WITHAM Town picked up their second win on the road this season as they defeated Leatherhead 2-1 at Fetcham Grove this afternoon (Saturday).
Poor play from the hosts allowed Witham to open up a two-goal lead, with Ryan Blackman and Kurt Smith taking advantage of sloppy defending to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.
Kiernan Hughes-Mason did respond before the break, volleying home Vas Karagiannis' superb left-wing cross, but the Tanners were unable to find an equaliser as the visitors held firm in the second half.
Witham could have taken the lead after just four minutes as Smith went close to bundling in a Tom Wraight cross, only for Leatherhead defender Jerry Nnamani to clear off the line.
The warning signs were there for the hosts, despite a period of pressure from the Tanners, with Jack Paxman forcing a good save from Louis Wells.
And Witham weren't to be denied for too long as another Wraight cross produced the opening goal on 19 minutes, with Blackman stealing in to tap home the centre and break the deadlock.
It was 2-0 just six minutes later as Karagiannis gave the ball away to Conor Reid in midfield, with the Witham full-back allowed to drive forward and pick a pass to find Smith, who coolly finished past Wells to double the visitors' lead.
Blackman stung the palms of Wells from distance as Witham threatened to increase the lead, while Stacy Long's goalbound effort was blocked by a covering defender at the other end.
But the Tanners were back in the game six minutes before the break as Karagiannis got behind his marker on the left wing and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Hughes-Mason to volley home from close range.
And the hosts could have drawn level on the stroke of half time as Hughes-Mason found Becka-Kah Dembele in space, only for Witham goalkeeper Martyn Guest to deny him with a smart save.
But while Leatherhead huffed and puffed after the break, they were unable to force an equaliser against a stubborn and well-organised Witham side.
Hughes-Mason and Long had the best chances in open play, while substitute Carl Rook was a threat from set pieces, but the visitors stayed resolute to hold on for just their second away win of the campaign.
