Ryman League Division One South
Whyteleafe 1 Merstham 5
OMAR FOLKES scored a hat-trick as Merstham came from a goal down to beat local rivals Whyteleafe 5-1.
Leafe took an early lead from the penalty spot but the visitors had gained a 2-1 advantage by half-time and never looked back, dominating the second half.
The win moves the Moatsiders to within five points of second place, while Whyteleafe drop to seventh.
No sooner had the game kicked off and Whyteleafe were ahead. Bentley Graham was upended in the penalty area and referee Jim Paterson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Jason Thompson stepped up and thumped the spot-kick into the roof of the net on three minutes.
It was a feisty and fast-paced game on the slick 3G pitch and it didn't take Merstham long to equalise, Folkes finding the back of the net from an angle.
Sam Clayton skimmed the crossbar at one end while Taurean Roberts found the side netting at the other in an entertaining and open first 20 minutes.
Leafe keeper Sheikh Ceesay was having another fine game and make a brave save at the feet of Fabio Saraiva after 28 minutes.
On the stroke of half-time, Merstham took the lead after Saraiva's corner from the right was turned into the net by Osa Obamwonyi with a little help from Dylan Merchant.
There was less goalmouth action in the second half but as the game went on, Leafe took more risks at the back as they looked for an equaliser.
On 70 minutes, Folkes, who had been instrumental all afternoon for the visitors, found himself through on goal and kept his cool to slot the ball past Ceesay.
And two minutes later, Tommy Hutchings set the forward up for his hat-trick. Folkes collected Hutchings' pass, beat his marker and turned the ball into the net for 4-1.
And after the fourth goal went in, the Moatsiders grew in confidence and started dominating possession, much to the pleasure of the visiting fans.
After a foul by Obamwonyi, there was a chance for Thompson to pull a goal back from a dangerously-placed free-kick but the Leafe captain summed up the home side's second half with a disappointing set-piece.
And the scoring was complete on the stroke of full-time when, after good work by the lively Hutchings down the right, Tom Howard slotted the ball home.
