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'Leafe got off to the best possible start when they took the lead in the third minute against fifth placed Chatham. Sam Butler's free kick was tipped round the post by Dean Ruddy. He took the corner himself and Leon McDowell headed home via the under side of the bar. Butler won another corner in the 7th minute which was flicked on by Rhys Coleman but just out of reach of Daniel Platel.
Leafe didn't have to wait long for their second. In the 12th minute a terrible mix up between John Wilfort and Ruddy allowed Paul Scott to nip in and put the ball into the empty net.
Chatham had a chance in the 16th minute when Rob O'Hara failed to claim a corner but the ball was scrambled away off the line.
Leafe stretched their lead further in the 21st minute. Ray Powell, who had been very fortunate to escape with a yellow card after a disgraceful two footed challenge gave away a soft corner. Butler took it and found Ryan Royston in the box. His shot was blocked on the line but Scott was on hand to score from close range.
Scott made a great run down the left in the 28th minute. Richard Avery cleared as far as Butler who's first time volley curled wide of the near post.
Chatham had one good chance in the first half when Brendon Cass forced a good save from O'Hara in the 36th minute. Matthew Solly also had a chance in the 43rd minute when he won a free kick just outside the box but he blasted it high and wide.
The second half was a very scrappy affair with little doubt about the result, but Leafe defended very deep and allowed Chatham to gain most of the possession and the half was played for long periods with Leafe on the back foot. Chatham brought on their subs and changed one or two positions and played much more like a top side but by now the damage was done. The visitors shooting was abysmal and that combined with O'Hara making some fine saves when they were on target kept Leafe comfortably ahead. O'Hara made a good save from Cass again in the 59th minute, but could not prevent Powell from scoring in the 67th minute when he broke clear and slotted into the bottom corner of the net.
Chatham were very fortunate in the 71st minute when Ruddy dithered on the ball allowing Butler to block his clearance. The ball ballooned in the box but was scrambled clear by Solly.
Five minutes later Butler won another ball on the left and his fierce shot was spilled by Ruddy but his luck held as the ball again ran to one of his defenders who cleared. Scott made a great run into the box in the 84th minute and went down in the area but the referee deemed it a fair challenge. O'Hara made another good save from Powell in the 90th minute then in stoppage time, Ruddy amazingly carried the ball several yards outside his box without being penalised, however by then the game was all but over. Leafe had another chance deep into stoppage time when Jason Goodchild made a strong run into the box from the half way line. He laid the ball off to Platel who shot just wide.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Conroy (Aldous 51), Wilson (Fleming 67), Oakins, Coleman R, Royston, Goodchild, Platel, McDowell, Scott, Butler.