Ryman League Division One South

Walton Casuals 0

Whyteleafe 1

A LATE Darren Watson header secured Whyteleafe victory against a side who now look doomed to relegation.

But the striker's 11th goal of the season was not enough to move Leafe up to the top half of the division, a finishing place desired by boss Stuart Massey.

The upward movement was thwarted by every team from seventh place down to 14th in the division won on Saturday.

It did, however, keep Massey's target of six wins from the final 10 games on course, this being the second from four of those games.

Leafe, a place below the top half of the division, dominated the second half, after Casuals had made a bright start to the game.

In the fourth minute, a poor clearance from Rob O'Hara fell to Leon Yarnie, who took the ball into the box.

But he was forced wide and his shot across the face of goal was cleared by Fred Fleming.

Two minutes later Rico Morris, one on one with O'Hara, was denied by a fine save from the giant keeper.

Saheed Sankoh shot just over from 30 yards midway through the half.

Leafe's first chance, on 29 minutes, came when a fine move between Keiron McCann and Joshua Smith ended when McCann's shot was blocked and cleared.

McCann shot into the side netting seven minutes before the break and O'Hara made another good save right on half-time, from Yarnie.

Leafe stepped up a gear in the second half.

Jason Goodchild's strike from 30 yards was saved by Chico Ramos, minutes before McCann shot just beyond the far post.

On 67 minutes winger Chris O'Flaherty was brought down 25 yards out, but Marc Hammond's free-kick was blocked by the wall.

Soon after, O'Flaherty, on the edge of the box, curled a shot beyond the far post and Goodchild shot wide in the 75th minute.

Leafe's winner came in the 80th minute. Hammond took a long throw which was headed on by McCann to Watson who had space in the box, and his first time shot gave Ramos no chance.

Leafe comfortably held on in the closing minutes although they did have a scare when O'Hara needed some lengthy treatment after Leafe had already used all three substitutes.

Whytleafe: O'Hara, Goodchild, Graham (Platel 59), Coleman R, Fleming, Conroy, McCann, Smith (Aldous 78), Watson, Oakins (Hammond 59), O'Flaherty.