Whyteleafe 3 Horsham YMCA 0
Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 15th March 2008
Whyteleafe took all three points in a comfortable win against a poor Horsham side for whom escape from relegation now looks quite a challenge, ten points from safety and with just seven games left. They will be hoping that there is a repeat of the last three seasons where sides have been reprieved by other teams dropping out of the league.
‘Leafe made their intentions clear right from the start when visiting keeper Alan Mansfield was forced to make a good save after only 20 seconds to deny Sam Clayton. They dominated the play and in the 17th minute, a well flighted free kick from Chris O'Flaherty found Clayton in the box, but the defence were quickly on to him to block his shot. Four minutes later, Alhajie Jabbie won a corner after a great run down the right. O'Flaherty took the corner and found Joel Greaves who beat Mansfield to the ball and headed into the net to give Whyteleafe the lead. On 24 minutes O'Flaherty had a 25 yard free-kick saved.
Horsham's only real chance of the half came in the 31st minute. James Grant found some space in the box but his header was off target with keeper Rob Tolfrey stranded. In the 39th minute things got worse for the visitors when keeper Mansfield was stretchered off. He was injured when he hit his knee on the post making a save to deny Jabbie from a narrow angle. ‘Leafe could have gone in at half time two up when O'Flaherty found Jabbie in the box who shot over.
Richard Greenfield did have a shot for the visitors early in the second half but it was well off target. In fact Tolfrey did not need to make a save of any difficulty in the whole match. Clayton went close for the home team when he beat substitute keeper Martyn Flack in the 58th minute, but his effort hit the bar. Two minutes later Joel Greaves had a shot blocked and from the rebound, Daniel Platel's shot was well tipped round by Flack.
‘Leafe's second came in the 70th minute when Greaves outpaced Matt Russell into the box, Russell caught his heels and the referee awarded the penalty. Flack did well to get a hand to Clayton's spot kick, that was not struck with his usual confidence, but it still had enough to go into the net. Three minutes later a great solo goal from man of the match Greaves who beat three men before slotting the ball past Flack from close range.
Manager Dave Swindlehurst took the opportunity to make some changes with the game comfortably won. One of the substitutes, Michael Riley, went close to adding a fourth when he beat three defenders before curling a shot just wide of the far post. ‘Leafe controlled the remainder of the game as they ended up easy winners.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie (Riley 72), Causon, Broomhead, MacLean, Platel (Rivers 72), Spencer, Greaves 45, Clayton (Méité 76), O'Flaherty.
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