Surrey Senior Cup Final
6th May 2008
Whyteleafe ended the season with the disappointment of losing the final despite being twice ahead in a closely contested match.
The first of the first half chance fell to ex Leafe striker Kevin Lock who fired over the bar after a poor back pass failed to reach Robert Tolfrey. 'Leafe forced a number of corners but never seriously threatened the goal but Sam Clayton forced Ian Chatfield to punch clear from a couple of dangerous crosses.
Chris Boulter had a good chance in the 31st minute when Hill found him in the box from a corner but he headed wide and a mistake by Moses Spencer let in Lock in the 44th minute but he shot straight at Tolfrey. A minute later Callum MacLean put Sean Rivers through but his shot was blocked.
Whyteleafe had a scare early in the second half when Tolfrey let a cross slip through his fingers and he will have been relieved to see Ali Reeve clear off the line. Merstham's Mark Simmons put a 25 yard free kick just wide in the 52nd minute after Robbie Smith conceded a rather harsh free kick. A great move between Lock and Greenhouse in the 54th minute ended with Kwabena Agyei heading wide.
Dave Swindlehurst made a couple of changes and were immediately rewarded when they went in front in the 64th minute. MacLean's inswinging corner was well met by Reeve's head that guided it into the net for a rare goal.
Merstham pushed forward in search of an equaliser and after a spell of dominance, Agyei headed home a corner in the 76th minute to level the scores.
Two minutes later Tolfrey made a great save with his feet to deny Michael Morgan and 'Leafe had a couple of good chances just before the end of normal time to clinch the tie. First Alhajie Jabbie saw his 86th minute effort cleared off the line by Francis, then a minute later they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box when Clayton was brought down but O'Flaherty fired it high over the bar.
Merstham were the first to threaten in extra time when Tolfrey made a great save to tip round a 25 yard free kick from Simmons. But again It was 'Leafe who took the lead this time in the 8th minute of extra time when O'Flahert found Daniel Platel in the box who was trippedup and the penalty given. Sam Clayton struck it well sending Chatfield the wrong way.
But 'Leafe's joy was short lived and in the 104th minute Rob Hill scored from close range to level the scores again. The second period of extra time was quite frantic with play switching from end to end, but it was Merstham who got the winner with a well taken shot from Francis with just six minutes remaining.
Whyteleafe: Tolfrey, Jabbie, O'Flaherty, Reeve, Broomhead, Spencer, MacLean, Smith (Cartledge 115), Rivers (Greaves 60), Clayton, Riley (Platel 64).
