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Whyteleafe took all three points from this game although a late rally by the hosts almost won them something from the game.
Leafe got off to the perfect start when after 25 seconds Kwabena Agyei spotted keeper Shaun Smith way off his line and hit a long distance shot that sailed over the keeper and into the net. A minute later Smith pulled off a good save, tipping a Fabian Batchelor shot over the bar. The resultant corner was taken by Chris O'Flaherty and was headed into the net by Fred Fleming to put the visitors two up after just two minutes.
O'Flaherty put a fine defence splitting ball through to Ryan Thomas in the 9th minute but his shot was blocked by Jermaine Darlington.
Whitstable pulled a goal back in the 12th minute when Lloyd Blackman found Gareth Cornhill in the box and he slotted past Michael Lidbury. Lidbury then made a good save from a Blackman header in the 17th minute. Leafe had a good chance to increase their lead in the 31st minute when a fine ball from Lee Stripp found Thomas on the right. He beat two defenders and from the edge of the box curled a left foot shot just over the bar. One further chance fell the way of the visitors when O'Flaherty went close in the 40th minute from a Batchelor cross.
Whyteleafe came out strongly in the second half and 2 further goals put them firmly in control. Dean Gunner put a great cross in from the right in the 50th minute, and with 3 players queuing to strike, O'Flaherty fired home at the far post. The 4th came in the 58th minute when Agyei headed home from a Dan Aldous free kick.
With 20 minutes remaining, and bearing in mind Leafe's recent record of conceding goals, chairman Mark Coote said "I think we should get at least a point here". From then on Whitstable fought their way back into the game although chances were still coming at the other end. Ian Pulman gave The Oystermen hope pulling one back in the 70th minute. Batchelor then headed just wide from an O'Flaherty free kick and Thomas was just wide in the 80th minute from another O'Flaherty pass. Lidbury them made a great block from a Pulman shot across the face of goal. Manager Nicky English then pulled Thomas off, bringing on Bentley Graham and playing just Batchelor up front.
Leafe were playing deeper and deeper allowing the hosts to have all the play, and a nervy final few minutes was ensured when Michael Yianni crossed in the 88th minute and Blackman scored from close range to make it 3-4. Leafe however held on to give them 3 valuable points to jump above their opponents in the league table and 9 points clear of the relegation places.
Whyteleafe: Lidbury, Aldous, Gunner, Fleming, Huell, Stripp, Brown, Agyei, Batchelor, Thomas (Graham 82), O'Flaherty.