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MAIDSTONE UNITED 2 - 0 WHYTELEAFE
Saturday 28th January 2012
Ryman League Division 1 South

MATCH PHOTOS

Whyteleafe went into this match with a new management team, with Steve Griffin having been appointed manager and assisted by Dean Palmer and Brian Sparrow. They will now realise the size of the challenge that is in front of them, this defeat and other results going against Leafe leaves them nine points adrift at the foot of the table when Croydon Athletic's results are removed.

Overall this was not a bad performance against a side in the play-off positions, but 2 give away goals were to prove very costly. Leafe got off to the worst possible start. Ellis Green was brought down by Scott Simpson on the edge of the box when Green seemed to be going nowhere. The referee pointed to the spot and Baff Addae fired home for a third minute lead.

Leafe got back into the game and in the 17th minute, a good through ball from Karl Douglin found Jerson Dos Santos in the box, but he was judged to have fouled keeper Daren Hawkes when challenging for the ball. 2 minutes later Jay Garrick had a shot from the edge of the box blocked. Green then made a good run down the right in the 20th minute, his shot went across the face of goal and beyond the far post. Addae then made a good run and cross in the 24th minute, finding Alex Waugh in the box, but Fred Fleming did well to block his effort. Paul Smith then made a good save in the 37th minute to deny Alex Flisher.

Smith had been having problems with his kicking, putting the ball out of play from some of his clearances, but his miskick in the 40th minute was to prove costly and presented the hosts with a gift goal. Attempting to clear a back pass, he sliced his clearance into the path of Waugh who headed firmly into the unguarded net.

Douglin went close a minute later at the other end but Leafe went in at half time with a huge task to get back into the game.

The Stones thought they had increased their lead in the 52nd minute went Flisher sent Addae clear. He found the back of the net but was flagged offside. dan Aldous did well to block a 57th minute shot from Green, then 2 minutes later Smith was perhaps fortunate to escape with a yellow card when he charged out of goal and brought down Waugh. A great passing move by the hosts involving Flisher, Addae and Green in the 63rd minute set up Sam Bewick who's shot was just off target.

Dos Santos broke clear of the Stones defence in the 66th minute and forced Hawkes to make a save. A minute later Aldous managed to block another shot from Addae. Smith then made a good save to deny Flisher in the 80th minute.

The nearest Leafe came to scoring was in the 82nd minute. Jordan Simmonds cross found Jensen Grant in the box and keeper Hawkes did very well to reach it, just managing to finger tip it over the bar. Both sides made some late changes but although Leafe continued to attack the Maidstone goal, the hosts held on for a comfortable victory.

Whyteleafe: Smith, Dudley, Simmonds, Fleming, Aldous, Mitchell, Douglin (Henry-Brown 76), Grant, Garrick, Dos Santos (Halili 90+2), Simpson. Subs not used : Cartledge, Williams, Palmer.