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Whyteleafe 2 - 0 Welling Utd
Wednesday 1st October 2008
FA Cup 2nd qualifying round replay

Whyteleafe clinched a famous victory with a tremendous hard-working team performance in which every one of the players looked as though it mattered more to them than to those of Welling. Even when the visitors went two down there was little fight or urgency about them and 'Leafe ended up holding on to their lead with very few scares at all. The reward is a trip to another Conference South side, Hampton & Richmond Borough, who had manager Alan Devonshire and former Whyteleafe winger Graham Harper at the game.

The opening exchanges were a little cagey as the sides had got to know each other's games. 'Leafe played the same side as Saturday, while Welling made a few changes, but didn't seem to have a particularly well-balanced side and noticeably no ball winner in midfield.

The first good chance of the match fell to the visitors in the ninth minute. Ryan Martin's well struck free kick was blocked by Steve McNamara. Two minutes later Paul Scott went on a great run down the left, laying the ball back to McNamara whose cross landed on the roof of the net.

With 15 minutes played Scott won the ball on the edge of the box and headed forward to Nicky Greene who struck the ball home, but was ruled offside in a very tight decision.

Three minutes later Denva McKenzie's run down the right was stopped by Ryan Johnson who put the ball out for a corner. McNamara's inswinger was punched over the bar by Jamie Turner.

On 20 minutes Rob Tolfrey saved a 20 yard effort from Ellis Green and five minutes later Charlie Sheringham was well placed in the box but headed well wide. On the half hour, Scott headed over another dangerous McNamara corner. Scott was brought down in the 37th minute, Robbie Smith took the free kick which was headed behind for another corner by Johnson. This time McNamara hit it long to the far post where Asher Hudson headed wide.

Three minutes later Scott rounded Turner, but for the second time 'Leafe had a goal ruled out for offside. Just before half time Tony Sinclair headed wide from a Welling corner.

Welling did have a better spell early in the second half, but apart from a shot on the turn by Charlie Sheringham in the 51st minute that Tolfrey saved, they never really threatened.

Nicky Greene put Ronnie Green through in the 54th minute but shot over the bar.

'Leafe finally took the lead in the 67th minute when a great team move ended with Green finding Hudson in space and he shot home to the delight of the vocal home supporters. Whyteleafe then played some inspired football and looked as though they could increase their lead at any time.

The second came in the 77th minute when Scott, who had another great match, found Sean Rivers in the box and his header beat Turner and hit the back of the net. Welling didn't seem to have the will to fight back and 'Leafe were on top for the rest of the match, looking as though they really wanted to win every ball so much more than their visitors. Sheringham did force one more save from Tolfrey but most of the play was at the other end as Stuart Massey's men cruised into the next round.

Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Hudson, McNamara, Reeve , Broomhead, Goodchild (Riley 54), Green (Harris 78), Smith, McKenzie (Rivers 70), Scott, Greene.

 

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