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Whyteleafe will be relieved to have scored a late winner after a number of recent games have seen late winners at the other end.
Casuals have had a good season so far and started the game confidently. The hosts had the better of the early exchanges and had three good chances to take the lead. The first was a 13th minute shot on the turn from Yusef Metwali that went just over the bar, then in the 19th minute, a mix up in defence allowed Glen Boosey to take the ball into the box and his shot hit the bar. Two minutes later Boosey had another opportunity when following a fine run. he beat Fred Fleming but shot just over the bar.
Leafe's first chance came in the 23rd minute when Mark Hammond took a 25 yard free kick on the left that was well saved low dowb at the near post by keeper Luke Naughton. A great move from Leafe in the 31st minute saw Leon McDowell put Jordan Wilson clear on the right. His ball inside was just too near the keeper with Danny Platel well placed in the box, allowing Naughton the chance to run out and clear the danger. Wilson made a great run at the defence in the 39th minute, beating three before being brought down just outside the box. Hammond struck the free kick well but it was blocked by the wall.
Leafe ended the first half strongly and Wilson set up another chance in the 44th minute, putting McDowell through but his shot was blocked by Naughton. The ball rebounded to Robbie Kember on the edge of the box but his shot was too high. Sam Butler then put McDowell through in the 45th minute but his snap shot went over the bar.
Honours were even at half time but Leafe gradually got the better of the game in the second half. Rob O'Hara found Butler on the left in the 57th minute. A great series of passes between him and Platel ended with Platel shooting just wide of the goal. Owusu Beko had a good chance for Casuals in the 65th minute but O'Hara was quickly out to block his effort.
Whyteleafe took the lead in the 69th minute. Butler went on a great run from the half way line and McDowell made a good run on the left, dragging a defender with him allowing Butler the space to shoot from 20 yards and his low shot went in at the far post. Platel had a good chance to increase the lead 2 minutes later when clear, but Naughton did well to block his shot. Leafe lost Ryan Royston, who had been superb in defence, in the 72nd minute and knew they would have a battle to hold onto their lead, however Leafe nearly went two up in the 78th minute when McDowell sent Platel clear but his shot was well saved.
Boosey had 2 headers at goal in the 80th minute from a corner that O'Hara punched clear, then in the 84th minute which brought a brilliant save from O'Hara. The hosts equalised in the 85th minute when a free kick from Kane Sergeant was converted from close range by Wayne Finnie.
Leafe however looked determined to go for the winner they deserved and in the 89th minute, Jason Goodchild made a strong run and put Platel through. His shot was blocked and went for a corner. Leafe pushed everyone up and from the resultant corner from Hammond, Fleming rose above the defence to head into the corner of the net to clinch the three points for Leafe.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Fleming, Wilson, Platel, Coleman R, Royston (Coleman D 72), Hammond, Kember, McDowell, Goodchild, Butler.