side lines and Tom Mills was also unavailable for this game. Leatherhead have not had a great start to the season, but included some recent additions, including former Braintree Town striker Korrey Henry and defender Cameron Black, who is on loan from Dorking Wanderers.

Whitstable showed some early promise, sending in a couple of dangerous crosses, and had an opening when goalkeeper Jacob Bennett’s clearance went straight to Tom Carlton in the 11th minute, but his shot from outside the box lacked the power to beat the grateful goalkeeper. Leatherhead then won a corner when a Henry shot was blocked and Will Salmon’s header rebounded off the bar before being cleared. Dan Eason saved a Sami shot and there were a couple more blocked efforts before the pressure finally told in the 19th minute. Craig McGee crossed from the left and with Sami backing into the home defence, the ball fell nicely into space for Black to fire home from inside the six yard box. Liam Gillies played Millbank through, but his shot was closed down as Whitstable tried to respond. Eason made a routine save from another Black shot, then Gillies headed a Millbank cross well over. in the 30th minute a Briggs free kick was deflected just wide of the left hand post. Leatherhead were now threatening to add further goals and after handball appeals were waved away when a cross hit Gillies, Henry cut across from the left before shooting low, but Eason was equal to it and when Briggs created an opportunity for Sami, he rolled the ball wide. The home side were given a lifeline when Ryan Flack chased a ball into the box and an untimely bounce saw the ball hit the outstretched arm of an under pressure Black and the referee pointed to the spot. Millbank sent Bennett the wrong way and it was 1-1 in the 40th minute. The goal seemed to give Whitstable renewed confidence, but the half ended quietly.

Whitstable had a great chance to go ahead in the 48th minute when Nico Cotton sent over a good cross from the left that was met by Millbank, but he glanced his header wide. A few minutes later, Cotton saw his shot defected just past the post. Leatherhead were almost gifted a second in the 61st minute when two Whitstable players failed to clear and Sami found himself on the edge of the box with just Eason to beat, but the Whitstable goalkeeper made a good save. Whitstable had failed to get the delivery right from two corners, but when Leatherhead had one in the 65th minute Briggs found the head of an unmarked Black, but his effort went over the bar. The away fans were celebrating though in the 68th minute when Henry broke into the box on the left and pulled the ball back for Sami to calmly place wide of Eason into the far corner. Whitstable were soon level with a fine goal in the 73rd minute when Millbank played a one-two with Gillies before driving forward and shooting into the bottom left corner from 22 yards. Millbank had another chance following some good play by substitute George McIlroy and Gillies, who won a free kick in a dangerous position, but Millbank drove it into the wall then lifted the rebound high over the bar. As the game opened up even more, Henry played in Briggs whose shot was saved by Eason at the near post. Player coach Ben Harding, in his first game for Whitstable, sent a long ball forward and Millbank was first to it, but his stabbed shot was cleared away from the line by Isaac Ogundere. There were two late corners at each end, but Leatherhead went closest to a winner when a cross by Jedd Smith was deflected to Henry, but Eason pushed his shot over the bar and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

The game was a good advert for the FA Cup, enjoyed by a crowd of 425, and both teams remain in Monday’s draw, before the outcome is settled the following evening.

Whitstable	Data	Leatherhead
5	Shots on target	9
4	Shots off target	7
6	Shots blocked	6
6	Corners	9
10	Fouls conceded	8
3	Offside	4
1	Penalties	0

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, James Brown, Ben Harding, Jack Miles, Danny Walder (Gus Barnes 90), Ryan Flack (Harry Stannard 79), Liam Gillies, Aaron Millbank (c), Tom Carlton (George McIlroy 71), Nico Cotton.
Subs (unused): Reece Gillies, Zack Jobe, Will Thomas, Henry Duley.
Goals: Aaron Millbank 40 (pen), 73.
Yellow cards: Liam Gillies 70, Ben Harding 88.

Leatherhead
Jacob Bennett, Kwaku Frimpong (Jedd Smith 65), Crossley Lema, Isaac Ogundere, Will Salmon (c), Cameron Black, Andrew Briggs, Craig McGee, Alexander Sami, Korrey Henry, Kweku Lucan.
Subs (unused): Adam Green, Jamie Hardwick, Harry Cawdron.
Goals: Cameron Black 19, Alexander Sami 68.
Yellow card: Will Salmon 59

Attendance: 425
Referee: Aaron Conn
Assistants: Paul Yates & Benjamin Marshall