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Whyteleafe took all three points in this local derby against Dulwich in a game that was somewhat scrappy and once again affected by some bizarre refereeing. Victory leaves 'Leafe in fifteenth place but pulling away from the danger zone. They were without several key players due to injury and suspension, including Robert O'Hara, Jason Goodchild, Michael Harney, Andrew Martin and Paul Scott.
Callum MacLean played in an unfamiliar role as striker and in the eighth minute won a throw on the right. He found Ali Reeve who flicked the ball on to the far post, just out of reach of Adam Broomhead who just needed a touch to score. Two minutes later Cedric Ngakam was lucky to get away with a handball in the box as the referee waved play on.
A minute later Maclean put a long ball through to Ryan Gray who passed inside to the well placed Richard Dimmock, but he miss-hit his shot. Dimmock then got a shot in from a Gray free kick that was deflected for a corner.
'Leafe took the lead after 14 minutes when Gray from the left put over a great cross that found Maclean in the box. He coolly controlled the ball and slotted it home past Jamie Lunan. The homesters nearly conceded in the 21st minute when a mix up let in former 'Leafe favourite Scott Simpson, but his chip over the advancing Mathew Mann went over the bar.
In the 26th minute Lunan nearly scored from the halfway line when his free kick deceived Mann who came out too far and just managed to fingertip it round the post. Dimmock put MacLean through in the 28th minute but was denied by a good saving tackle and two minutes later Simpson had another chance but this time his effort was well blocked by Asher Hudson.
Whyteleafe were denied a clear penalty when Dimmock was wrestled to the ground by Ngakam but again the referee waved away the claims. Ngakam, amazed at his luck, tried it again two minutes later, pushing another 'Leafe player over off the ball, but again he escaped punishment.
Dulwich had three late chances in the half, first Mann made a good save from a header from a corner, then Daryl Plummer shot wide when well placed. Simpson wasted the last chance of the half when his first touch let him down when clear, allowing Mann time to come and collect the ball.
Despite starting the second half strongly Dulwich equalised in the 48th minute when Lunan took another 50 yard free kick, and again tried his luck against Mann. The keeper failed to hold onto the ball and substitute Walid Matata shot home from close range.
'Leafe however were in front again within a minute when Gray, having received a good lay off from Maclean, sent over a cross to find the unmarked Dimmock in the box and the striker's well placed header gave Lunan no chance.
Ngakam finally pushed his luck too far in the 63rd minute with a clumsy foul that earned him a yellow card when he could easily have been sent of on three separate occasions in the first half. Even the Dulwich officials were amazed he was still on the pitch.
Dulwich took a dangerous quick free kick in the 64th minute but Mann was alert to the danger, coming out quickly to block the shot. In the 80th minute, Ellis Conroy, who had an excellent game on his return to Church Road, took a throw that was flicked on by Dimmock. The ball went behind Maclean whose overhead kick went straight at Lunan.
Stuart Massey made several changes in the final minutes as they ran down the clock and although Smith and Jabbie picked up another couple of soft bookings, 'Leafe held on for a well earned victory.
Whyteleafe: Mann, Conroy, Broomhead, Jabbie, Hudson, Reeve, Hammond (Green 88), Smith, Dimmock (McKenzie 87), MacLean, Gray (Murray-Price 84)
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