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Honours were even in this keenly fought contest played in atrocious conditions that towards the end became farcical, but overall a fair result, although there may be some regrets afterwards as injuries were picked up in the poor conditions.
The visitors were well on top in the early stages with the wind and rain behind them, but were unable to control the ball to the extent that they won nine corners in the first 20 minutes, but only managed to keep two of them in play.
Leafe's first decent chance came in the 8th minute when Callum MacLean broke clear but shot across the face of goal. After 15 minutes, man of the match Asher Hudson went close when his fierce drive from 25 yards was just inches away from the post.
At the other end Shabazz Baidoo forced a good save from Rob O'Hara and Richard Blackwell headed wide. Hudson broke clear of the offside trap in the 21st minute but with Ryan Gray unmarked in the box, he played it behind him, the conditions winning again.
Robbie Smith put Jay Conroy through in the 33rd minute, and he was brought down just outside the box. Brother Ellis took the free kick which was saved by Ross Flitney. Three minutes from half time O'Hara did well to save a 30 yard effort from Danny Waldren.
'Leafe started well in the second half but by now the pitch was barely playable. Smith shot just wide from 20 yards in the 46th minute, and 2 minutes later, Flitney saved from O'Hara. MacLean was through in the 62nd minute. His shot was blocked and Jason Goodchild hit the rebound wide. Gray then hit the bar in the 64th minute but the ball had gone out and back into play in the swirling wind. By now the pitch was thoroughly waterlogged and play was a lottery.
Croydon Athletic had the best of the later chances. O'Hara saved well from Serge Makofo and former 'Leafe star Sam Clayton hit the post with a well struck shot in the 74th minute. The final 15 minutes were virtually unplayable and the only question was whether the officials would let the game finish, and having let it go so far, time was played out with the ball sticking in puddles all over the flooded pitch.
Both teams were relieved to hear the final whistle with honours even.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Hudson (Harney 74), Jay Conroy (Dimmock 78), Reeve, Broomhead, Conroy, Gray, Smith, Martin, MacLean (Rivers 68), Goodchild.
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