Ryman League Division One South
Whyteleafe 1 South Park 3
THERE was late drama at Church Road with three goals in the last four minutes but it was the visitors who came out on top with South Park returning to Reigate with all three points.
Despite Whyteleafe dominating the chances in the first half, the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until a stunning cross from Mat Ward set up David Smith to volley home an opener for Park.
That was it until Park's Justin David headed home a corner on 86 minutes followed by Jensen Grant pulled one back for Leafe minutes later and then on the stroke of full-time, Kieran Lavery scored on the counter-attack to make it 3-1.
The first real chance of the game came from a set-piece when Jason Thompson, playing in his new role as centre-back, came forward to offer his free-kick services, however the Leafe skipper's dead-ball just skimmed the cross bar.
And while South Park probably edged possession, it continued to be the home side who looked the more dangerous in the final third with Jason Henry evading a number of tackles with a pacy run down the left before finding Greg Andrews who teed up Ryan Fowler, but the midfielder's shot was weak.
And after Fowler was fouled on 20 minutes, Andrews went close with a free-kick on the edge of the box, which cleared the South Park wall but also Kieran Campbell's goal.
Finally, on 27 minutes the visitors strung an attack together with Chris Smith finding strike partner Kieran Lavery, only for the latter to shoot straight at Sheikh Ceesay in the Leafe goal.
And the Sparks obviously got a taste for goal with Lavery having another chance minutes later but the ball ended up in the side netting and Lavery finished the move half way over the hoardings.
The game started to open up just before the break a series of half-chances split between the sides, the best of which was Andrews sending a shot wide from a tight angle on the right.
With half an hour left to plat, Leafe were given a free-kick inches away from the penalty spot after Nathan Ayling brought down Sam Clayton, but Thompson's set piece hit the wall and was cleared.
But out of nowhere the visitors were ahead after 68 minutes when a sublime ball from Mat Ward on the left found David Smith's run down the right, with the midfielder volleying in off the post to leave Ceesay little chance.
And with just four minutes to play, Park looked to have secured all three points after substitute Justin David headed home a corner at the far post.
But a minute later the ball was in the net at the other end when Jensen Grant gave Leafe late hope, but as the home side pushed forward they left themselves open at the back and Lavery wrapped up the scoring.
