Whyteleafe fightback almost snatches win

Ryman Division One South

Ramsgate 2

Whyteleafe 2

Whyteleafe battled back from a two-goal deficit to force a draw on the Kent coast and almost took all three points.

The visitors toiled in the early stages on a heavy pitch and survived a scare when Rams winger Liam Quinn lobbed narrowly over the bar with tall goalkeeper Rob O'Hara advancing.

Ramsgate took the lead after 10 minutes when Gary Mickelborough sprang a static Leafe defence and fired wide of O'Hara into the bottom corner.

Whyteleafe responded with influential centre-half Ryan Royston and Chris O'Flaherty both shooting wide.

But the hosts doubled their lead on 24 minutes, Gary Lockyer volleying home from the edge of the area following a corner.

Despite losing Leon McDowall and Kieron McCann to injury on the half-hour, Leafe continued to create chances, with substitute Danny Oakins and Daniel Platel both going close.

The Church Road side took command after the interval with Daryl Coleman's long throws causing problems for Ramsgate.

On 51 minutes Oakins headed on such a throw and Platel at the far post volleyed just wide. Oakins met another long throw seven minutes later that began a succession of four consecutive corners before substitute Darren Watson fired home in a goalmouth scramble.

As Leafe pressed harder, Platel chipped the keeper from 10 yards and hit the crossbar before Fred Fleming lofted a free-kick into the area and O'Flaherty put away the equaliser from close range.

The hosts rallied, forcing a smart save from O'Hara on 90 minutes, but the last chance fell to the visitors when, with the goal at the mercy of Watson and Oakins, O'Flaherty just failed to cut his cross back.

Whyteleafe: O'Hara, Aldous, R Coleman, Fleming, Royston, Goodchild, McCann (Oakins), McDowall (Watson), O'Flaherty, D Coleman, Platel. Unused sub: Kember.