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WHYTELEAFE 1 - 2 SITTINGBOURNE
Saturday 6th December 2008
Ryman League Division 1 South
Whyteleafe will be disappointed not to have taken something from this game as the visitors recorded only three shots although but they themselves only forced one good save from the visiting keeper.
The home side could have taken an early lead in the thirteenth minute when Denva McKenzie rode two strong challenges on the right edge of the box before crossing the ball to Jason Goodchild. It didn't run kindly for him and he missed the opportunity. A minute later Matt Reed punched the ball clear off the head of McKenzie as he rose at the far post to meet a Michael Harney cross.
Sittingbourne, who had not threatened at all, took a 20th minute lead when Ali Reeve's weak back header left Matthew Mann stranded. Richard Brady took advantage, nipping in to take the ball round Mann and slotted into the unguarded net.
'Leafe's next chance came in the 31st minute. A free kick was partially cleared to Goodchild whose shot went just wide. McKenzie was unlucky in the 41st minute when his goalbound effort was well blocked on the line by Nick Reeves. Right on half time, Adam Broomhead was unlucky when his 20 yard effort took a deflection and went just wide for a corner.
Whyteleafe started brightly in the second half. Asher Hudson rode two poor challenges to get himself into a good position just outside the visitors box, but the referee gave a free kick the other way for an off the ball incident that saw Goodchild receive a yellow card. A minute later McKenzie sent Steve McNamara down the left edge of the box. His cross found Andrew Martin in the box, and his flick was brilliantly cleared off the line by Joe Dowley with Alhajjie Jabbie closing in for the kill at the far post.
Jabbie then created a chance of his own, beating two players but shooting straight at keeper Mann.
Sittingbourne, again against the run of play, extended their lead in the 53rd minute when Tom Bradbrook found Brady on the right wing. His cross went across the face of goal and Bradbrook was just quick enough to slide in at the far post and touch it into the net.
Broomhead had another effort blocked by a defender. Then, on the hour, Jabbie forced the save of the match from Reed who tipped his dipping volley over the bar. Martin then headed over from a McNamara corner, one of several forced by 'Leafe as they took the game to the visitors.
Manager Stuart Massey also gambled with some attacking substitutions. Mann almost cost the game with a poor throw out straight to the opposition, but redeemed himself with a fine save from Colin Richmond. Broomhead headed over in the 74th minute from a Martin free kick, then Carlton Murray-Price twice inadvertently prevented McKenzie pulling a goal back, getting in the way of two successive shots and blocking them from going into the net.
In the end Murray-Price did score the single 'Leafe goal in the 83rd minute with a well placed header from a Jabbie cross, but it was too little too late and frustration led to a flurry of late cautions.
Whyteleafe: Mann, Hudson, McNamara, Reeve, Broomhead, Goodchild (McLean 80), Jabbie, Patterson-Bohner (Green 63), Martin, McKenzie, Harney (Murray-Price 67).
NB. click on thumbnail for full size picture
Michael Harney |
Andrew Martin |
Broom (pointing) and |
Ali Reeves |
Broom jumps and |
McNamara jumps and |
Taff |
Broomhead |
Asher Hudson heads |