Whyteleafe 2 Leatherhead 2

Ryman League Division 1 South
Tuesday 29th January 2008

Whyteleafe looked to be heading for three valuable points as they push towards a play off place, but a strange penalty decision in the closing stages turned this game and Leatherhead, who were behind for nearly all the match, scored a late equaliser.

'Leafe got off to the best possible start when in the third minute they won a free kick 30 yards out. Chris O'Flaherty took the kick which should have been claimed by keeper Aaron France, but as he was rooted to the line, Sean Rivers swept in to meet the kick and headed home from close range.

At the other end, Asher Hudson went close in the 6th minute, Steve Causon heading his effort off the line. A minute later O'Flaherty also saw a shot headed off the line. Rob Tolfrey made a great save in the 15th minute to tip over Iain Hendry's header from a corner. Tolfrey again rescued his team in the 23rd minute when he grabbed the ball on the line after a goalmouth scramble.

Whyteleafe went two up after 27 minutes. Alhajie Jabbie won the ball by the corner flag and put over a great cross to the far post. Rivers headed back into the box where Daniel Platel headed home from close range.

Leatherhead had a good spell just before half time and Dave Stevens forced a good save from Tolfrey in the 44th minute following a good run.

The visitors won a series of corners early in the second half and their main tactic was to hit it long to Hendry. From one of these corners in the 51st minute, Tolfrey just got his fingertips to Hendry's header and the ball bounced along the bar before dropping in front of goal. Moses Spencer sliced his clearance high into the air and it eventually went off a Leatherhead player for a goal kick as Tolfrey tried to claim the ball.

'Leafe gradually regained the upper hand and O'Flaherty hit a 25 yard shot wide in the 72nd minute. A minute later Sam Clayton looked to have scored with a header from Callum Maclean's corner, but it hit the underside of the bar and bounced clear of danger.

Stevens was booked shotly afterwards for dissent towards a linesman who had given him offside when he had headed the ball into the 'Leafe net.

Just as the game seemed to be drifting towards a comfortable win, a penalty was awarded, despite no appeal from any Leatherhead player and general puzzlement all round. The referee said after the match that he had given it for shirt pulling by Ali Reeve. Stevens hit the penalty into the top corner out of reach of the diving Tolfrey. Leatherhead stole a point in the 88th minute when they broke away and substitute Adam Bernard scored the late equaliser.     

Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie, Reeve, Causon, Spencer, Platel (Greaves 58), MacLean, Rivers, Clayton, Flaherty (Riley 79).

Photos from this match (external site)