Ryman League Division One South
Redhill 0 Whyteleafe 1
WHYTELEAFE moved up to fifth in the table after securing a narrow win over local rivals Redhill.
Chances were scarce in the first half. The first fell to Leafe in the seventh minute when Jensen Grant flicked the ball into the path of Roscoe DSane but Callum Thomas was quickly out to block his effort. The next chance fell to Grant when Ryan Fowler found him in space in the 18th minute but his shot was deflected for a corner.
Leafe's side has a more experienced look about it with the recent addition of Dean Hamlin and the reintroduction of Robbie Kember to the side. Together with DSane up front, there is now a lot of experience and football knowledge to add to the pace and skill in the team and the squad is now looking strong and capable of maintaining a challenge for the play offs.
Redhill did have a few chances of their own and will be disappointed that no one was in the box to get on the end of a header across the face of goal by Connor French after 25 minutes following a free kick from Reece Hall.
Ceesay was called on to stop a shot from Hall in the 37th minute and Sol Patterson-Bohner, back from suspension, was on hand to hook the ball for safety.
The second half started well for the visitors, DSane making a penetrating run into the box which was only ended when Thomas brought him down. The referee pointed to the spot and decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment for the keeper. Jason Thompson stepped up to take the kick and hit it hard and low to the keepers left, but Thomas guessed right and tipped the ball round the post.
If Thompson was disappointed he didn't have long to dwell on it: the resultant corner taken by Sam Clayton found him in the box and Leafe's skipper headed the ball firmly into the home net.
Tyrone Pink made a good run into the Leafe box in the 58th minute but was stopped by a great saving tackle from Hamlin.
Leafe then had two good chances in quick succession to add to their lead. Firstly Clayton's cross reached DSane at the far post but he couldn't manage to get a shot in, then two minutes later another DSane effort was blocked by a defender.
Thompson then had a long range effort saved by Thomas and from the resultant corner the ball came out to Fowler whose shot curled wide of the far post.
Redhill thought they had equalised in the 68th minute when Charlie Farmer put the ball into the net from close range, but from an offside position. Two minutes later the same player forced a good save from Sheikh Ceesay.
Tommy Smith saw a 20 yard effort clear the bar in the 70th minute, then Daniel Bennett wasted the hosts best chance of the game, shooting well wide when unmarked in the box.
A fine through ball from Bentley Graham in the 77th minute sent Jason Henry clear but his first touch was too heavy giving Thomas the chance to come out and claim the ball. Graham then went on a mazy run, beating three defenders before his shot was comfortably saved by Thomas.
Both sides made some late changes but apart from an incident between Grant and French that saw both men booked, the game ended quietly with Leafe regaining fifth place and the hosts remaining at the foot of the table.
Whyteleafe: Ceesay, Hamlin, Patterson-Bohner, Smith, Thompson, Kember (Graham 45), Fowler, Grant, DSane (Lyle 90), Clayton, Henry (Andrews 84). Subs not used: Pratt, Penfold.
