Southern Counties East League
Whyteleafe 3 Erith Town 5
Whyteleafe remain top of the table but two successive defeats makes the margin just three points giving renewed hope to Ashford United and Tunbridge Wells. Not even a hat-trick from skipper and leading scorer Jason Thompson was enough to salvage anything from this game.
Leafe had the best of the early exchanges but a quick break from the visitors in the 6th minute saw Russell Bedford send Kofi Quartey clear and he slotted the ball past Sheikh Ceesay.
Greg Andrews was brought down on the edge of the box in the 14th minute and Jason Thompson curled the resultant free kick round the wall and into the net for the equaliser.
Thompson was unlucky not to put Whyteleafe ahead in the 20th minute when his shot from Bentley Graham's cross hit the inside of the post and went across the face of the goal into the grateful arms of Steve Phillips.
Roscoe DSane headed wide from a Sam Clayton cross, then Clayton had a header blocked on the line following a 24th minute corner from Greg Andrews.
Cedric Abraham made a great saving tackle at the other end in the 32nd minute to deny Aaron Jeffrey.
The visitors took a rather fortuitous lead in the 35th minute when a 25 yard effort from Alan Matthews took a wicked deflection and looped over outstretched arms of Ceesay into the net.
3 minutes later things were worse for Leafe when a mistake from Dylan Merchant let in Richard Stevens and he beat Ceesay for the visitors 3rd goal. Stevens then added a fourth a minute before half time allowing Erith to go into the break with a huge 3 goal advantage.
Leafe pressed forward in the second half but the visitors packed their defence in protection of their lead. The hosts were however given a great opportunity on the hour when DSane was brought down in the box by Danny Moore. Thompson took the penalty kick and blaster it into the back of the net.
More chances were created with Taylor Smith and Clayton going close, but Leafe were leaving themselves vulnerable at the back and were punished in the 75th minute when Jeffery broke clear and scored Erith's fifth.
Thompson completed his hat trick in the 83rd minute with a well struck 25 yard free kick but it was too little too late and manager John Fowler will have to pick his players up for the all important final 7 games with Leafe still having their destiny in their own hands.
Whyteleafe; Ceesay, Abraham, Penfold, Holingsworth (Tommy Smith 79), Merchant, Thompson, Graham (Taylor Smith 61), Grant, DSane, Clayton, Andrews (Pitterson 79).
Next match, Sat 5th April home v Canterbury City 3.00pm
