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Whyteleafe came from behind to eventually record a comfortable victory against local rivals Merstham. The home side got off to a great start when Jason Goodchild found Darren Watson clear in the box in the fifth minute. His first touch took it round keeper Ian Chatfield and he then tapped the ball into the empty net.
But the joy was short-lived as the visitors equalised within 90 seconds. Sloppy play at the back ended with Ryan Royston losing the ball to Wes Goggin who ran unchallenged into the box and fired past Gavin Dilley.
Things got worse for 'Leafe in the 15th minute when the visitors took the lead through Billy Marshall following a scramble in the area. They almost pulled back immediately in the 17th minute when Joshua Smith, shot from Chris O'Flaherty's cross was blocked on the line. Danny Oakins following up also had his effort blocked on the line.
The 'Leafe pressure paid off when they equalised in the 30th minute. A great run down the right by debutant Smith, son of former 'Leafe favourite Trevor, ended with a fine cross that Oakins headed home.
Merstham thought they had taken the lead in the 35th minute when Jimmy Maginya fired home from the edge of the box but unfortunately for him it took a deflection from an offside Gavin Gordon.
Whyteleafe took the lead in the 38th minute with a great move that saw O'Flaherty put the ball through to Smith. He beat two defenders on the edge of the box then laid it off to Goodchild who fired home from the edge of the box. O'Flaherty almost earned his team a fourth when he headed just wide from a Goodchild cross in the 43rd minute.
'Leafe should have scored in the 47th minute. Watson was found by Oakins in the box unmarked, but he snatched at his shot when he had all the time in the world and his effort went wide.
The fourth eventually came in the 53rd minute and was a contender for goal of the season. A long ball from defence saw Smith chase it down the right wing. A pinpoint cross found O'Flaherty in the box who headed home from close range.
Substitute Kieran McCann thought he had a penalty in the 80th minute when he beat two defenders and appeared to be brought down in the box but the referee waved play on.
McCann however got the goal he deserved in the 89th minute. Merstham somewhat bizzarley had been passing the ball around the back, apparently happy to hold on to a 4-2 defeat, when a pass went slightly astray, and the lively McCann nipped in, ran into the box and chipped the ball over the advancing Chatfield into the net.
Whyteleafe: Dilley, Aldous (Hammond 49), Coleman D, Fleming, Coleman R, Royston, Goodchild, Oakins (McCann 75), Watson (Harding 66), Smith, O'Flaherty.