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Report: Whyteleafe 0-1 Chertsey Town
Whyteleafe could have won their group in the Velocity trophy tonight with a win over Chertsey but lost out to a late goal. Leafe will still win the group if they can beat Tooting next week in their final group game.
Leafe have to play 4 games in 8 days from Saturday and with that in mind, manager Harry Hudson made 5 changes from Saturday's side and also brought in 4 new substitutes.
Chertsey started strongly. Andrew Crossley could have had a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes. Tyler McCarthy made 2 great saves, firstly from a 25 yard free kick in the 6th minute, then tipped an 18th minute shot round the post. 2 minutes later Matthew Drage found him unmarked in the box but he sliced his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
Leafe got back into the game, Drage getting his head in the way of a Ronald Sobowale shot in the 23rd minute. Emmanuel Mensah made a great run down the right in the 34th minute, crossing for Sobowale who would normally bury such a chance, but his effort went across the face of goal beyond the far post. Tre Daley had the final chance of the half, his 43rd minute shot from the edge of the box saved by Devon Gordon.
Chertsey went very close to opening the scoring in the 57th minute, Lubomir Guentchev's free kick hitting the side netting. Manager Hudson used all 5 substitutes giving debuts to Malakai Hyman and Aristide Bassele. Leafe had their fair share of possession but never really tested Gordon. Martin Sontan's shot from an Adam Aziz pass in the 75th minute the only save he had to make.
With the game seemingly headed towards a penalty shoot out, Ethan Etukudo scored in the 85th minte from close range. The group is now dependant on the final game at Tooting next Tuesday. Tooting need to win to top the group. A win or a draw and penalty shoot out win for Leafe would see them through. A draw with a penalty shoot out win for Tooting would see Chertsey go though. Whoever wins will have the tough task of playing Premier league leaders Horsham away.
Whyteleafe: McCarthy, Mensah (Hyman 56), Wedgeworth (Sutherland 65), McGeoghegan, Orome, Holder, Daley (Aikhionbare 65), Thompson, Sobowale (Aziz 62), Sontan, Andrews (Bassele 59).
