Richard Brady compared Leatherhead to a fast finishing horse this week as the battle for Ryman Premier League safety hots up.

The Tanners briefly escaped the relegation zone for the first time since August on Saturday as a 2-0 win over Aveley saw them leapfrog Harrow Borough – only to be dumped back to fourth bottom by Harrow’s 3-0 win against East Thurrock United on Tuesday.

That means Leatherhead are three points behind both Harrow and Hastings United ahead of the crucial Easter programme – where they play promotion-chasing Lowestoft Town on Saturday and relegated Horsham on Monday. “We have been nine or 10 points off safety at times this season and now we are within three points so it is all to play for over Easter,” said Brady.

“We feel like we have come so far.

“It’s like horse racing, we have never been one of those to be far ahead, we are the ones coming up quite nicely on the bridle. “We are excited by the prospects with five games to go as we are in good form and quietly confident we will be OK. “We just have to concentrate on ourselves.

“We have a points total in mind and if the teams around win four or five on the bounce then good luck to them.

“The players aren’t nervous – they are looking forward to it.

“They see it as a challenge and, although you never want to be involved in a relegation battle, it can be exciting.”

Leatherhead went back to what they know best on Saturday, with strike pairing Tommy Hutchings and Greg Andrews on the scoresheet together for the first time this season having scored the goals that got the Tanners up 12 months ago.

“It’s great to have them and while they are scoring it can only be good,” added Brady.

“They are in confident mood so it’s good at the moment and it was a good result as we needed to win.”