Leatherhead boss Richard Brady blamed the Ryman League mentality after his side conceded a last-gasp equaliser at East Thurrock United.

Dean Pooley had given the Tanners an early first-half lead, but a below par second half performance allowed Sam Higgins to haul the Essex host level.

Brady fell back on the “game of two halves” cliché, and admitted to being disappointed about their second half display on Tuesday night.

His disappointment was exacerbated because, having warned his players at half-time against a possible lacklustre second half display, he then had to watch it unfold in front of his eyes.

“We deserved the lead at half-time and we could have been further ahead, but did not take our chances,” he said.

“But they had the far better of the second half and Louis [Wells] has had to make a couple of saves before they got the equaliser right at the end.

While Leatherhead stutter, Brady is not losing his head

“United could be forgiven for thinking they deserved the win, but we should not have allowed them to get a foothold on the game.

“It was more irksome because we warned the players at half time.

“At our level, the quality is not there, and there’s a mentality among non-League players that, if they get a goal ahead, they sit back and defend it, and hope the opposition don’t score.”

He added: “We are not a bad team, it’s just a case of trying to work out the best way to go forward.

“Saying a team needs to be balanced is an over-used statement, but it is true.

“If we’re gung-ho, going for goals, we leave ourselves open at the back. But if we sit back then we leave ourselves short going forward.”

Tanners make the first of two quick-fire trips to Whyteleafe on Saturday in the FA Trophy second qualifying round, before returning for a second round clash in the Robert Dyas League Cup on Tuesday.