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Whyteleafe continue to find scoring difficult in a barren run that has seen just two goals in eight games, but at least the defence is holding out, and the team earned their fifth draw in this run of games. Four goalless draws in six games might indicate some boring games, but this was fairly entertaining with both sides playing some good football at times.
Ashford had the better of the early exchanges and almost took the lead in the fourth minute. Robert O'Hara saw Craig Wilkins' shot late and got down just in time to turn his effort round the post.
'Leafe could have taken an 18th minute lead against the run of play. Jason Goodchild put Ryan Gray clear down the left. His cross found Andy Martin at the far post, but his close range shot hit the outside of the post. Five minutes later, Sean Rivers, back in the side after brief spells elsewhere, latched on to a long clearance, winning a header against Ashford keeper Seb Barton in the air, but the home keeper got just enough on the ball to take it off target.
Two minutes later a strong run by Asher Hudson saw him find Martin inside him. Martin laid it back to Goodchild whose shot was well blocked by a diving defender.
Another good run by Hudson in the 32nd minute saw him lay the ball off to Ellis Conroy. Conroy's cross found Robbie Smith and his shot was also blocked. Rivers actually scored a goal in the 36th minute which somehow escaped the notice of the officials. His shot from a narrow angle hit the underside of the bar and went over the line and despite it hitting the net inside the goal before it bounced out, the goal was not given. Rivers had a great chance to score right on half time but miss hit his shot from close range, possibly put off by the fact the linesman hadn't spotted he was offside.
'Leafe started the second half brightly. In the 47th minute Rivers chased a long ball down the right, pulled it back to Gray whose cross found Martin and his shot was deflected for a corner. The corner was partially cleared to Conroy whose fierce volley from 25 yards was blocked.
At the other end Shawn Beveney broke in the 57th minute, but Ali Reeve stuck to his side and was strong enough to be able to shield the ball for O'Hara to collect. Nine minutes later Beveney set up Orlando Smith but much to 'Leafe's relief missed a sitter.
Rivers then chased a long ball in the 74th minute but Barton was quickly out before he could strike. Nigel Ikolodo had a great run in the 82nd minute, beating two defenders, but pulled his cross too far back, behind the well placed Hugo Sikaude. Ikolodo then found Rivers in the box in the 85th minute, his well hit chip just being reached by Barton who tipped over.
The final chance of the game fell to the visitors in the 88th minute when O'Hara saved Danny Lye's header.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Hudson (Ikolodo 63), Harney, Reeve, Broomhead, Goodchild, Gray (Sikaude 71), Smith, Martin (Harding 63), Rivers, Conroy.