Surrey Senior Cup quarter final
Tuesday 26th February 2008
Whyteleafe progressed to the semi-final with an extra time winner against a strong Guildford side who currently lie second in the Combined Counties League.
The visitors opened brightly and Scott Steele forced a good save from Rob Tolfrey with a second minute free kick following handball by Moses Spencer. In the 16th minute Tolfrey made another good save to tip over a shot from Aneel Azeem.
Guildford thought they had opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Lee O'Donnell put the ball in the net from a corner but the referee had spotted a foul in the box. Although 'Leafe struggled to get into the game in the early stages, Joel Greaves nearly gave them a 24th minute lead with a great 30 yard chip that beat keeper Joaquim Gindre, but it hit the bar and bounced clear.
Six minutes later Sam Clayton hit a 25 yard free kick that was well held by Gindre and a minute after that Greaves headed over from a Chris O'Flaherty free kick. On 35 minutes Mamadou Méité made a good run down the right. His cross was headed over the bar by Adam Broomhead. Then three minutes later a Sam Clayton 25 yard effort was deflected away for a corner.
The visitors had the last chance of the half when Tolfrey made a good save to deny Steele.
Clayton put a fine ball through to Méité in the 55th minute and his shot was saved. Méité had another good effort in the 59th minute when Gindre managed to hold onto the ball at the second attempt. Four minutes later, O'Flaherty took a free kick from the left which found Spencer in the box, but his header was caught by Gindre.
Gavin Dilley, now on for the injured Tolfrey, made a great save to turn a Mark Mercer shot onto the bar and three minutes later Clayton went close, shooting across the face of goal from an Alhajie Jabbie cross. Shortly afterwards Sean Rivers came on and was immediately yellow carded for handball with his first touch of the game.
Mercer should have scored for the visitors when he broke clear in the 75th minute, but his shot hit the post with the goal at his mercy. Four minutes later Broomhead tried his luck from 25 yards and forced a good save from Gindre. On 83 minutes 'Leafe were reduced to ten men when Rivers repeated his handball offence in the box and received a second caution. Dilley kept 'Leafe in it near the end with a fine save from Mercer.
The first period of extra time saw little action with both teams appearing to tire. The best effort was a 40 yard chip from Daniel Rice who spotted Dilley off his line, but he got back to catch the ball. Méité was brought down on the edge of the box in the 106th minute an O'Flaherty's well struck free kick forced a great save from Gindre, fingertipping the ball over the bar.
Four minutes later 'Leafe were denied a strong penalty claim when Clayton was brought down in the box but just a minute later they got the winning goal when Jabbie's hard hit cross into the box was turned into his own net by O'Donnell who got in front of keeper Gindre but could only deflect the cross into his own goal.
Frustration soon got the better of Rob Parrott who was dismissed for what can only be described as a vicious two footed assault on Ali Reeve. Robbie Smith was so incensed by the challenge that he tried to attack Parrott and received his customary yellow card.
Clayton had a great chance to put Whyteleafe two up in the 119th minute when he beat two defenders and the keeper, but Gindre was back quickly to make the save.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey (Dilley 45), Boxall, Jabbie, Reeve, Spencer, Cartledge (Broomhead 4), Méité, Smith, Greaves (Rivers 67), Clayton, O'Flaherty.
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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Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 16th February 2008
After recent disappointing defeats to Croydon Athletic and Corinthian-Casuals, Whyteleafe got back to winning ways in the league with a fine away victory over Chatham Town, who boasted a strong home record coming into this game.
In form Callum MacLean and Sam Clayton were both rested with slight knocks, manager Dave Swindlehurst introducing some width with Michael Riley on the right and Alhajie Jabbie pushed forward on the left. It was Jabbie's third minute cross that gave Adam Broomhead the first chance of the game, his fierce shot blocked in a crowded area.
On the quarter hour mark keeper Rob Tolfrey produced a magnificent save to push a close range downwards header over his bar as Chatham began to take control of the game.
It was Leafe, however, who took the lead with Sean Rivers heading home an O'Flaherty corner on 26 minutes. Tolfrey remained alert in the visitors' goal to keep the hosts out before half-time.
After the break Leafe began to dominate, but only after a low cross had flashed across Tolfrey's area on 53 minutes, requiring the faintest of touches to equalise. From that point Leafe pushed forward, O'Flaherty busy down the right and a Riley volley from ten yards was blocked by Thomas Davey on his six yard line.
On the hour, Daniel Platel was clumsily pushed over in the area, however the resultant penalty by Rivers crashed against the Chatham bar, with Broomhead unable to bury the rebound. Rivers spurned another chance shortly after, failing to lob stranded keeper Miroslav Oravec as the goal lay empty.
Chatham's best chance of reply came shortly after when a Darren Smith shot cleared Tolfrey, but was cleared off the line by ever alert Danny Boxall.
Broomhead hit another fierce drive just over the bar from 25 yards before Rivers made the game safe on 78 minutes latching on to a through ball and firing past the advancing Oravec and defender Steven Best. Chatham's afternoon got worse when late substitute Sabeur Tebelsi was promptly red carded after a disagreement with Leafe captain Ali Reeve. A consolation goal nearly came when a Darren Smith flew narrowly wide of the post, but equally O'Flaherty sent a fierce drive from 30 yards just over the bar as the final whistle blew.
A welcome return to form re-ignites a glimmer of hope to reach the play-offs with twelve league games remaining.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie, Reeve, Broomhead, Spencer, Platel (Clayton 70), Smith, Rivers (Meire 80), Riley (Greaves 80), O'Flaherty. Sub not used: Causon
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East Surrey Hospitals Cup
Tuesday 12th February 2008
Whyteleafe progressed to the semi-final of the competition with an experimental side that saw seven changes following the previous Saturday's poor performance. The mid-table Sussex County visitors put up a spirited performance and, but for a glaring miss in the closing minutes, could have taken this tie to extra time.
'Leafe's first good chance came in the 12th minute when, following a good run down the left, Sam Clayton put a dangerous ball into the box that was headed away off the line under pressure from Joel Greaves.
Rob Tolfrey lost the ball when he came out of his area and was booked for tackling William Pearoux from behind as he attempted to run towards the open goal and Greaves then saw his first time shot from Chris O'Flaherty's 23rd minute cross saved by Mark Fox.
Callum MacLean put Greaves through in the 28th minute and his shot was scrambled off the line and behind for a corner. MacLean struck the corner to the far post where Moses Spencer rose above the crowded area to head home. This was MacLean's last contribution as he limped off with an injury. His replacement, Daniel Platel should have scored in the 43rd minute with the goal at his mercy, but he side-footed his shot weakly, giving the defence time to get back and clear off the line.
Three Bridges began to see more of the play in the second half without really creating much until the 69th minute when a fine strike from Aaron May forced a good save from Tolfrey. At the other end Luke Harmsworth went close on his debut, forcing a good save from Fox with his shot from Michael Riley's cross.
Substitute Sean Rivers had a header from a corner saved in the 80th minute, then the visitors should have taken the tie into extra time when following a quick break, they found Lee Thompson unmarked in the six yard area but he skied his shot over the bar.
Whyteleafe will now meet Merstham or Chipstead in the semi-final at Church Road.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Causon, Douce, Spencer, O'Flaherty, Riley, Harmsworth, Broomhead, MacLean (Platel 40), Greaves (Rivers 78), Clayton.
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Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 9th February 2008
Whyteleafe put one of their their worst displays of the season to go down to a pretty poor Corinthian-Casuals side to effectively end their hopes of a play off spot. One might argue the time has now come to give one or two youth players a run in the side to gain experience and see whether they might be ready for the step up.
There was precious little football worth reporting from this match and a senior player said after the match he didn't know how anyone would be able to write a report.
The first move of note came in the 21st minute when former 'Leafe forward Carlton Murray-Price broke clear, but Ali Reeve was quick and strong enough to get back and push the ball back to Rob Tolfrey. The home side's best chance of the half came on the half hour when Adam Broomhead found Danny Platel in the box. His shot across the face of goal was almost turned in at the far post by Sam Clayton but he just couldn't reach the ball at full stretch. Danny Green shot just wide for the visitors in the 35th minute.
Chris O'Flaherty had a decent shot saved in the 50th minute by Paul Smith and Sam Clayton was wide with a shot after a good run two minutes later. Tolfrey brought the ball out of goal in the 61st minute and found substitute Joel Greaves in space. Greaves's shot was blocked by Smith and the rebound hit wide by Clayton.
'Leafe were punished in the 72nd minute when a mistake by Jon Cartledge allowed two visiting players a free run at goal. They were unwittingly played onside by Alhajie Jabbie lying injured in the penalty area and Luke Gay took advantage to fire the ball home.
The miserable afternoon was complete in the 86th minute when Murray-Price made the game safe heading home a cross from close range. The match ended on a bad-tempered note when some argy bargy at the bottom corner of the pitch resulted in Casuals' Byron Brown's dismissal.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie (Causon 74), Reeve, Cartledge, Broomhead, Platel (Greaves 62), Smith, Rivers, Clayton, O'Flaherty (Riley 62).
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Ryman League Division 1 South
Saturday 2nd January 2008
Whyteleafe failed to make the most of a great chance to close in on the play-off places with other results going their way, when they failed to take advantage of dominating this match, thanks largely to the efforts of Gareth Williams who had an outstanding match in the hosts' goal. 'Leafe were on the attack for most of the match but Williams was determined not to be beaten.
Sam Clayton was the visitors' best player on the day and he set the scene for the game when he hit a 20 yard shot in the third minute that was just off target. With 'Leafe dominating the play, Clayton forced a good save from Williams to keep out another 20 yard effort in the tenth minute. Two minutes later Sean Rivers shot over the bar from 25 yards and then, Williams made a great save to deny Callum MacLean following a strong run into the box.
Williams then saved a Rivers header from a Daniel Platel cross and MacLean made another strong run into the box in the 32nd minute, forcing Williams to make another superb save to turn his effort round the post at full stretch.
The Rams' only shot of the half came in the 34th minute when Savage shot tamely wide. Williams made another good save in the 37th minute to stop MacLean's header from a Danny Boxall cross and then another to deny Platel in the 42nd minute. Half time came with Leafe wondering what they had to do to beat this keeper.
Whyteleafe started the second half in the same way as the first with Clayton shooting over in the 47th minute, then in the 50th minute, Rivers chipped the ball over Williams and Clayton ran in to finish off the job but was ruled offside.
But a sucker punch came in the 53rd minute when a break from Jordan Kiffin down the right saw him cross to Reggie Savage who turned the ball into the net to give the hosts an unlikely lead.
'Leafe continued to have most of the game and had many chances to equalise. Adam Broomhead forced save from Williams in the 58th minute when he headed Alhajjie Jabbie's throw towards goal. Clayton saw Williams make yet another good save from a shot on the hour. A minute later Rivers head the easiest chance of the match unmarked from close range, but somehow missed the target.
Clayton forced a good save in the 67th minute, and two minutes later Rivers was clear again. This time he struck the ball fiercely towards the roof of the net but Williams finger-tipped it over the bar. Croydon rubbed salt into the wounds in the 79th minute when a mistake from debutant Jon Cartledge allowed Moses Adebola to take the ball round Tolfrey and slot home into the empty net.
'Leafe continued to attack but it was one of those afternoons when Williams was not going to be beaten. Clayton clipped the bar with a terrific 25 yard effort with two minutes to go, but the game was by now lost.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Boxall, Jabbie, Reeve, Broomhead, MaClean (O'Flaherty 74), Platel (Greaves 72), Smith, Rivers, Clayton, Cartledge.
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