Whyteleafe 3 Cray Wanderers 4
Ryman League Division 1 South
Wednesday 12th March 2008
Cray ended up the winners in this entertaining match that kept swinging from one side to the other, with a late winner settling a match that could have gone either way.
The visitors started the game well and Rob Tolfrey was called upon to make a couple of early saves, but it was 'Leafe who took an early lead with their first dangerous attack of the game. Chris O'Flaherty found Michael Riley in the box and he slotted the ball under Glen Knight.
Cray continued to look the stronger of the sides but 'Leafe could well have gone two up when O'Flaherty found Sam Clayton on the left edge of the box. He laid the ball off to Robbie Smith whose shot went just wide. Cray went close in the 33rd minute when a free kick was cleared as far as Jamie Wood whose fierce shot was headed off the line by Adam Broomhead.
'Leafe looked as though they would hold out until half time, but in the 44th minute, a superb strike from Michael Power saw his shot dip over Tolfrey and under the bar for the equaliser. A minute later Ross Lover scored from close range, then Power hit another spectacular goal to turn the match dramatically Cray's way and into a 3-1 half time lead.
Whyteleafe started the second half in determined fashion and two minutes into the half, substitute Joel Greaves headed an O'Flaherty corner against the bar. Three minutes later he shot wide after a great move down the right from Alhajie Jabbie and Clayton.
Knight then made a brilliant save in the 53rd minute to tip over Broomhead's header from an O'Flaherty corner. Smith then found Jabbie down the right and Greaves shot from his cross was saved at full stretch by Knight. A minute later Tolfrey made a great save to deny Power, then Daniel Platel forced another good save from Knight with Smith hitting the rebound wide.
As 'Leafe pushed forward, Cray started looking dangerous on the break and Tolfrey made another superb save in the 70th minute to tip over a shot from Wood. Four minutes later Whyteleafe pulled a goal back when Platel chased a ball to the byline on the right. Getting to the ball just before Knight, he pulled it ball back into the path of Greaves who scored from close range.
Two minutes later 'Leafe were level when a poor back pass went past Knight and Clayton was quickly in to turn the ball into the net. With Whyteleafe continuing to attack they looked the more likely to win but it was Cray who got a late winner. Tolfrey tipped over a shot from Aaron Day, but the resulting corner was headed home by Ryan Royston to boost Cray's play off hopes.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie, Causon, Broomhead, MacLean, Platel, Smith, Riley (Greaves 45), Clayton, O'Flaherty.
