fixtures and results | home page
Whyteleafe made it back to back home wins, building on an impressive midweek victory over Ramsgate by coming from behind to defeat a surprisingly strong Walton Casuals.
Leafe midfielder Robbie Kember, so commanding in his first two outings, was recalled by Bromley forcing manager Stuart Massey to make a change, introducing returnee Mark Hammond alongside ever-impressive Lee Sidwell.
The hosts started the brightest with an early Hammond corner nodded on by Paul Scott, to be spooned away by a defender in a crowded penalty area. In the 3rd minute a Billy Harding cross from the right was volleyed wide by forward Darren Watson.
The Casuals began to press themselves and home keeper Rob O'hara was forced to make a smart save when Leon Yarnie hit a volley from 20 yards. Shortly after, Kyle Hough forced a double save from O'Hara with a fierce shot parried away and a follow up header tipped around the post. Yarnie again tested the giant keeper on 17 minutes, another powerful drive pushed away and cleared by Rhys Coleman.
In the 22nd minute Yarnie got the reward for his endeavour and trickery, finding himself clean through the Leafe defence and slotting home to open the scoring.
Six minutes later Leafe captain Paul Scott made a powerful run down the left and shot at goal, his effort comfortably gathered by keeper Luke Naughton. At the other end, winger Hough curled a shot towards the top corner, smartly pushed over by O'Hara and again tested him shortly after, his drive well caught by the ever busier keeper. The break came as a relief to the hosts, a chance to regroup and consider how to reply.
After the break Walton almost extended their lead when substitute Jeff Jackson met a Hough free kick with his head and sent the ball just inches over the crossbar. Minutes later captain Craig Lewington struck a speculative free-kick, again just inches over the target.
The equaliser came in the 54th minute when a high Sidwell cross was headed upwards by a Walton defender, only for Watson to poke the ball home, through keeper Naughton's legs. On 63 minutes James Rose broke in to the Leafe area and unleashed a fierce shot, saved brilliantly by O'Hara, enjoying an exceptional game, at his near post.
Nine minutes later came the winning goal when a Hammond free-kick reached substitute Danny Oakins at the far post. His header back across goal appeared to go in, but after a goalmouth scramble, Paul Scott hooked the ball home to make sure - and was credited with the goal.
In the 89th minute Sidwell hit a perfect cross from the right for Watson to meet with his head, sending the ball just inches wide of the upright. It was Walton, however who had the last opportunity of the game in the second minute of stoppage time when man of the match O'Hara again made a brilliant point-blank save low to his near post.
The visitors will feel aggrieved at going home pointless, but Leafe showed a newfound resilience and took their chances well to secure the win that lifted them to fifth in the league table, just one point from the top.
Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Goodchild, Bremner, Banks (Oakins 48), Coleman, Sidwell, Harding (Wilson), Hammond, Watson, Butler, Scott. Subs not used: Wardell, MacLean, Kember M