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WHYTELEAFE 1 - 4 WORTHING
Saturday 27th February 2010
Ryman League Division 1 South

MATCH PHOTOS

Four first half goals sealed the win for the visitors, but not before a spirited Leafe fight back after the break threatened a more even score line.

The opening 20 minutes was notable only for an unfortunate and accidental clash of heads between Whyteleafe's Chris O'Flaherty and Worthing's Matt Simpson that left the latter requiring an ambulance to hospital with a fractured cheek bone.

The first real chance to score came when lively winger Ben Williamson broke down the right, cut inside and struck a fierce drive, gathered at the second attempt by giant Leafe keeper Rob O'Hara. A minute later O'Hara was called into action again, pushing a 25 yard shot from substitute Kevin Brown around his post.

The controversial opener came on 23 minutes when a free-kick was headed home by striker Evan Archibald. The referee's assistant flagged for offside, however the referee adjudged that the other player was not offside as, despite being in the 6 yard box, the other Worthing player was not interfering with play.

A disconsolate Leafe quickly conceded a second when defender Ellis Conroy, in his first start since a long injury lay-off chested a Williamson cross past his own keeper into the net.

The visitors dominated the play with impressive pace and craft, adding the third on 38 minutes when a free-kick from the by-line was headed home by Brett Paton and a fourth on 42 minutes when the impressive Williamson fired home from the edge of the area. Moments later Archibald was put through one on one with O'Hara but fired narrowly wide.

Just before the break Whyteleafe struck back when an O'Flaherty shot was only parried by keeper Alan Mansfield and Danny Oakins pounced on the rebound.

The hosts came out fighting after the break and on 47 minutes Oakins saw a fine header tipped over the bar by Mansfield. On 50 minutes Oakins again met an O'Flaherty cross with his head and saw it rebound off the crossbar.

As Leafe pressed again Ryan Royston met a corner and saw his shot hit the post and on the hour Royston was denied again by the woodwork, this time a sweetly struck free-kick deflected onto the crossbar.

Worthing weathered the storm and bar an O'Flaherty free-kick smartly saved by Mansfield on 77 minutes, it was the visitors who finished strongest with a Richard Greenfield cross hitting the post on 82 minutes and in injury time Archibald inches from connecting with another fine Greenfield cross at the far post.

Worthing took the three points back to the South Coast, enhancing further their play-off credentials whilst the Leafe faithful reflected on the well supported visit of the finest attacking side seen at Church Road this season.

Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Conroy (McCann 55), Coleman R, Fleming, Goodchild, Royston, Smith, Coleman D, Watson, Oakins, O'Flaherty. Subs not used: Platel, Holmes-Lewis, Dilley


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