Matches between these two near neighbours are rarely without incident.

On this occasion, with the Police pushing for a play-off place and the Tanners needing points after a disappointing run, there was always going to be goals in this game.

Add to that players on both sides who had swapped clubs, this was set up for an exciting contest.

The Tanners saw Iain Hendry making his league comeback after many weeks out and Steve Goddard partnering Tom Hutchings in the attack.

Tommy Moorhouse also faced one of his more recent old clubs.

Leatherhead tore into the home side from the start and it took just 7 minutes for them to make the breakthrough. Goals have been in short supply for Tom Hutchings in recent weeks.

This time, when a slip from Police’s Stuarte Hart let in the young striker and his assured low shot gave Will Packham no chance as it crashed into the net.

It was not all one way although the Mole Valley side did have the best of the first half.

When Jon-Henry haden beat the otherwise dominant Iain Hendry to the ball, his cross should have been buried by ex-Tanner Scott Forrester.

The striker (recently released By Conference side Grays) often flatters to deceived and, this time his header was well wide.

It has been difficult for Leatherhead to put together its passing game but, with Stewart Holmes’s prompting from the centre of midfield, there were signs that the much re-arranged side were starting to come together. The reward came after 17 minutes.

The ever hard working Goddard managed to drive in a cross and Jason Henry seized on the rebound to tap home after his initial header was blocked.

The Tanners had taken this game by the throat with Henry and Tony Cuff giving their wide defenders a torrid time with both pace and passing.

Cuff could have extended the score further when a truly superb cross field ball from Hutchings found him at the far post. His volley whistled inches wide to find the side netting – but from a difficult angle.

Confidence is key to most players and, if Tom Hutchings had let his lack of scoring chances get to him, they had disappeared with his first half goal – his running and perceptive passing had the look of the early season Hutchings.

The third goal – and Henry’s second was a sweetly struck shot from outside the area.

It curled and dipped into the top of the net giving Packham no chance at all.

The Tanners went into break with a deserved 3 goal cushion but with Tony Cuff hobbling after a heavy challenge late in the half.

The second half was a different affair. Without Cuff exerting pressure on the right flank, the attack and midfield had lost some of its shape.

The Police are a well organised team and were more than capable of punishing any mistake – and so it was.

They started their comeback just 10 minutes after the re-start. A Craig Brown volley comprehensively beat Chris Lewington to peg the difference back to just the two goals.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, the lead was reduced even further.

Substitute Danny Elgat lost a winnable challenge in the midfield and the resultant through ball found Scott Forrester who converted with ease.

It was particularly galling for the travelling Tanners as Forrester is not one of the most popular ex players! If that wasn’t enough, leatherhead saw their lead finally disappear when a far post cross was met by Craig Carley to ensure that the men in blue shared the points.

Although this was 2 points lost for the Tanners, it was a far better team performance and one that, if maintained, will hold them in good stead for the rest of the season.

It is vital that a run is put together to alleviate the threat of sliding into the relegation zone.