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Whyteleafe took all three points in this entertaining local derby with an excellent performance to beat play-off candidates Croydon Athletic.
Croydon started brightly enough and in the third minute Fred Fleming made a great block to deny Gareth Williams after Chris Piper had sent him clear. Two minutes later 'Leafe went close when Leon McDowell made a strong run into the hosts penalty box. He laid the ball back to Chris O'Flaherty who shot just over the bar.
The visitors shocked the confident Rams side taking the lead in the ninth minute when McDowell took advantage of a mistake by Daniel Sintim that left him clear to shot past keeper Nicky Morgan.
'Leafe went close to a second in the 15th minute when Sam Butler spotted Morgan out of position but his 25 yard free kick went into the side netting.
At the other end, Croydon went close in the 17th minute when Williams found Piper on the edge of the box and his shot hit the post. But just a minute later, Whyteleafe had their fans celebrating again. A Chris Head throw to Danny Oakins was touched back to Head, and his cross was met by a glancing header into the net by Kieran McCann on his return to the club he left just two weeks before.
'Leafe continued to look dangerous and Ryan Royston headed just over from a Butler free kick in the 29th minute and a minute later Butler was inches away from a third goal for his side when he again hit the side netting. Whyteleafe thought they had a penalty in the 33rd minute went Butler sent McDowell clear and he appeared to be brought down from behind but the referee waved play on. Straight from the clearance, the ball found its way to Williams whose shot struck the bar.
Two minutes later Morgan kept Croydon in the game with a great save to tip Royston's shot round the post after a pass from Oakins. Just before the break 'Leafe went close once again when McDowell broke clear but shot just wide.
Not content just yet to sit back, 'Leafe went straight onto the attack in the second half and in the 46th minute Butler hit a 30 yard free kick just beyond the far post. Another Butler free kick in the 52nd minute went just over the bar. In the 57th minute Oakins sent Butler clear with a great pass. Butler's shot was just beyond the far post.
Two minutes later Royston got a head to a Butler corner and was flicked on by McDowell but his effort was blocked on the line. In the 64th minute Danny Aldous took a free kick on the right. It was headed on by Royston to Oakins whose shot was deflected over the bar. The resultant corner was partially cleared to Royston and his shot from the edge of the box was saved by Morgan.
Croydon pushed forward in the closing stages as they desperately sought to get back into the game but the 'Leafe defence stood strong and, on the two occasions they did get through, Robert O'Hara produced two good saves, firstly at the feet of Piper who had broken clear in the 76th minute then again in the 79th minute from Williams.
But Whyteleafe looked the more likely to score in the closing minutes as Croydon pushed men forward but were in the end content to play out time for a well deserved victory.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Fleming, Head (Aldous 50), O'Flaherty, Coleman R, Royston, McCann, Kember, McDowell, Oakins (Platel 67), Butler (Watson 77).