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Whyteleafe looked a completely different side to that which had beaten local rivals Croydon Athletic on Tuesday, going down to Chipstead in an uneventful match with hardly any chances created by either side. This despite only two changes made from the Croydon game with Jason Goodchild coming in for Rob Kember and Dan Aldous for Sam Butler who has gone to Woking. The visitors will not worry about that however, having taken three important points as they try to climb away from the relegation places.
'Leafe won a free kick midway into the Chips half in the seventh minute. Chris O'Flaherty took it and Leon McDowall headed wide. Rhys Coleman's 17th minute throw found Ryan Royston in the box, but James Wastell cut out his cross. McDowell got his head to a 32nd minute O'Flaherty cross but it hit a defender and went wide for a corner.
Two minutes later former 'Leafe favourite Scott Simpson got behind the defence but shot straight at Rob O'Hara. Danny Oakins got ahead of the Chips defence in the 40th minute but shot well over, then the only save of the half from Wastell came in the final minute of the half, saving from a Dan Aldous shot.
The second half was as dull as the first. McDowell went close in the 53rd minute heading just wide from an Oakins cross. Oakins himself made a good run in the 65th minute, crossing to Darren Watson who laid the ball off to O'Flaherty who shot over.
The match was decided by a harsh penalty decision in the 68th minute. The ball was fired at Chris Head from two yards and hit him on the arm. The referee was going to play on but the assistant flagged for a penalty and former 'Leafe striker Sean Rivers confidently converted the spot kick.
O'Flaherty had to go off in the 74th minute after a high boot caught him in the throat. Leafe were unlucky in the 78th minute when Keiron McCann hit the bar following a Coleman free kick, and Oakins, following up forced a good save from Wastell.
'Leafe really should have equalised in the 82nd minute when Oakins sent Watson clear, but with just Wastell to beat, he seemed to stop allowing the defence to get back and clear. Straight from the clearance, the ball was up at the other end, finding substitute Ray Freeman in space, and he shot home to put the result beyond doubt.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Fleming, Head (Sidwell 74), O'Flaherty (Hammond 74), Coleman R, Royston, McCann, Goodchild, McDowell, Oakins, Aldous (Watson 60).