Whyteleafe boss John Fowler was in philosophical mood after the bragging rights were shared with rivals Chipstead at Church Road.

Ninety minutes of frustrating football in miserable conditions on Tuesday night could not separate the neighbours, and a 1-1 draw keeps Leafe second in Ryman Division One South.

In a first half of few chances, Chipstead took the lead through Dan Buckle’s 20-yard daisy-cutter.

Leafe levelled after the break through substitute Sam Clayton, and a despite a frenetic end where both sides could have stolen the points there was not to be a winner.

Fowler said: “It was a poor game and we did not play well at all. We just did not turn up in the first half and they had the better of it.

“They did not have many chances, but they got to the first ball, the second ball and showed more urgency and desire.

“We had six or seven players who were under par. You can carry one or two, but not that many, and it showed.”

He added: “In the second half we upped it five per cent but it was still nowhere near how we’ve been playing – in the end it was a fair result.

“Fair play to Chipstead - they did everything to slow the game down and break it up.

“Every time the ball went out, they were taking their time, waiting for someone to go and get it – they were playing for that and it worked for them.”

Clayton came off the bench to bag the leveller and his fourth goal of the season as Fowler continues to reintegrate him into the team.

He said: “Sam has not been on form. I have been trying not to put too much pressure on him so it felt like the right moment to bring him on.

“He played well on Friday [at Corinthian Casuals] for about an hour before coming off, and he got a good run out tonight. It is all about trying to get his confidence up.”

He added: “Jason [Thompson] was on the bench because we wanted more legs in the middle.

"Chipstead are a fit side and they have a lot of willing runners, and that is not one of JT’s strengths with people running past him.

“So it was a tactical decision to leave him out – Saturday is a different game and he’ll be back, as might Sam.”

Whyteleafe go to Redbridge this weekend in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy.

The Essex side may be 17th in Ryman Division One North, but they are unbeaten in four outings, scoring eight goals in the process.