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WHYTELEAFE 1 - 2 WORTHING
Tuesday 29th March 2011
Ryman League Division 1 South

Whyteleafe took all three points from this game to virtually ensure safety in this league for next season. A superb run of eight victories from 11 games has seen Leafe climb the table from 21st to 14th and almost certain safety.

Leafe got off to the perfect start when Fabian Batchelor was brought down on the edge of the box in the 4th minute. Chris O'Flaherty took the kick and spotted a gap in the visitors wall and blasted the kick into the back of the net. A minute later Kwabena Agyei was brought down in the box but Batchelor hit the spot kick against the bar. Leafe dominated the opening 20 minutes and after 16 minutes, Agyei headed over from an O'Flaherty free kick.

Walton's first and only chance of the half came in the 22nd minute when a free kick from 25 yards was struck over the bar by ex Chelsea midfielder Mark Nicholls.

3 minutes later Ryan Thomas headed wide from an O'Flaherty free kick then Agyei sent Batchelor clear in the 28th minute but his shot was saved at the second attempt by James Warrington. A minute later later Fred Fleming headed across the face of goal from an O'Flaherty free kick. The hosts dominated the rest of the half but had to be content with just a 1 goal half time lead.

Whyteleafe continued to dominate in the second half and it was hard to see how Walton had become outsiders for a play off space, but this game was to end any hopes they may still have had of achieving that place.

Bentley Graham was brought down in the box and Leafe got a second penalty in the 50th minute. This time Fleming made no mistake from the spot.

The visitors were totally outclassed by Leafe and were fortunate to stay in the game in the 72nd minute when an O'Flaherty free kick from 25 yards curled inches wide of the post.

Whyteleafe went close to increasing the lead in the 83rd minute when O'Flaherty's corner found Fleming at the far post. His header produced a brilliant save that saw the ball hit the bar, then roll along the bar and away to safety.

Walton briefly threatened to come back in the 85th minute when a break saw Kofi Lockhart Adams in space but Michael Lidbury, who had little to do all afternoon, remained alert and pulled of an excellent save.

The hosts made sure of victory two minutes later when a fine run down the right by Batchelor ended when he fired the ball low and hard beyond the reach of the advancing Warrington into the net. Ryan Thomas was then sent off for a second yellow card but this did nothing to hold back rampant Leafe as they broke away in the 90th minute to score a fourth. O'Flaherty had acres of space on the left, drew keeper Warrington, then crossed the ball beyond the keeper to the far post where Graham was on hand. He did his best to miss the chance, fumbling his shot but the ball bounced off his other leg and trickled into the net.

Whyteleafe; Lidbury, Aldous, Huell, Fleming, Laud Anderson, Stripp (Sweeney 76), Graham, Agyei, Batchelor, (Thomas 53), O'Flaherty.


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