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Whyteleafe suffered a second successive away defeat to a physical and well drilled Godalming Town who moved to the top of the league table.
Manager Stuart Massey made two changes to the team that beat Walton Casuals 1-0 three days earlier with new signing Ryan Royston at centre-half, alongside Fred Fleming who was returning from suspension.
Normal time of a dour first-half, played in surprisingly chilly conditions yielded few chances for either side, Billy Harding going closest for the visitors, hitting the side netting with a shot from a narrow angle on 25 minutes, before Glen Stanley tested Leafe keeper Rob O'Hara with a long-range strike on the half hour.
Leafe took the lead in stoppage time at the end of the half when Darren Watson latched on to a perfect Mark Hammond free-kick to head past keeper Gerry Aulsberry.
The second half was a much livelier affair and Godalming almost replied on 47 minutes when a Richard Taylor header was saved smartly by O'Hara low to his right. Shaun Elliott then tested the giant keeper from 25 yards, O'Hara comfortably saving once again.
The equaliser came on the hour after Lee Sidwell had made a clumsy challenge on the edge of the Leafe area. From the resultant free kick Godalming Captain Taylor hit a perfect strike into the top corner. Just two minutes later Jason Goodchild fouled in the area, however O'Hara saved the penalty kick low to his left.
On 65 minutes the hosts took the lead when O'Hara saved yet another Taylor free kick, only for Phil Williams to score from the rebound.
Undeterred, Leafe struck back when Paul Scott latched on to a Harding pass, outpaced the home defence and hit a fierce shot past the advancing Aulsberry for 2-2.
Both sides now pressed for a winner, with Williams meeting a fine Taylor cross to head just wide of O'Hara's upright whilst on 74 minutes Watson burst through a crowed of Godalming defenders but just failed to poke the ball home. Scott then narrowly failed to lob keeper Aulsberry after his miss-kick had left him out of position.
O'Hara, enjoying a fine start to the new season, pulled off another great save on 77 minutes, pushing a goal-bound Stanley header round his post. The winning goal came on 84 minutes from another set piece after Fleming had unnecessarily held a player back and it was forward Richard Shittu who headed home after the lively Williams had knocked Taylor's free-kick back across the area.
With time running out, Whyteleafe had two good chances to equalise, a fierce Sean Bremner shot parried by Aulsberry and a trademark Watson header from a Hammond corner pushed over the bar.
A disappointing defeat will leave manager Massey pondering how his team can better defend from set pieces, although the goal-scoring abilities of his side will surely provide comfort at the same time.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Goodchild, Bremner, Royston, Fleming, Sidwell, Harding, Hammond, Watson, Scott (Wilson), Butler (Wardell 86). Sub not used: Banks