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Despite the look of the scoreline, this was in truth a straightforward victory for Whyteleafe who built an early lead that was never seriously threatened until the visitors got a well taken consolation in stoppage time.
'Leafe took the game to the Rams in the early stages. Paul Scott threatened with his attacking runs at the defence and in the fifth minute, following a good run down the right, his cross found Nicky Greene whose shot was blocked out for a corner.
Two minutes later 'Leafe won a free kick out on the left. Robbie Smith curled it into the box where Asher Hudson at the far post headed across goal to the unmarked Scott who scored with another bicycle kick from close range.
Hudson then made a strong run down the right and his shot from a narrow angle was saved by Michael Lidbury. Ronnie Green then beat two defenders on the right, put the ball inside to Hudson, and his shot was blocked on the line.
It was no surprise when the home side went two up in the 15th minute, with Croydon's defence struggling to cope with their opponents' direct attacking style. This time Green beat two defenders on the right and found Nicky Greene in the box who struck the ball firmly past Lidbury into the net.
Croydon had two half-hearted efforts midway through the half, Rob Tolfrey saving a free kick at length that looked as if it was going wide anyway, and a hopeful chip from 30 yards by Sam Clayton that Tolfrey comfortably held. On the half hour Hudson made another good run down the right, his cross finding Denva McKenzie in the box. A defender just got a boot to his shot to deflect it over the bar. Smith took the resulting corner, and Scott headed into the back of the net but the referee saw an infringement that was a mystery to all the 'Leafe players.
Lidbury then made two good saves to keep the visitors in the game from Green in the 38th minute and Smith in the 40th minute. Two minutes later Lidbury again came to the rescue, tipping a McKenzie effort round the post after he had beaten three defenders.
Half time came and frankly there was very little to report in the second half that was very disappointing after such a lively start. The game got largely bogged down in the middle of the field as 'Leafe seemed content with their two goal and Croydon were unable to seriously threaten.
Smith hit a dangerous free kick in the 48th minute that was deflected for a corner. There was then a series of bookings for both sides as the game became more scrappy. Green broke clear of the defence in the 73rd minute but Lidbury again saved well. Ten minutes from time, Green broke away again. This time his shot beat Lidbury but Francis Duku was on the line to block the shot.
Danny Waldren gave the visitors something to cheer in stoppage time with a well struck consolation goal from outside the area but far too late to give the visitors a realistic chance of a comeback.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Hudson, Jabbie, Reeve , Broomhead, Goodchild, Green, Smith, McKenzie (Kabongo 80), Scott, Greene.
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