Ryman League Division One South

Whyteleafe 3 Walton & Hersham 1

Leafe ran out comfortable winners against play-off candidates Walton & Hersham with a fine performance that early on threatened to be a big thrashing.

In the end Leafe will be content to have taken the three points as they had lost six of their previous eight home games.

Overall, Suart Massey's men have only lost three out of eight, leaving Leafe a win away from the top half finish the manager desires.

Leafe could have taken a second minute lead when Danny Oakins was put clear just outside the box, but he shot straight at keeper Delroy Priddie who narrowed the angle.

Darren Watson had a header from a corner cleared off the line three minutes later.

Leafe took a deserved lead in the 11th minute when Oakins was quick to intercept a poor pass in the Walton defence. He passed to Watson on the edge of the box and he flicked the ball past the out-rushing Preddie.

Watson shot wide after Rob O'Hara's long clearance found Oakins.

When the roles of the front two were reversed, Oakins' fierce shot from 20 yards screamed into the net with such force it left Preddie motionless.

Then Leon Warley chased a long ball down the left, cut inside and hit a strong cross across the face of goal. Ex-Leafe favourite Adam Broomhead tried to hook it clear, but only succeeded in volleying into his own net.

Leafe went close to a fourth in the 36th minute when Joshua Smith's excellent cross picked out Watson, who shot wide.

A rare break from the visitors saw them win a free-kick 25 yards out in the 39th minute. Michael Charles struck it well, but O'Hara made a good save.

Just before the break, Preddie rushed out to make a clearance and hit it straight at Oakins 35 yards out. He shot first time towards the empty net but Matt Elverson got back to block his effort.

Walton gave themselves a glimmer of hope right on half time when another former Leafe favourite Graham Harper hit a free-kick towards the far post where Charles was on hand to head home.

Walton should have pulled another back in the 50th minute but Elverson sliced wide from close range.

On the hour, O'Hara was quickly out to save at the feet of Charles who had latched onto a poor back header. He made a fine save to tip round a 64th minute effort from Martin Grant, then from the resultant corner, Rhys Coleman headed a Charles header off the line.

Grant headed home from a 67th minute free-kick but from an offside position and Charles also had a goal disallowed for handball. In the 71st minute, man of the match Danny Aldous headed off the line from another Charles shot.

In the 73rd minute Aldous appeared to be brought down in the box, but the referee was well away from the incident.

Leafe were then denied another goal when Oakins was penalised although it seemed that Broomhead was the offender. His chip over the keeper with Watson on hand at the far post was to no avail.

Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Aldous, Coleman R, Fleming, Oakins, Goodchild, McCann, Smith, Watson (Graham 80), Coleman D (Platel 67), Worley (Conroy 54).