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WHYTELEAFE 2 - 1 WALTON CASUALS
Tuesday 6th October 2009
FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round

Whyteleafe progressed to the next round with a good performance although the visitors put on a late show that could have taken the tie to extra time. Massey’s team were on top for the early part of the match without creating any clear cut opportunities. In fact it was Walton who had the first shot on target in the 23rd minute when a well struck free kick from 30 yards from Anthony Gale was tipped round the post by keeper Robert O'Hara.

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute. Leon McDowell went on a run down the right and crossed into the box. The ball was partially cleared to Jordan Wilson just inside the area. He had time to chest the ball down and pick his spot, volleying the ball into the net leaving keeper Chico Ramos no chance.

Sam Butler almost increased the lead in the 31st minute when he broke clear but Ramos spotted the danger and running out, just reached the ball before Butler could strike. The visitors immediately broke and Martin Grant put the ball across the face of the gaping goal but no one was on hand to turn it in. Butler put Paul Scott through in the 38th minute but he was denied by a great saving tackle.

Whyteleafe went two up in the 42nd minute. A poor back pass into the Casuals area created the danger and Mark Walters, under pressure from Scott, could only turn the ball into his own net.

The home side looked comfortable at half time and began the second half well. Butler went close to scoring a third in the 68th minute when he latched on to a long through ball from Rhys Coleman. Ramos managed to make him run wide and his shot from a narrow angle went into the side netting. McDowell tried a curling 25 yard shot in the 76th minute which was caught by Ramos.

But, as the side wore on the visitors were getting stronger and they pulled one back in the 77th minute when Grant was found unmarked in the box and he slotted the ball past O'Hara. Thereafter, Walton pressed hard for an equaliser. Grant had a shot blocked by Wilson in the 80th minute and two minutes later Craig Lewington should have scored but lost control as he was clear and O'Hara saved from point blank range. Grant had another effort blocked as ‘Leafe defended resolutely to hold onto the win.

The only disappointment were the four bookings for kicking the ball away. In three cases, Fred Fleming, Dan Aldous and Scott the referee had barely blown the whistle for a foul before they had kicked the ball and, in Butler's case, he had been flagged for offside when he clearly wasn't.

Whyteleafe’s reward is a trip to Leighton Town in the next round on 17th October.

Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Aldous, Hammond (Sidwell 71), Fleming, Coleman (R), Royston, Coleman (D), Wilson, McDowell, Scott, Butler.


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