Southern Counties East League
Deal Town 2 Whyteleafe 7
WITH the league title and promotion back to the Ryman League already wrapped up, you would forgive Whyteleafe for relaxing in their final game - instead they scored seven goals.
John Fowler's men finished the season in style to take the title by an 11 point margin, scoring 111 goals along the way and an amazing goal difference of 76 which was four more than the total goals scored by runners up Ashford.
Leafe made a few changes for their final game but played an open attacking game to finish the season off in entertaining fashion.
Deal should have taken the lead in the 9th minute when the first clear chance of the match fell to the hosts but Scott Punton blasted the ball high over an open goal.
Jason Thompson and Gareth Williams had shots off target, the visitors first on target effort coming in the 25th minute when Taylor Smith's header from Tom Pratt's corner was well saved by Shanon Harris.
Leafe's first goal came after half an hour when Sam Clayton headed home Greg Andrews corner from close range. Clayton went close with a shot just over in the 36th minute.
The visitors second came in the 36th minute. Williams sent Smith clear. He pulled the ball back to the edge of the box where leading scorer Jason Thompson let go a superb left foot shot that fizzed into the back of the net.
Deal pulled themselves back into the game a minute before half time when Andy Miller's shot took a deflection off Adam Broomhead and beat the dive of Leafe's keeper Dan Burnett.
Leaf soon restored their 2 goal advantage in the 48th minute when Williams header split thev Deal defence and found Taylor Smith who shot into the back of the net.
Leafe pulled off Thompson and Dylan Merchant but Deal's Ryan Phillpott immediately pulled the score back to 2-3 in the 57th minute, again helped by a deflection from Broomhead.
Leafe then went on a goalscoring spree, Clayton setting up Williams for the 4th after 62 minutes, Williams set Smith up for the 5th.
Ryan Fowler then put Williams clear in the 72nd minute and he scored the 6th from close range.
Jordy Robins pulled one back in the 74th minute but Leaf were so much in control that they brought on regular keeper Sheikh Ceesay in the 75th minute to play up front.
Harris made a brilliant save from Andrews in the 78th minute, then on 81 minutes, Ceesay sent Andrews clear but his shot was tipped over the bar by Harris.
Andrews took the corner, finding Broomhead, who's header was blocked on the line, but Clayton was on hand to fire home to complete the scoring for the day.
Whyteleafe; Burnett, Pratt, Tommy Smith, Broomhead, Merchant (Penfold 55), Thompson (Fowler 55), Graham, Andrews, Taylor Smith (Ceesay 75), Clayton, Williams.
