In-form Leatherhead moved up to eighth in the Ryman Premier Division thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win against Canvey Island on Saturday.

Carl Rook scored the only goal of a tightly contested game after 72 minutes when Gulls keeper Tim Brown failed to hold a rasping shot from Kiernan Hughes-Mason, leaving Rook with a simple tap-in.

Chances were at a premium at either end with some solid defending from both sets of defences.

Canvey almost took the lead after 13 minutes when Harrison Chatting’s 20-yard effort came off the inside of the post, rebounding to safety- but that was the closest the visitors came to scoring.

Vasileios Karagiannis had the ball in the net for Leatherhead after 38 minutes, but Mark Nwokeji was penalised for holding back a Gulls defender.

Canvey pressed forward and just before the break George Sykes got past two defenders before forcing a fine low save from Tanners keeper Louis Wells.

Leatherhead started the second half brightly, creating two good opportunities in the opening minutes.

Karagiannis forced a good save from Brown with a deflected effort, before setting up Hughes-Mason for a wide-angled shot which found the side-netting.

Nwokeji had the ball in the net after 49 minutes, but saw his effort ruled out for offside.

Leatherhead gradually took control in midfield and Rook’s goal was just reward for their patient build-ups.

Tanners had the ball in the net again in second half stoppage time, in a move involving all three of their substitutes.

Ryan Mahal broke clear with the ball down the right, picking out Josh Gallagher in the middle with a fine delivery to the box.

Gallagher’s shot struck the post, rebounding to Rook for what appeared to be a copycat tap-in. But Rook was pulled up for offside.

Leatherhead return to League action on Saturday when they travel to Enfield Town (kick-off: 3pm).

Leatherhead: Louis Wells, Becka Kah Dembele, Adam Green, Matt Smart, Joe Bruce, Jerry Nnamani, Richard Avery, Paul Semakula (Josh Gallagher 86), Mark Nwokeji (Carl Rook 50), Kiernan Hughes-Mason, Vasileios Karagiannis (Ryan Mahal 83) Unused subs: Neil Barrett and Jordan Gallagher