Ryman One South

Croydon Athletic 0

Whyteleafe 2

STUART Massey praised the "maturity" of Kieron McCann after he scored the second goal on Tuesday to defeat Croydon Athletic, who let him go just weeks ago.

The Leafe boss described how people were urging the teenager to cup his hand behind his ear and run to Rams boss Tim O'Shea, like Carlos Tevez did to Manchester United fans after scoring against them for Manchester City last week.

Instead, McCann did not celebrate at all after his deft header went past Matt Morgan.

Massey said: "People were encouraging him to give Tim O'Shea the Tevez treatment, but to Kieron's credit he is a bit more mature than that. He has left Croydon because they've got an embarrassment of riches. They thought highly of him."

Massey's squad have gone up in their boss's estimation recently, not just because they gave fans bragging rights over their derby rivals.

He said: "It's a bit of a lift for the club. A lot of the lads should be proud of themselves because we've not been able to pay them for a few weeks but they have stood by me and Matt Kember.

"I'm also pleased for the fans. The result probably means more to them than me and the players. It gives them bragging rights."

Now he hopes to build on the result and one against 10-man Ashford, which he felt they should have won last Saturday, and push towards the top five.

"The three points made up for two we dropped last Saturday."

The two games left Massey with a positive outlook for Saturday's game at Burgess Hill, despite his bad history at the venue.

"It's not a place I enjoy going. I've never had much success there.

"But maybe we can put that to bed because we're trying to reignite a push for the play-offs."

Leon McDowell put Leafe 1-0 up after eight minutes, taking advantage of a defensive mistake to slot home. McCann headed home the second on 18 minutes.

The Rams hit the bar and the post with lively Gareth Williams having several chances, via main attacking threat Tom Bolarinwa.

It was a channel Massey sought to nullify in the second half, bringing off Chris Head. The left-back recently signed from Chipstead, has not seen much playing action and was struggling with a hernia.

Massey switched Rhys Coleman, a centre-back, from right-back to left. "Rhys has been magnificent for us all season," said Massey of the Crystal Palace triallist. "He's probably the best centre-half in the club, but he's so versatile we put him at full-back. He deserved a huge amount of credit, as he's only 19."

Ryan Royston was another who played very well, at centre-back. Sam Butler often slipped past Rams right-back Joe Howe – not many do – and in doing so shot wide on the half-hour.

Williams hit the bar on 32 minutes and should have scored moments later, but his own midfielder, Chris Piper, blocked the shot. Piper had a shot himself just before the break, deflected for one of the Rams' 17 corners.

Bolarinwa thought he was fouled in the penalty area after 40 minutes, but the referee waved play on, then infuriated the hosts by giving a free-kick outside the box for handball when the players were convinced the offence was inside.

Butler hit one of his side's fans behind the goal with a free kick early in the second half, but by the end the supporters were chanting "2-0 in your cup final," an ironic statement on the financial differences between Leafe and their hosts, who were favourites to win the title when the season began.

Rory Hill and Piper both drew saves from Rob O'Hara towards the end of a well-earned victory.

Midfielder Daryl Coleman sits out one more game of a suspension on Saturday. Captain Mark Hammond is close to a return, as is defender Ellis Conroy.