fixtures and results | home page
WHYTELEAFE 3 - 1 PEACEHAVEN & TELSCOMBE
Wednesday 3rd September 2008
FA Cup Preliminary Round
A Denva McKenzie brace and a trademark Steve McNamara free-kick secured a place in the next round for Whyteleafe in a hard fought game played at Lancing FC in very challenging weather conditions.
Facing a gale force wind it was Whyteleafe who dominated the first half, fielding a very attack minded formation with the powerful McKenzie, such a talented player who has suffered such unfortunate injury problems during a stop-start career, alongside Marcus Kempster, Paul Scott and Ricardo Williams.
On five minutes McKenzie nodded on a Broomhead clearance for Kempster who shot tamely when well placed. Moments later McKenzie was one on one with keeper Owen Fisher who bravely saved a fierce shot with his legs before Robbie Smith's goal bound follow-up deflected off a Peacehaven defender. As Leafe continued to press, Adam Broomhead fired narrowly wide after Asher Hudson had cleverly headed a McNamara header across the box.
Paul Scott made a mazy run on the half hour, his shot well saved once more and Smith fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area as the visitors dominated. In reply Peacehaven winger Paul Dudson hit a screamer from 25 yards, brilliantly tipped over by keeper Rob Tolfrey, still alert after being a spectator up to that point.
McKenzie finally opened the scoring, firing home from a wide angle, his fierce low shot going through the legs of Fisher, just before half-time.
After the break the heavens opened and in the torrential rain it was the home side that started to threaten, a diving header narrowly wide of Tolfrey's post. In reply, Leafe had two fine shots from Smith and Williams, each punched away by Fisher before a McNamara free-kick from 20 yards was curled around the wall into the top corner to further the visitor's lead.
Peacehaven soon struck back when substitute striker Ryan Smith latched on to an ill advised back pass to fire past Tolfrey. A strong penalty claim was then turned away as they pressed for an equaliser, Whyteleafe looking increasingly tired and stretched. Still Peacehaven pressed as the game became increasingly physical with home defender Jamie Cullinane seemingly involved with every incident and Jason Goodchild lucky to stay on the pitch after a petulant response to one particular challenge.
As the visiting supporters' nerves frayed it was McKenzie who put the result beyond doubt with a fine solo goal, charging into the box and lashing the ball past keeper Fisher in the last minute of normal time. Leafe now go on to an away tie at Horsham YMCA on Saturday 13th September.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Hudson, McNamara, Riley, Broomhead, Goodchild, Williams (Castrechino 70), Smith, McKenzie, Scott (Barry 72) , Kempster. Subs not used: Tyson, King.
NB. click on thumbnail for full size (arty-farty) pictures
Goodchild challenge |
Lancing roofs |
Rainstorm |
fixtures and reports | home page