Leatherhead maintained second place in Ryman Division One South with a comfortable 4-2 win at Worthing on Saturday.

Two goals from Darren Smith and a goal apiece from Tom Bradbrook and Mohamed Eisa proved too much for the hosts to handle.

Tanners boss Richard Brady handed a debut to Ryan Cooper in defence, while Jake Hobbs returned in midfield for his first Leatherhead appearance since August.

The visitors started brightly and took the lead after 10 minutes when the Worthing defence failed to clear a long throw from Cooper, and Bradbrook was well positioned to stab the ball home from 10 yards.

The Rebels drew level after 19 minutes with the first of three penalties awarded during the course of the match.

Cooper felled Will Hendon just inside the Leatherhead area and Worthing captain Mark Knee made no mistake from the spot.

Brannon O’Neill missed out on a couple of opportunities to put Worthing ahead, first firing wide from a good position and then forcing a goal-line save from keeper Deren Ibrahim.

Tanners restored their advantage after 40 minutes. Smith pounced from close range as Worthing’s defence once again failed to get the ball away from their six yard box.

Kev Terry replaced Hobbs in midfield at the start of the second half, making his first appearance for Leatherhead since mid-November.

Tanners extended their lead with a penalty when Knee caught Ian Draycott with a late challenge and Smith stepped up to send the spot kick firmly past keeper Jack Fagan.

The third penalty of the match went Worthing’s way after Ibrahim ran into O’Neill, with the Rebels forward taking the ball away from the Leatherhead goal.

Knee stepped forward to score his and Worthing’s second goal of the afternoon.

The Rebels rallied briefly and threatened to draw level as Ibrahim kept out efforts from George Gaskin and Jacob Peake.

Bradbrook almost bagged another for Tanners, but the striker’s powerful long-range free kick was well blocked by Fagan.

Eisa wrapped up the points with a fourth goal for Leatherhead in stoppage time.

The young substitute made a good interception at the half way line, running forward with the ball before rounding Fagan for a simple tap-in.

Leatherhead: Deren Ibrahim, Ryan Mahal, Ryan Cooper, Tom Parkinson (Frank Griffin 73), Jerry Nnamani, Jamie Coyle, Jake Hobbs (Kev Terry 46), Darren Smith, Tom Bradbrook, Ian Draycott (Mohamed Eisa 76), Paul Semakula.

Unused sub: Sam Toms