Whyteleafe 3 Eastbourne Town 1
Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 23rd February 2008
This match ultimately proved a straightforward victory for Whyteleafe, but Eastbourne did make it difficult at timesand were difficult to break down, until the visitors lost their composure suffering a series of needless bookings for dissent, one of which led to a red card following a bad foul later on.
Man of the match Sam Clayton made the first clear chance in the 13th minute but his shot was deflected for a corner.
Whyteleafe were awarded a penalty in the 25th minute which could have been for Sean Rivers being brought down, Daniel Platel being slapped by a defender or handball by Ben Putland. Clayton was not worried what it had been given for and just got on with the job of smashing the ball into the back of the net from the penalty spot.
Eastbourne lost their composure after this and took to arguing with every decision made by the referee, but it was to cost them dear, with a series of yellow cards, that was to lead to a red later in the game.
Rivers was looking dangerous and was more than a handful for the defence. His 34th minute ball to Platel was well cleared by Putland as he was about to pull the trigger. Eastbourne's only shot on target from open play came from Greg Manton in the 39th minute. Although Rob Tolfrey couldn't hold his shot, Liam Baitup missed the target from close range.
A fine move from 'Leafe down the right in the 41st minute saw Michael Riley cross the ball to Platel at the far post. His header across goal found Robbie Smith in the 6 yard box, but his effort brought an excellent save from Nessling.
'Leafe dominated the second half and could have gone further ahead in the 46th minute when Rivers was sent clear, but his chip over Nessling was too strong and sailed over the bar.
Two minutes later the home side were unlucky not to be awarded another penalty when an O'Flaherty free kick went behind off the arm of Putland. Another O'Flaherty free kick found Ali Reeve in the box, but his header went wide.
The second penalty was awarded on the hour when defender Luke Denton saved with his hands. He was fortunate to get away with a yellow card but Clayton confidently hit home the spot kick for 'Leafe's second.
Three minutes later the inevitable happened and Eastbourne were reduced to 10 men when Baitup, already booked for dissent, made a terrible late challenge on Riley and was sent to the dressing room.
Clayton went close to extending the lead in the 74th minute when his 25 yard effort went just over. He had a number of other long range efforts but seemed too anxious to get his hat trick. Rivers put the ball in the net from a cross from Meite but was ruled offside.
Eastbourne gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the 84th minute when Danny Simmonds was brought down by Reeve and hit home the penalty himself. Whyteleafe could have had yet another penalty in the 87th minute when perhaps the clearest claim of the day came when Alhajjie Jabbie was chopped down in the box, but the referee must have thought he'd given too many already. But the game was made safe in the 88th minute when Steve Causon headed home from a Clayton corner at the far post.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie, Reeve, Spencer, Riley (Causon 70), Platel (Meite 72), Smith, Rivers (Greaves 80), Clayton, O'Flaherty.
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