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After their easy victory against Burgess Hill, Whyteleafe came up against much stronger opposition although there was little to choose between the teams and the result was as much to do with some dreadful refereeing as anything else. It was frustrating to players, officials and supporters alike, and unfortunately one or two very poor referees seem to be coming through at this level.
Stuart Massey gave a debut to keeper Matthew Mann signed recently from Godalming, the only other change being Paul Scott in for the suspended Denva McKenzie. After an even opening quarter of an hour, Cray had the first two good chances. Danny Chapman having a 16th minute header from a corner saved by Mann, and a minute later, the keeper was called into action again to save from Leigh Bremner.
The home side had to wait until the 40th minute for their first real chance when a mix up in defence allowed Andrew Martin to win the ball in the box, but his shot was blocked by the defence. Martin then had an argument with Chapman who was amazingly not dismissed after striking Martin, and both players ended up receiving yellow cards.
Cray took the lead controversially in the 42nd minute. A free kick was awarded for something that only the referee saw and Colin Luckett curled it to the far post where Scott Kinch was on hand to score from close range.
'Leafe came out strongly in the second half. Scott won the ball in the box in the 47th minute and put Ronnie Green through. His cross shot was blocked by the defence. Three minutes later a 25 yard Steve McNamara free kick was deflected off the wall, but again blocked by a defender.
The equaliser came in the 57th minute when a free kick was punched out by Glen Knight, but only as far as Jason Goodchild who hit an overhead kick. This fell into the path of Scott who spotted Knight coming off his line and neatly chipped the tall keeper into the empty net.
Green was put through three minutes later, but Knight was alert to the danger and just managed to beat Green to the ball to prevent his side taking the lead. Four minutes later the wind was knocked out of 'Leafe's sails when a penalty was awarded to the bemusement of all around. Colin Luckett hit it well to beat Mann and put the visitors ahead.
Mann made a good save to stop Bremner scoring before Martin found Scott in a great position, but with the goal at his mercy, was bizarrely ruled offside even though the ball was played back and a defender was well behind him. 'Leafe had a great chance to equalise once again in the 83rd minute. Harnet broke down the left to meet Michael Harney and miss hit his clearance to Asher Hudson, but he was unable to get his first time shot at the open goal on target and watched the ball roll wide with Knight nowhere.
Cray wrapped up the game in stoppage time when Tony Dolby fired home a low 25 yard free kick which eluded both the wall and the keeper.
Whyteleafe: Mann, Hudson, McNamara, Reeve , Patterson-Bohner, Goodchild, Green (Broomhead 75), Smith, Scott (Murray-Price 75), Martin, Harney.