fixtures and results | home page
Once again Whyteleafe fail to register any points at home. They enjoyed plenty of possession but more often than not gave the ball carelessly away and with an odd look to the defence, the two goals they conceded seemed inevitable. Indeed, established players seemed to be playing out of position all over the pitch and on the odd occasion they managed to put together a coherent passing move, there was rarely anyone on hand to shoot on goal.
Callum Maclean, the popular and energetic midfielder started in an attacking role alongside Andrew Martin and, after some good build up work in the opening minutes, he failed to get in the shot on goal that would have given an early test to visiting keeper, Ross Tanner.
Maclean appeared to be shoved in the back on 12 minutes but appeals for a penalty were ignored as the ball fell to Martin who shot powerfully on the turn but straight at Tanner.
Having already come close on one occasion, Eastbourne made the breakthrough in the fifteenth minute, with the 'Leafe makeshift defence at sixes and sevenses, Jamie Salvidge was left unmarked to smash the ball past Rob O'Hara from close range.
The remainder of the half was largely uneventful with O'Hara the busier of the keepers, his best save coming on 36 minutes from a free-kick that was curled around Whyteleafe's defensive wall.
The second half really wasn't much better with the home side coming closest in the earlier exchanges. Martin received the ball on the right from a great forward pass by Alhajie Jabbie. Martin's cross into the box caused all kinds of problems for the visiting defence but their Adam Davidson managed to head the ball away to safety.
Whyteleafe's ascendancy was short-lived however and on the 57th minute, Eastbourne showed that ambition wins football matches as centre back Steve Hunt found himself in space in the 'Leafe box and turned in a cross from 2 yards out to make it 2-0.
It took until the side were two goals down for 'Leafe to really start putting tangible moves together. Andrew Martin came very close to making it 2-1 on 64 minutes when he met a pinpoint cross at the backpost - the ball going agonisingly close but wide of the goal. Ellis Conroy fired a powerful long range shot just wide a minute later.
Another good move on 72 minutes involving 4 or 5 players ended with Ryan Gray free to shoot on goal but his effort span safely over Tanner's bar. The closest they came during this spell came 6 minutes later when Jabbie, now playing in a more positive position smashed the ball against the upright at the back post after another good passing move.
The consolation goal came four minutes from time. Jabbie having started causing problems for the visiting defence was eventually fouled in the box and Mark Hammond's penalty left Tanner with no chance. But the goal came far too late and Whyteleafe have again to look over their shoulders to the threat of relegation.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Hudson, Jabbie, Reeve, Broomhead, Goodchild, Maclean, Conroy, Martin, Hammond, Gray. Unused subs: Harney, Dawson, Aldous, Mann.