fixtures and results | home page
CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC 3 - 4 WHYTELEAFE
Saturday 29th November 2008
Ryman League Division 1 South
Whyteleafe gained three more valuable points in a match that saw both sides take the lead, but it was visitors who did so at the crucial time. Having been forced to make changes due to an injury to Robbie Smith and the work commitments of Paul Scott , manager Stuart Massey pushed Ali Reeve into midfield where he built an effective partnership with the hard working Jason Goodchild.
Adam Broomhead joined Asher Hudson in the middle of defence with Alhajie Jabbie taking over from the out of form Ronnie Green.
The first twenty minutes passed with little sign of the action that was to come and it was 'Leafe who took the lead with the first decent chance of the match. Andy Martin curled a free kick into the box that was partially cleared to the edge of the area where Steve McNamara was on hand to strike a fine volley in to the top corner of the net.
Three minutes later Martin won a corner on the right. McNamara's inswinger was again partially cleared to Reeve on the edge of the box but he struck his shot wide. Two minutes later McNamara hit a dangerous cross after a fine run, out of reach of keeper Mark Oldroyd at the far post, but just beyond the reach of the unmarked Denva McKenzie.
Jabbie was unlucky two minutes later when after a fine run down the right, Oldroyd came to push him wide, he rounded the keeper but hit the post from a narrow angle. The ball fell to McKenzie who laid it back to McNamara and his fierce volley was grabbed at the second attempt by Oldroyd.
Two minutes later Jabbie found McKenzie on the edge of the box after another fine run. He turned and beat two defenders, but Oldroyd again saved the shot.
Crowborough then had their first two shots, first Matt Foreman hit a weak free kick straight at Matthew Mann, then John Sinclair's 25 yard effort went just wide. McNamara tried his luck from a 35 yard free kick in the 36th minute, which Oldfield only managed to save at the second attempt.
The home side got back on level terms in the 39th minute when Gavin Gordon netted from close range. But Whyteleafe only had to wait five minutes to regain their lead. Jabbie again went on a run down the right and got past Oldfield, but a good saving tackle from Foreman put the ball out for a throw. Jabbie took it, the ball coming back to him and his cross then found Martin in the box and he made no mistake from close range.
Crowborough came out strongly in the second half and 'Leafe, having looked fairly solid in the first half, looked decidedly shaky and after a couple of scares, Crowborough got their equaliser in the 51st minute when Luke Piscina sent Gordon clear and he slotted the ball past Mann for his second of the game.
In the 55th minute, Jabbie headed on a Patterson-Bonher throw in and found Reeve in the box. Reeve shot hit the hand of a defender who had it raised, but the strong penalty claim was turned down. A minute later McNamara's free kick found Jabbie but his shot was blocked on the line. Then Piscina split the defence and spotted Mann off his line, chipping him to put the hosts into the lead.
Manager Massey immediately replaced McKenzie with Carlton Murray-Price. Jabbie made a great run into the box in the 64th minute, but shot straight at Oldfield. The ball rebounded to Price-Murray but he miss-hit his chance. Two minutes later, Jabbie went on another great run down the right, this time picking out the on form Martin who put the ball home for his fifth goal in two games. There was only ever going to be one winner after this with 'Leafe supplying all the attacking ideas.
Martin had a dangerous swinging free kick headed behind for a corner in the 70th minute. He then put Murray-Price through in the 73rd minute. The substitute's first effort went straight at Oldfield, but the ball rebounded kindly for him and he was able to place the ball into the unguarded net.
'Leafe looked likely to score again as they had most of the play in the closing minutes. Jabbie was brought down on the edge of the box after another penetrating run, but they couldn't make anything of the free kick and were happy just to take the three points.
Whyteleafe: Mann, Patterson-Bohner, Harney, Reeve, Hudson, Goodchild, Jabbie, Broomhead, Martin, McKenzie (Murray-Price 60), McNamara.
NB. click on thumbnail for full size picture
Denva McKenzie |
Crowborough in winter |
Crowborough in winter II |
Jason Goodchild and |
Ali Reeve and |
Ali and Taff wait |
Taff |
Sol Patterson-Bohner |