AFC Whyteleafe came out on top in this cross border Kent/Surrey derby in the Isthmian League Division One South East at Eden Park Avenue on Tuesday night, with two goals in either half against Beckenham Town.
There was a slight contretemps before kick off about Whyteleafe’s goalkeeper’s shirt which was yellow and very close to the light gold his team were playing in, but the officials were not concerned and the game got off to a wide open start on the excellent Eden Park Avenue pitch in constant drizzle.
It was the home side who took an early, lead when George Porter latched on to an under hit back pass from Hani Henchachena and skipped past Slav Huk in the Leafe goal to roll the ball into an empty net on 6 minutes.
Whyteleafe rallied from there though, Stefan Ilic and Jamie Mascoll going close, while Steven Townsend fired over for Beckenham. The vital equaliser came for the visitors on 18 minutes when Ryan Gondoh crossed for Moses Emmanuel to flick on the ball to Ilic who arrived at the back post to prod the ball home for 1-1.
Leafe pressed from there and they used the pitch to their advance with come crisp passing and looking to play in their wide men behind the Becks defence using their pace.
Beckenham keeper Frankie Leonard did well to keep out a dangerous in swinging Gondoh corner, and with the game still open Casey Dudley headed over a Sam Wood corner at the other end.
The key moment in the game came on 33 minutes when Emmanuel picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable drive that flew past Leonard and crashed into the net to give Whyteleafe the lead.
Townsend dragged a shot wide for Beckenham and Mudiaga Wanogho had a shot saved by Huk as the home side looked to get back level, but Ennio Gonella’s team went into the break 2-1 up.
The second half started with Whyteleafe pressing and they went 3-1 up on 54 minutes when Emmanuel was brought down in the box as he raced to the by-line to cross and from the resulting penalty Gondoh saw hit spot kicked saved by Leonard only for Gondoh to convert the rebound.
Emmanuel then set up Gondoh who fired wide, before Becks came back into things. Porter and Mark Marshall were both off target as Del Oldfield’s side worked hard to regain a foothold in the game against a team full of confidence.
The final goal of the game came on 79 minutes when a Gondoh corner was powerfully headed home by Helge Orome to make it 4-1 to Leafe and seal an excellent performance from the visitors. In the final few minutes Emmanuel was denied by Leonard who saved his shot with his legs and Gondoh put the rebound over.
The final effort falling to Beckenham’s young sub Jesse Rowe who struck the foot of the post with a great effort from the edge of the area, which summed up the home side’s luck on the night.
Whyteleafe move up to third with the win, while Beckenham remain twenty first ahead of their home game with Sevenoaks Town on Saturday.
Becks – Leonard, Douglas, Wood (Giraldo 84), Hever, Holland, Wanogho, Nyhus, Dudley, Porter (Milton 66), Marshall (Rowe 90), Townsend.
Subs not used: McKimm, Maciolo.
Leafe – Huk, Emmanuel, Grant (Orome 75), Goode, Holder (Duhaney-Burton 80), Johnson, Mascoll, Hassan (Steeds 64), Hechachena (Leeward 80), Ilic (Braham-Barrett 80), Gondoh.
Goals: BTFC – Porter 6mins. WFC – Illic 16, Emmanuel 33, Gondoh 54, Orome 79mins.
HT 1-2 FT 1-4
Att: 288
Referee: Jake Woodman