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Whyteleafe put in a very disappointing performance losing out in the closing minutes to ten man Chipstead who pull themselves away from the bottom of the table. If ‘Leafe do not step up a gear shortly, they too will be dragged into the survival battle.
The home side started the game brightly and in the fifth minute, Andrew Martin was through chasing a long pass, but former ‘Leafe favourite James Wastell was alert to the danger and quickly out to beat Martin to the ball. Five minutes later Mark Hammond took a corner from the left, hitting it deep to Denva McKenzie, but his header was straight at Wastell.
At the other end Darren Watson had a good chance in the 15th minute after beating two ‘Leafe defenders on the edge of the box, but shot wide.
Whyteleafe took the lead in the 22nd minute after Martin was brought down 25 yards out. Hammond's well struck free kick was well blocked by Wastell but he couldn't hold onto it. Martin was the first to react and slotted home from close range. Two minutes later Jason Goodchild went close, shooting just wide from a cross from Callum MacLean.
Chipstead then had a series of disputes with the referee, resulting in 4 yellow cards, 3 for dissent. They then scored a rather controversial equaliser in the 29th minute, a series of shots were blocked before the referee awarded a penalty as one apparently struck a ‘Leafe player high on the arm. Gavin Quintyne shot the ball low and hard giving the giant keeper Rob O'Hara little chance of getting down to it.
Goodchild tried another 20 yard shot in the 40th minute, but this time it went straight into the arms of Wastell. A minute later, a cross from Hammond was flicked on by McKenzie, and was just inches out of reach of Paul Scott as it went by the far post. Liam Oxley then struck a good chance well wide for Chipstead just before half time.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were fairly even, with only one good chance which fell to Watson. His header brought out a fine save from O'Hara. The turning point came in the 61st minute when Chipstead captain Freddie Fleming crudely brought down Alhajjie Jabbie. He was one of the early yellow card victims, so immediately knew his fate, walking off to the dressing rooms before being shown the inevitable second yellow and red.
Ryan Gray took the resultant free kick. Scott got the slightest touch with his head, and the ball struck the post, rebounding into the grateful arms of Wastell. ‘Leafe should have taken advantage, but Chipstead had more desire and the ten men made up for the missing man. O'Hara made a good save from Zac Graham after Watson put him through, then Nathan Campbell headed wide from a corner.
Manager Stuart Massey gambled bringing on Carlton Murray-Price for Adam Broomhead, but sadly this backfired. With Chipstead fired up, they had one less defender to deal with on the break, and ‘Leafe did not look fully committed when chances came their way. Graham missed a fairly easy chance in the 83rd minute, but Chipstead took all three points in the 89th minute when Alec Brown scored from close range.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Hudson, Hammond (Green 46), Jabbie, Broomhead (Murray-Price 78), Goodchild, MacLean, McKenzie, Martin, Scott, Gray.