Both clubs played a part in an entertaining match which went one way and then the other as both settled for a place in Monday’s draw, ahead of Tuesday evening’s replay at Fetcham Grove.
Whitstable started the brighter as in the 11th minute Dan Eason kicked long to Tom Carlton who saw his shot from 30 yards saved by Harry Cawdron a late replacement for Jacob Bennett.
Four minutes later Leatherhead had their first half chance when Korrey Henry recently signed from Braintree ran into the area, saw his shot blocked for a corner, from the cross into the back post Will Salmon saw his header come back of the crossbar.
In the 18th minute a ball into the Whitstable area saw Eason palm it away, but it came out to Cameron Black who shot home from 15 yards. Leatherhead were now in control of the game, in the 25th Black in the area saw his shot saved by Eason.
In a rare attack Whitstable could have equalised when Aaron Millbank turned, crossed into the area for Liam Gillies but he headed over the bar then in the 30th minute Andrew Briggs saw his 30 yard free kick go past the post.
In the 32nd minute Henry ran across the 18 yard area before shooting forcing Eason to another save. Five minutes later Alexander Sami was put through but from 15 yards he shot over the bar
With 39 minutes on the clock Whitstable did equalise when a long ball forward saw Ryan Flack chase it & force Black into handling the ball & a penalty was given, up stepped Millbank who hit it to the right. Suddenly it was Whitstable in charge and they probably did not want half time.
The second half saw Whitstable taking the game to Leatherhead and in the 49th minute should have taken the lead when Nico Cotton on the left crossed into the six yard area where Millbank was but on his own headed wide when it seemed easier to score.
In the 56th minute Cotton on the edge of the area saw his shot deflect for a corner. In the 61st minute Leatherhead woke up, Sami latched onto a loose ball but from 15 yards out Eason palmed it away. Then four minutes later a Briggs corner found Black but he headed over the bar.
Then in the 68th minute Leatherhead took the lead when Henry got to the by-line before his low cross was side footed in by Sami from six yards.
The Leatherhead lead lasted five minutes when Millbank 40 yards out ran forward with no one closing him down, from 18 yards he shot past Cawdron.
Four minutes later Millbank had an opportunity to get his third when his free kick from 30 yards was cleared back to him but he blasted it high and wide.
A minute later, Leatherhead thought they had gone ahead again when Briggs in the area from an acute angle saw his shot saved brilliantly by Eason.
In the 84th minute Sami controlled a long ball but his shot went over the bar. In the next minute Whitstable nearly won the game when Millbank hassling the defenders saw his toe poked shot go under Cawdron but Crossley Lema got back and cleared the ball for a corner.
In the 89th minute Eason made sure of the replay when Henry turned and shot but Eason tipped it over the bar. The final whistle went and a draw seemed like the right result.
Whitstable Town:
1 1.D.Eason 2. J.Mackenzie 3. J.Brown 19. B.Harding 5. J.Miles 6. D.Walder (90) 7. R.Flack (79)
8. L.Gillies 9. A.Millbank 10. T.Carlton (70) 11. N.Cotton
Subs Used: 12. G.Mcilroy (70) 14. H.Stannard (79) 16. G.Barnes (90)
Subs Not Used: 15. R.Gillies 17. Z.Jobe 18. W.Thomas Gk. H.Duley
Bookings: 8. L.Gillies (70) 19. B.Harding (87)
Leatherhead:
13. H.Cawdron 11. K.Frimpong (65) 3. C.Lema 4. I.Ogundere 5. W.Salmon 6. C.Black 7. A.Briggs
8. C.Mcgee 9. A.Sami 10. K.Henry 11. K.Lucan
Subs Used:12. J.Smith (65)
Subs Not Used: 14. A.Green 15. J.Hardwick 1. J.Bennett
Bookings: None
Referee: Mr A.Conn
Assistants: Mr P.Yates & Mr B. Marshall
Att: 425