Ryman League Division One South

Whyteleafe 0

Croydon Athletic 2

Whyteleafe could have been the first to congratulate Croydon Athletic on winning the title after losing to their local rivals.

However, news filtered through that Folkestone snatched yet another late winner in a season of many, this time against Ramsgate, to make the game between the Rams and Invicta three days later a possible title decider.

That left the hosts ruing their home form this season, this being their 13th defeat at Church Road, in a campaign that has seen them flirt with a top half finish after last season's mere survival.

The Rams made a tentative start, knowing what was at stake, but Whyteleafe had no such pressure and Darren Watson put an early header just wide. The hosts earned three corners in the first five minutes.

The Rams played three up front, leaving space for Whyteleafe to press, but Jacob Erskine and Joe Dolan kept the hosts at bay.

In the 20th minute Keiran McCann, released by the Rams earlier this season, broke clear and was denied on the edge of the box by a fine saving tackle from Joe Howe. The breakthrough came on 40 minutes when, against the run of play, a good run by Gareth Williams down the left was sliced towards goal and Ben Godfrey got the slightest of touches.

A 36th minute free-kick from Leafe's Ellis Conroy was partially cleared to Danny Oakins, but his shot was well wide.

A 39th minute free-kick was headed on by Fred Fleming into the path of Watson but Andy Little was quickly out to block his shot from close range.

In the second half Croydon stepped up the pace and had several chances to go further ahead, with Williams through on goal again in the 59th minute, but shooting just wide, and Leslie Thompson being in space in the 18-yard area later on in the half.

With news seeping through that Folkestone were level, the Rams continued to dominate, and they finally got their reward in the 86th minute when Godfrey made it two with a close-range shot.

Godfrey missed the chance to clinch his hat-trick when, with O'Hara well off his line, his chip was too strong, clearing the bar.

Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Aldous (Worley 77) Conroy, Fleming, Coleman, McCann (Smith 62), Wilson, Goodchild, Watson, Oakins (Platel 70), O'Flaherty.