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LEATHERHEAD 3 - 1 WHYTELEAFE
Saturday 6th September 2008
Ryman League Division 1 South
Whyteleafe's slow start to the season continued in this entertaining local derby against Leatherhead and manager Stuart Massey will be anxious to get some wins to climb away from the wrong end of the table. There were however plenty of positives for his side, with new signing Ronnie Green making a very good impression on his debut.
Opening exchanges were lively with plenty of chances at both ends. Rob Tolfrey made two saves in the first three minutes to deny Will Jenkins and Billy Marshall. In between, Ronnie Green had an early chance for 'Leafe that was saved by Stuart Robinson.
Sean Rivers then found Green in space and he took on three defenders, winning a corner, from which Robbie Smith's dangerous cross slid off the wet surface to safety. Four minutes later Asher Hudson's header from a Robbie Smith corner was cleared off the line. Moments later the ball was back in the box and Sean Rivers was well placed but his header was off target.
On 15 minutes, Rivers sent Green down the right. His low shot went across the face of goal, where Paul Scott was sliding in at the far post. Unfortunately he couldn't control the ball and his shot went over the bar.
A minute later, Michael Riley put Tolfrey in trouble with a poor back pass. He managed to get the ball as far as Tommy Hutchings, who shot on target but Adam Broomhead was quick to get back and block the shot for a corner. Riley immediately made amends when he cleared a header off the line from the resultant corner. Marshall had a fine chance for the hosts in the 27th minute when he was clear in the box, but shot weakly at Tolfrey.
'Leafe then took a 28th minute lead when after another dangerous run by Green, he put the ball into the box in the path of Denva McKenzie who neatly turned it into the net from close range.
Hudson made a great saving tackle in the 44th minute then John Cartlege headed wide from the corner. Will Jenkins missed a golden opportunity to equalise in first half stoppage time, shooting wide when unmarked in the box.
Leatherhead's half time talk inspired them and they looked a different side in the second half. Jenkins levelled the scores with a well taken header in the 51st minute. Jenkins saw another effort in the 57th minute saved by Tolfrey.
Alhajjie Jabbie went close on the hour when his shot from a narrow angle on the right was cleared off the line. Smith put McKenzie in seven minutes later, but the defender did well to get his boot in the way of his shot and deflect it over the bar.
Two minutes later Leatherhead took the lead when Jenkins ball threaded the 'Leafe defence and Troy Tanner drove the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box. Massey made changes as they tried to get back into the game, but it was the hosts who finished the stronger and ran out deserved winners.
Tolfrey made a good save to deny Hutchings in the 83rd minute, but could not stop Jenkins from heading home a third from an 86th minute corner. Broomhead prevented the hosts scoring again in the dying minutes, clearing off the line from Cartlege, whilst Green had the visitors' final effort in stoppage time saved.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Riley, Jabbie, Hudson, Broomhead, Goodchild, Green, Smith, Rivers (Kempster 76), McKenzie, Scott (Barry 76).
NB. click on thumbnail for full size picture
Rob Tolfrey |
Ronnie Green |
Ronnie |
Denva Mackenzie |
The Bench |
Jason Goodchild |
Sean Rivers |
Adam Broomhead |
Voice |
Asher, Broom & Denva |
Terry & Graham |
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