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EASTBOURNE TOWN 1 - 0 WHYTELEAFE
Friday 30th December 2011
Ryman League Division 1 South

Whyteleafe lost this game that will be remembered more for the conditions than the football. Strong winds, driving rain, and a flooded pitch turned this game into something of a lottery. The poor quality of the football was more down to the impossible conditions than anything else. Many matches have been cancelled with pitches in better condition than this.

Players struggled to get to grips with the conditions, although the hosts looked lively on the attack, using the wings well to create some early chances. It was Leafe however who forced the first save of the match: Scott Simpson winning the ball on the half way line, then running directly at goal, his shot was well saved by the diving Keiron Thorp. Danny Dudley then found Fabian Batchelor in space, but his shot went across the face of goal.

The deciding goal came in the 25th minute. Dan Aldous was booked for a foul on the right. The free kick went straight to Paul Smith, but in the awful conditions, the ball swirling around in the gales and rain, he dropped the ball and Steve Elliott was on hand to fire the ball home.

Smith however quickly recovered his form, making a good save to tip a shot from Nathan Crabb round the post, and from the resultant corner, tipped a header from Sonny Cobbs over the bar.

The second half progressed the match was played in worsening conditions, which were bordering on dangerous. The only thing that was surprising was that the referee allowed the game to carry on.

There was little football of note, although Leafe should have equalised in the 74th minute. Thorp slipped in attempting a clearance that fell to Ashley Snadden, but instead of shooting at the empty goal, his mis-placed passed fell to a defender who cleared.

Eastbourne hit the bar before a late rally from Leafe gave the visiting fans hope of an equaliser. Dudley headed wide from a Snadden free kick in the 84th minute, then another Snadden free kick found Batchelor in front of goal, his shot was well saved by Thorp.

Leafe's final chance came in the last miute of stoppage time when Fred Fleming headed over from a Snadden corner.

Whyteleafe: Smith, Dudley, Aldous, Fleming, Cartledge (Henry-Brown 79), Brown (Halili 90), Reid, Snadden, Batchelor, Dos Santos (Garrick 57), Simpson. Subs not used: Mitchell.