AFC Whyteleafe round-up: New season, new league!

Prior to their first season in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South, Leafe took on a long pre-season campaign, kicking off on 2 July and lasting well into August.

Wins were enjoyed against Croydon (last season’s local rivals), Westside, East Grinstead and Eastbourne Town. They were held to draws against two newly-promoted to the football league clubs, Bromley XI and Merstham, with the latter scoring twice late on after Leafe dominated most of the game.

Losses were recorded against a very good Carshalton side and Horsham YMCA.

So, onto the competitive stuff. Leafe travelled to Corinthian for their first ever FA cup game under the new regime.

Corinthian were the conquerors of Leafe in last year’s SCEFL League Cup semi- final, and yet again proved the better team here, running out 2-0 winners with two goals in two minutes during the first half. Despite several good chances, Leafe were unable to put the home side under any real pressure and will now have to wait until next year for any chance of FA Cup glory.

Leafe’s first league game was away to Balham, manager Kelly Waters’ old club. And they soon put the cup disappointment behind them with a convincing 3-0 win, with goals from new signing Eric De Melo in the first half and Ryan Gondoh and Daniel Bennet, a beautiful long-range lob, in the second. 

Next up was another home game, this time against Abbey Rangers. Defensive errors presented Rangers with early chances which they gratefully took, to lead 1-0 before Leafe fan favourite Aaron Watson equalised in the 18th minute. Rangers were the better team and deservedly took the lead again with a fine goal from Kelly in the 28th minute. Leafe continued to live dangerously and were punished again straight after the break, with Marshell given the freedom of the box to fire home. 

Leafe rallied and threw caution to the wind, getting a goal back through Watson again before Gondoh got Church Road rocking with an equaliser. 25 mins to go and Rangers were looking shaky for the first time. It looked like Leafe could go on to win it, but football’s fickle fate was to be cruel. Abbey broke away and were awarded a penalty in the last minute. Although keeper James Shaw guessed correctly, he couldn’t prevent Ikala from slotting the ball home to give Rangers the points.

Two goals in two minutes was enough for Leafe to beat Tooting and Mitcham at home a few days later. To be honest, Leafe should have scored a lot more but struggled to break down Tooting: but for some wasted late chances, the visitors may well have got a draw . 

Leafe’s home games continued on 24 August, with a comfortable win against Camberley. Omari Delgado got off to a great start by slamming home a free kick under the wall, which seemed to surprise the Camberley keeper Owen Crawford, who couldn’t stop the ball squeezing under his body. Camberley had not won a game up to now and they struggled to contain Leafe’s attack: it was only Crawford, who made several fine saves, that kept it to one by the break. 

Leafe were awarded a penalty early in the second half, scored again by Delgado, but had to wait until the 73rd minute to seal the win through Mike Hill, a star of last year’s promotion squad but strangely missing up until now. 

Bank Holiday Monday saw Leafe travel to Cobham and another win, but not a straightforward one. Leafe took the lead through Gondoh, who dribbled through defenders on the right-hand side of the box and slotted the ball past the hapless keeper.

Leafe continued to control the game, but Cobham slowly got themselves back into it. On the stroke of half-time they got a penalty, which was struck home. So, 1-1 at the break? Not a bit of it! Within a minute Leafe had the lead again, Corey Holder looping a header over the stranded keeper from a floated free kick. Another minute, another goal, this time from Delgado, who continued his fine form with a headed goal from close range following a corner. A crazy five minutes, and Leafe 3-1 up at the break!

The second half was mostly Leafe trying to hold on after Holder was somewhat harshly given a second yellow card from what seemed like an accidental coming together, but which the referee  saw differently. Cobham wasted some promising positions but rarely troubled Shaw’s goal, and Leafe held on to secure another win that sees them sitting second in the table.

It’s still early days but so far Leafe look a decent side. There’s still some bedding in to do with quite a few new signings and they must tighten up at the back. Most of the goals conceded have come from gifting the opposition the ball in dangerous areas and you can’t do that too often without being punished. 

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