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Whyteleafe got a hard earned point against 3rd placed Folkestone to lift their spirits. It was a tough game at times but generally played in a good spirit.
Folkestone had the better of the early exchanges, but with Ali Reeve back in defence, 'Leafe held firm. They created their first chance in the 8th minute when Paul Scott won the ball on the left and laid it back to Steve McNamara. The resulting cross was met by Sean Rivers in the box who couldn't get any power into his shot and it was easily saved by Charlie Mitten. Five minutes later Rivers had another chance when he ran onto a long through ball, and chipped the advancing Mitten, but a little too strongly this time and his effort went over the bar.
Folkestone were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute when Rob Tolfrey brought down Andy Pugh in the box. He was shown a yellow card but made amends by getting down quickly to save the spot kick that Pugh took himself. The visitors then enjoyed a good spell with Liam Friend shooting just over in the 22nd minute and Jimmy Jackson going close after 33 minutes.
Whyteleafe had a good move down the right in the 38th minute involving Jason Goodchild and Ronnie Green that lead to a corner to be taken by Steve McNamara. This cleared everyone except Asher Hudson at the far post, but he couldn't get in a strong enough header to trouble the keeper. Former Dover striker Jimmy Dryden forced a good save from Tolfrey with a shot on the turn and then the visitors took a 43rd minute lead when James Everitt headed home from a corner. 'Leafe had a couple of chances just before the break: Adam Broomhead headed wide from another McNamara corner and Ronnie Green had a 20 yard shot saved.
'Leafe came out strongly in the second half, attacked the Folkestone goal and an equaliser began to look likely. Denva McKenzie went close in the 50th minute after Rivers laid off a cross from Scott.
In the 55th minute, the referee awarded Whyteleafe a penalty when Rivers was pushed over in the box. McNamara coolly sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted the ball home.
Two minutes later a cross from Rivers found a well-positioned Paul Scott who miss-hit his shot. Green beat two defenders on the edge of the box five minutes on and hit his shot across the face of goal and just beyond the far post.
Folkestone then had another good spell and putting the home defence under pressure. Jackson forced a good save from Tolfrey and Dryden curled a 25 yard free kick around the 'Leafe wall but just over the bar. Both sides were intent on going for a winner in the closing minutes with chances at both ends, but in the end a draw was a fair result of a well contested match.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Hudson, McNamara, Reeve (Jabbie 75), Broomhead, Goodchild, Green (Kempster 76), Smith, Rivers, McKenzie (Harris 80), Scott.
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