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WALTON & HERSHAM 2 - 1 WHYTELEAFE
Saturday 18th February 2012
Ryman League Division 1 South

A 2-1 defeat seems scant reward for all the work put in over the last two or three weeks as Steve Griffin rebuilds the Whyteleafe squad but it invariably takes a little time for new players to bed in and for the side to really find it feet. Nonetheless, Whyteleafe played some fine football in this game and dominated for long spells particularly in the first half but the game was spoilt somewhat by difficult playing conditions and rather fussy officiation.

The visitors should really have taken the lead in the 14th minute when former Arsenal pro Ian Selley floated in a free kick from the left. The Walton defence stood still as two Leafe players came in on goal and Fred Fleming will be kicking himself for fluffing his unchallenged header which home keeper Rodney Chiweshe found easy to palm away. From the resulting corner, Fleming again should have done better with his shot inside the box.

The referee waved away a penalty appeal from Walton & Hersham on 19 minutes after two players fell over one another in the Whyteleafe goal area as the ball sailed several feet over their heads. A minute later with Walton still on the attack, Paul Smith was forced to make a full stretch save to his right after good work and a firm strike from Phil Williams.

Leafe had plenty of attacking play of their own with new strike force of Omar Folkes and Reggie Savage combining well.

The opening goal came from a Whyteleafe corner as Selley floated the ball in Savage was manhandled to the floor and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Savage himself dispensed the penalty leaving Chiweshe no chance.

But the lead lasted no longer than a minute. Whyteleafe were forced into a defensive position and the referee spotted a push on a Walton player in the area and evened up scoreline as Greg Andrews, on loan to from Leatherhead, converted the penalty to make it 1-1.

Whyteleafe finished the half the stronger of the two sides, Scott Simpson and Jerson Dos Santos both have but missing good chances to retake the lead.

Eight minutes into the second half and Whyteleafe were stunned by a Graeme Purdy goal. The referee awarded a free kick which the Leafe defenders spent too much effort contesting and the ball broke free down the right. A cross came over for Purdy who controlled well and fired home from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later Whyteleafe should have equalised. Jensen Grant found himself in space ran into a dangerous position with only Chiweshe to beat but fired his shot wide.

At this point in the match the steady rain which had been falling became torrential and the quality of the game suffered as the pitch became saturated. Both teams became bogged down in midfield and good opportunities dwindled. However Whyteleafe dis press the home side to the end.

An excellent run from new defender Bradley Duke, tying up with substitute Roy Odiaka carved out a chance which Walton just managed to snuff out.

Shortly afterwards with the ball in the goal area a home defender performed an amazing juggling act with the ball. Shouts for handball were waved away and the ball was cleared as far as Reggie Savage. Savage struck the ball firmly through a crowd of players and into the net but the referee managed to find some reason for disallowing the goal, and awarded the home side a free kick instead.

All in all a promising performance but with the number of fixtures left this season and with the team still nine points adrift, Whyteleafe will need to convert good performances into match winning performances if they are to give themselves any chance of remaining a Ryman League side.

Whyteleafe: Smith, Duke, Clark, Fleming, Broomhead, Selley, Dos Santos (Odiaka 72), Grant, Folkes, Savage, Simpson (Kaffo 68). Unused subs: Dudley, Kanjor, Douglin.