FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Whyteleafe 3 Horley Town 0
WHYTELEAFE bounced back in style from a disappointing mid-week league defeat to Sevenoaks with a comfortable victory over Combined Counties League side Horley Town.
Manager John Fowler welcomed back captain Jason Thompson to the heart of the midfield, prolific forward Roscoe DSane to the starting line-up and former Leafe player of the season Sam Clayton on his return to Church Road, with all three producing influential performances.
On six minutes it was Thompson who first tested Town keeper Craig McCloud with a speculative left-footed shot from distance that was stopped but not gathered on a greasy but perfectly playable Church Road pitch. Shortly after a Leafe corner was headed back across the goal by Roscoe DSane from beyond the far post and defender Tommy Smith saw his point-blank shot deflect off of McCloud once more.
On 11 minutes Josh Read found himself in yards of space to meet a cross from 12 yards, but steered his header wide of the gaping goal. The deadlock was soon broken though when Thompson hit another hopeful shot from distance that deflected off of a Horley defender and span tamely past the wrong-footed McCloud into the back of the net.
Horley sought to swiftly reply and veteran defender Anthony Jupp tested keeper Leafe Sheikh Ceesay with a fine strike on 25 minutes, producing an excellent save diving to his right.
At the other end McCloud was enduring a torrid afternoon and after Thompson had again flashed a speculative drive just wide the second Leafe goal came when Jupp met a wayward Leafe punt up field with a cushioned header, straight over the advancing McCloud and into his own goal on 34 minutes.
DSane then produced a moment of great skill, latching on to a through ball and chipping McCloud from distance, only to see his shot bounce off the top of the crossbar. Leafe took a comfortable 2-0 lead into the break.
On 51 minutes they added a third goal of outstanding quality as Bentley Graham and Sam Clayton exchanged passes through the midfield, Graham fired an inch perfect cross from the right and DSane volleyed the ball home in magnificent style. A fine crowd of 118 rose almost as one to applaud the spectacle.
The visitors rallied with lively substitute Nathan Jupp shooting narrowly over on 55 minutes and Tom Winsor hitting a fine left-foot drive just the wrong side of Ceesay's upright.
In a free-flowing game, Tommy Smith, so willing to move forward from his defensive berth, latched on to a fine Clayton cutback from the by-line, firing inches wide of the post. Next on 65 minutes Leafe's centre-half Cedric Abrahams dispossessed Anthony Jupp before surging forward and crossing for Thompson to volley just over the bar once more.
With 15 minutes remaining Ceesay produced another fine save from an Ashley Nadesan shot, then at the other the unfortunate Anthony Jupp slipped up, substitute Mark Hynes nipped in and shot past the advancing keeper, but also the open goal behind. Ryan Fowler then hit a fine drive from 25 yards, somehow deflected over his own crossbar by McCloud.
The long-suffering McCloud redeemed himself in the final minute, producing a brace of fine saves from right-back Tom Pratt and the impressive returnee Clayton.
The hosts continue their FA Cup progress and will now look forward to the draw on Monday afternoon, hoping for another home tie after this fine display at Church Road.
Leafe: Ceesay, Pratt, Tommy Smith, Leacock, Abraham, Thompson, R Fowler, Graham, DSane (Hynes 75), Clayton, Read (N'Sangu 78) Subs not used: Grant, Burnett
