Phoenix Sports bowed out of the FA Cup on Monday night as Isthmian side Leatherhead proved too much for Darren Anslow’s side. 

Nathan Hogan with a goal in each half and a third from Sam De St Croix settled the scoring although referee Lepper failed to endear himself to the home faithful with questionable decisions leading to both the visitors’ second half strikes. 

The home side started well, and Jerson Dos Santos missed a good early half chance before the home side has a real let off – Lukas Franz-Jones took advantage of a horrendous back pass and although his shot beat keeper Sam Freeman, the right post came to Phoenix’s rescue! 

Freeman was a busy man throughout and pulled off a stunning save to keep Mark Waters flicked header out before Leatherhead did take the lead. After scoring the equaliser that set up the replay, Hogan was allowed too much space before drilling into the bottom corner. 

The home side hit back, and Tyler Anderson was unlucky with a back post header after a great ball from Dom Morgan-Griffiths. 

As the half ended, Leatherhead perhaps should have stretched their lead as both Hogan and Franz-Jones were denied by Freeman. 

The game was effectively over as a contest early in the second period as De St Croix again took advantage of hesitant defending to hammer home.  

Dos Santos missed a glorious chance to pull a goal back but delayed far too long with teammates in good places, and Leatherhead took full advantage as Hogan drilled home his second and the visitors third. 

It could have been worse for Phoenix – sub Kareem Akinnibi should have scored with his first touch, and Tyrell Butler fired high over when well-placed whilst the home sides only chance of note saw Anderson denied by a great defensive block. 

Leatherhead sub-Isaac Olaniyan didn’t see the game out as there was a five-minute delay where the unlucky Olaniyan popped his shoulder out and had to be replaced, but it was the visitor’s night!  

Leatherhead did deserve their place in the next round on Saturday week, but the scoreline was tough on Sports who now go from Monday Night Football to Friday Night Football at Chislehurst Glebe. 

PHOENIX SPORTS – Freeman, Aboagye, Belford, Barnes (Reid-Smith), Goodman, Grant, Della Verde, Dos Santos (Mills), Morgan-Griffiths (Efambe), Anderson (Proctor), Morrison 

Subs – Smart, Elliott 

LEATHERHEAD – Wheeler, Hedley, Niran Butler, McLeod, De St Croix (Olaniyan)(Spink), Waters, Franz-Jones (Tyrell Butler), Fitzgerald, Stepney, Hogan, Igozuln (Akinnibi) 

Subs – Hebditch, Prendergast, Breckon