Ryman League Division One South
Guernsey 3 Whyteleafe 0
Whyteleafe's first visit to the Channel Islands ended in disappointment with the home side, among the favourites this year for promotion, making their winning scoreline look comfortable at the end of an entertaining match.
Leafe seemed initially undaunted at playing front of a large partisan (though very polite) Guernsey crowd and it was Greg Andrews who had the first strike on goal, in the third minute but this was easily taken by the impressive home goalkeeper Chris Tardif.
But just one minute later disaster struck for Whyteleafe when Luke Winch pick up the ball midway into Leafe's half ran several yards towards Sheikh Ceesay's goal and struck a perfect drive from 25 yards which over the visiting keeper and hit the back of the net. The home crowd, almost all of whom sit in a large stand on one side of the ground, rose to their feet.
The breakthrough spurred the home side on and for a spell Guernsey look like they would completely dominate the rest of the match. However, Whyteleafe patiently worked to find their feet and settled into a pattern of football which saw them gain more and more possession.
Luke Winch, obviously still thinking of his spectacular goal decided to shoot from long range at every opportunity but every effort from him thereafter seemed to fly 30 feet over the Leafe goal.
Whyteleafe had their best spell of the match late in the first half as they pursued an equaliser which looked increasingly likely. A 20 yard drive from Andrews forced Tardif into a flying save on 40 minutes and just minutes later he made a brilliant reaction save as a close range header from Leafe centre back Dylan Merchant looked like a certain goal.
Before the break a melee in the box saw the ball rebound off a Leafe boot amongst a crowd in Tardif's six yard box. It smashed off the underside of the crossbar and away. The home side were delighted to come of the pitch at half time one goal up and mightily relieved they weren't 3-1 down.
Leafe started the second half much as they finished the first. Good work from right-back Tommy Smith on the right fed a pin point cross to Andrews who headed for goal forcing another lightning reaction save from Tardif.
As the half progressed the match was proving to be reasonably even with both side playing some excellent passing football. The visitors were hunting for an equaliser without really chasing the game and the hosts playing good tidy football pretty on the eye.
In the end though, the match was probably won in the 76th minute when Dominic Heaune controlled a cross from Winch and fired past Ceesay. This goal took the wind out of the Whyteleafe sails and Guernsey looked stronger with the two goal cushion. Whilst the visitors never gave up, they weren't really on song and struggled to make any more meaningful chances to close the gap.
As the game was plodding to a finish, a cross from Winch on the Guernsey right came into the Leafe box. Ceesay and Tommy Smith failed to deal with Marc McGrath who managed to bring the ball down and fire home.
The final score probably flattered Guernsey in the end but Guernsey will certainly be among the league leaders come the end of the season. Despite the scoreline, Leafe can take some pride from their contribution to an exciting game of football.
Whyteleafe:
Ceesay, Smith, Penfold (Kenlock), Hollingsworth, Merchant, Thompson, Fowler, Grant, Clayton, Andrews (Harper), Graham (Mensah).
Unused subs: Lyle & Burnett.
Next matches:
South Park v Whyteleafe (Ryman South Division) – Saturday 16 August, 3.00pm
Whyteleafe v Folkestone Invicta (Ryman South Division) – Tuesday 19 August, 7.45pm
