Woking 0 Whyteleafe 1

Surrey Senior Cup semi final

Wednesday 26^th March 2008

Whyteleafe reached the final of the Surrey Senior Cup with an historic victory over a pretty much full-strength Woking side from the Conference. The victory was thoroughly deserved as they matched their opponents from three levels above in every department. They will attempt to win the trophy for the first time in a final provisionally to be played on 6th May at Imber Court where they will play either Tooting or Kingstonian. Their opponents are not yet known as Tooting have appealed against their defeat to Kingstonian as they fielded an ineligible player.

This match was played on a very wet Kingfield pitch that stood up surprisingly well to steady rain throughout the match.

The visitors started well and took the game to Woking. Michael Riley and Joel Greaves combined well on the left in the eighth minute, Riley's cross being headed away for a corner by a defender under pressure. Woking went close in the 16th minute when Matt Gray got a touch to a cross from Damian Batt that went just wide.

Steve Causon headed narrowly wide from an 18^th minute Sam Clayton won by Riley after another good run. At the other end Guiseppe Sole should have put Woking ahead in the 39th minute when he was sent clear but shot wide with just Rob Tolfrey to beat. A minute later Tolfrey saved a Matt Gray header and then in the 42nd minute Moses Spencer headed just wide from a Chris O'Flaherty free kick with keeper Nick Gindre at full stretch well beaten.

Whyteleafe continued to match Woking early in the second half and Clayton's 48th minute shot was tipped round the post by Gindre. A minute later Gindre failed to hold a Robbie Smith shot but he was fortunate to see it bounce to safety.

O'Flaherty went on a great run down the left in the 53rd minute, combining well with Callum MacLean. His cross found Greaves whose shot was saved. Five minutes later, Clayton saw his 20 yard effort tipped round by Gindre.

Woking substitute Marvin Morgan hit a strong shot in the 65th minute that Tolfrey was unable to hold but Causon was on hand to clear the ball away for a corner. This corner saw a big scramble in the 'Leafe area with a header hitting the bar and three shots blocked before the ball was finally scrambled away.

Clayton put Alhajie Jabbie through in the 78th minute but his attempted chip from 30 yards went well over the bar and then Matt Pattison went close for Woking in the 81st minute, his shot being blocked by Tolfrey.

Morgan should have done better for Woking in the 88th minute when one on one with Tolfrey but Whyteleafe's keeper did extremely well to block his shot.

In the dying minutes Clayton beat two defenders before striking the ball just wide and then, just a minute later he was sent clear and manage to stay on his feet from a desperate challenge from the last defender. The referee played an excellent advantage and Clayton duly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net, leaving Woking no time to get back into the game

Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie, Spencer, Causon, Riley (Platel 87), Broomhead, Smith (MacLean 53), Greaves (Rivers 73), Clayton, O'Flaherty.