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This was performance which typifies Whyteleafe's season so far. The match started with 'Leafe full of confidence and positive play scoring twice and then collapsing into a second half performance to forget.
The match saw a debut for new goalkeeper Rob O'Hara signed from Thamesmead and the return of Ryan Gray, a former Supporters Player of the Year. Both signings made an positive impact on the game.
But it was Andrew Martin who scored first for the 'Leafe when he met a Ronnie Green cross on the eighth minute. Merstham have proven a handfull to many clubs in the division this year but they seeme to have something lacking early in this local derby.
Just before the half hour, Whyteleafe won a free kick near the edge of the box. Ryan Gray took it and fired low to the right of Merstham wall. It wasn't a particularly powerful shot but the home keeper, Ian Chatfield, having seen it very late was unable to stretch and prevent it from going in the net.
The remainder of the half seemed quite comfortable for Whyteleafe and the immense height of O'Hara help him pluck crosses out of the air with some ease.
The second half was a complete turnaround however, and Merstham started the half in the best way possible. Former 'Leafe striker, Kwabena Ageyi, came on as a sub for the home side at half time and found himself in exactly the right place to head home past O'Hara within a minute of the restart.
Merstham then proceeded to dominate the game and passed the ball around nicely as 'Leafe began to struggle. Almost inevitably it was the other former 'Leafe striker that grabbed the equaliser. O'Hara managed to save a shot from Mark Simmons but Kevin Lock was on hand to shoot home on 70 minutes.
Up until the last 5-10 minutes, Merstham looked the likelier to get the winner but O'Hara looked in fin form and kept out a number of goalbound shots from the Moatsiders. But Whyteleafe found a second wind at the end of the match and started to press the home side back. The best chance game with the last kick of the game with some excellent work on the right that resulted in a pass to Carlton Murray-Price who was in space inside the box but shot straight into the body of Chatfield.