Southern Counties East League
Whyteleafe 7 Fisher 2
Whyteleafe extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points with this ultimately convincing win against Fisher, although the visitors did give Leafe a scare early on.
Leafe got off to the best possible start when in the second minute, a Jason Thompson corner was flicked on by the returning Sam Clayton at the near post to Dylan Merchant who headed home from close range to score his first goal for the club.
Merchant, having waited fourteen games for his first goal, wasted no time in getting his second, again from a corner, but this time taken from the other side by Ryan Fowler. Fisher keeper Charles Headley failed to clear the ball properly and Merchant gleefully hammered the ball into the net.
Merchant in fact came within inches of heading his hat trick from another corner before Fisher hauled themselves back into the game.
Ex Leafe favourite Jay Garrick found Junior James in the 23rd minute on the edge of the box and he shot home past Sheikh Ceesay.
Leafe created another good chance in the 29th minute, yet again from a corner. This time Thompson's corner was only cleared to the edge of the box where Fowler was in space but he shot just wide.
Fisher equalised in the 32nd minute, Piers Hanifan made a good run down the right and his cross was converted by James.
Greg Andrews had a penalty appeal turned down in the 35th minute, then 2 minutes later shot just wide from 20 yards when Bentley Graham's pass found him.
Headley made a good save from Fowler in the 40th minute, but Leafe managed to get in front a minute before half time. Clayton put Roscoe DSane clear and he beat Headley from close range.
Leafe came out strongly in the second half and soon took a firm control of the game.
DSane pulled the ball back from the by line in the 51st minute to Clayton who's shot went across the face of the goal. A minute later, Clayton became the provider finding Fowler free in the box. He cooly slotted the ball home under the advancing Headley.
Leafe's fifth came in the 62nd minute. DSane cleverly controlled a long through ball and laid it off to Graham who fired the ball home.
Fisher nearly pulled one back in the 68th minute. A shot from substitute Stephen Ita took a wicked deflection, but Ceesay made a great save to tip it over the bar.
Leafe substitute Taylor Smith was found in space just 2 yards from goal by Clayton and easily scored Leafe's 6th goal. Smith then got his second, and Leafe's seventh in the 86th minute again from close range when the visitors failed to deal with yet another Leafe corner.
Whyteleafe; Ceesay, Smith (Tommy), Penfold, Holingsworth, Merchant, Thompson, Fowler (Pratt 72), Graham, DSane (Williams 68), Clayton, Andrews (Taylor Smith 63).
