Leatherhead safely negotiated the opening round of the Robert Dyas League Cup on Tuesday with a comfortable 2-0 win at South Park.

Two unanswered Stacy Long goals, including one from the penalty spot, mean Tanners will travel to Whyteleafe in the next round.

Leatherhead manager Richard Brady put out a near full strength line-up including club captain Richard Avery, returning for a first start since sustaining a foot injury against Bury Town four weeks ago.

Tanners bossed the opening exchanges without really testing their Ryman Division One South hosts before a Javen Palmer cross was well blocked by Park’s veteran keeper James Wastell on 12 minutes.

Leatherhead took the lead two minutes later - Long jinked his way past two defenders from the left before beating Wastell with a low shot to the right hand corner.

Park had a chance to equalise when Jack Watts latched onto a through ball from Mat Ward but Leatherhead keeper Louis Wells was equal to it, beating away Watts’ close range effort for a corner.

Tanners missed a good opportunity to double their lead when Palmer played an intelligent one-two with Carl Rook before carelessly lofting a shot high over the bar.

Long grabbed his second from the penalty-spot on 34 minutes after Palmer was fouled just inside the box.

Park missed a couple of half-chances in front of goal before half-time, with Jack Stafford firing over and Ward shooting wide from a tight angle.

Tanners controlled play in the second half without adding to their two-goal lead.

Wastell did well to block a Long free kick after 55 minutes and made another clean save from Rook’s effort on the hour mark.

Ryan Dolby made a blistering run for the visitors on 72 minutes, taking the ball half the length of the pitch before unleashing a shot from 30 yards which flew wide of the goal.

David Smith almost grabbed a late consolation goal for the hosts, but the Park midfielder’s stoppage time effort sailed high over the bar.

Leatherhead have a break from football this weekend before returning to League action on Saturday October 18 when Wingate & Finchley visit Fetcham Grove. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Leatherhead: Louis Wells, Ryan Cooper, Ryan Dolby, Richard Avery, Joe Bruce, Jerry Nnamani, Kevin Terry, Bode Anidugbe, Carl Rook (Ben Roche 77), Javen Palmer (Kiernan Hughes-Mason 61), Stacy Long (Paul Semakula 70). 

Unused subs: Becka Kah Dembele, Ryan Mahal