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MERSTHAM 1 - 1 WHYTELEAFE
Monday 26th December 2011
Ryman League Division 1 South

Whyteleafe gained a point from this Boxing day derby with a much improved performance, particularly as they had to play nearly all of the match with 10 men.

Merstham had the best of the early exchanges putting the Leafe defence under pressure but the back four held strong. The first good chance fell to the visitors in the 11th minute when Scott Simpson ran onto a long free kick, cut into the box and fired a shot that went just beyond the far post. Three minutes later Leafe were down to ten men when Fabian Batchelor was sent off, adjudged to have elbowed the Merstham defender.

This seemed to inspire Whyteleafe and from this point on they had most of the game, working hard to make up for the missing man. Louis Hollingsworth escaped with a yellow card for the hosts following a crude challenge, possibly saved by the fact that the ball didn't go out of play for two minutes following the foul.

Delando Smith made a great run in the 30th minute, putting Kwabena Agyei clear but keeper David Wilkinson was quickly out to save at his feet.

Agyei won a 31st minute corner from which Simpson's shot was deflected. The resultant second corner found Danny Dudley whose header was saved by Wilkinson. Agyei then headed an Ashley Snadden free kick that Wilkinson saved. Leafe then took a deserved lead in the 37th minute. Simpson found Agyei on the edge of the box. His attempt to back-heel the ball into the path of Simpson failed, but he recovered to curl the ball round the keeper into the top corner of the net.

Fred Fleming went close in the 40th minute, heading a Snadden free kick just over.

Merstham found an equaliser early in the second half, Hollingsworth heading home a 49th minute cross from Fabio Sarevia following a short corner. This could have changed the game with Leafe having to hold on for over 40 minutes with 10 min, but they more than held on and created the best of the chances.

Jerson Dos Santos won a 59th minute corner which Snadden took and Fleming's header was just wide. Merstham also created chances with Saravia and Roscoe D'Sane going close. Harry Ottaway looked to have given the hosts a 72nd minute lead when he beat Paul Smith to head goalwards from a free kick, but Dan Aldous managed to get back to clear off the line.

Karl Douglin found Agyei in the box in the 75th minute. He beat two defenders and his shot flashed across the face of goal. A minute later Agyei found Douglin 20 yards out and his left foot shot was saved by Wilkinson.

Saravia then had a 78th minute effort well saved by Smith and a minute later D'Sane missed a gilt edged chance. D'Sane then had an 83rd minute effort saved by Smith. It was Leafe who went closest to a late winner, Fleming hitting the bar in the 85th minute from a Snadden header.

Leafe manager Nicky English said afterwards he was pleased with the performance and felt his side were good value for the point and the 10 men had all worked hard and were looking forward to the match at Eastbourne.

Whyteleafe: P Smith, Dudley, D Smith, Fleming, Aldous, Douglin, Dos Santos, Snadden, Agyei (Garrick 80), Batchelor, Simpson (Reid 66). Subs not used: Brown, Henry-Brown.