Having parted company with manager Stuart Massey during the week Whyteleafe could well have been in some sort of disarray coming into this match, but any hopes Casuals had of an easy victory were dashed in the opening hour as Leafe put in a tenacious display to race into a 4-1 lead.

A well played opening 15 minutes saw little goalmouth action but plenty of nice football until Oliver Barrett's poor touch gave the ball away to Kane Sergeant. He raced through the gap in front of him but did not connect with his shot properly and Danny Coote saved comfortably. Andy Gibbons then did likewise in the Casuals midfield and was a relieved man when he saw Ryan Rummery head over from Ali Reeve's cross.

The opening goal of seven came in the 23rd minute and was too easy for Whyteleafe. A simple ball through the middle saw the Casuals defence back off and Richard Williams beat Dave Tidy from 20 yards. The goal spurred Casuals on and the equaliser from Kane Sergeant was a beauty. Gibbons had been fouled on the edge of the Leafe box and Sergeant curled in an exquisite left foot shot into Coote's top right corner giving him no chance.

The next ten minutes to half time were a nightmare for the Casuals rearguard and one they will want to forget. Leon McDowell and Tony Martin teased the back line with a series of crosses, none of which were adequately cleared. Eventually Martin drove the ball across the six yard box and Rummery had a simple tap in to restore Whyteleafe's lead. Not having learnt from this lesson Martin did the same again, this time McDowell benefited from poor marking and he took his turn to bury the chance at the far post. With half time imminent Casuals old boy Danny Arkwright got on the end of a Martin corner but this time Scott Hassell was well placed to clear off the line.

The one hope for Casuals was that Whyteleafe's defence looked just as shaky, and hope was high that a good start to the second half could still turn the game around. Plan B went straight out of the window when Casuals defence proved to be the shakier, another lost ball in the middle of the park allowing Reeve to poke a simple ball down the middle that sent Ellis Conroy free and he deftly lifted his shot over the advancing Tidy.

Casuals boss Brain Adamson had seen enough and made three swift substitutions including the unusual sight of subbing his keeper. It was a bold move and took just eight minutes to pay off as his team suddenly rediscovered their passion for attacking football. Luke Gay was tripped on the edge of Leafe box and Craig Dunne, finally after so many near misses, curled in a free kick that he richly deserved.

It was all Casuals now and Leafe's defence had their turn at disintegrating. Rico Morris clipped a fine ball through to Jamie Byatt and his cross was only inches in front of Gay's dive. Another free kick, this time down the Casuals right gave Dunne the chance to loft in a cross and Harry Holloway volleyed home unmarked to make it 3-4 With time running Casuals pushed everyone forward in search of an equaliser but the only remaining action was a late, late challenge from Kane Sergeant on McDowell who was trying to run the ball away from his own penalty area and Mr Salt the referee had no option but to brandish a straight red card.

It was a valiant attempt to claw something back from the game but the early damage had already been done. On the plus side for Casuals, they once again proved that when they pour forward and produce their own exciting brand of attacking football they have the beating of teams like Whyteleafe, if only they can cut out the problems at the back !

Casuals line up : Dave Tidy (Colin Harris 62), Scott Hassell, Rico Morris, Harry Holloway, Chris Horwood, Andy Gibbons (Craig Dunne 70), Kane Sergeant, Aaron Colt-Bolt, Miles Jones, Matt Smith (Jamie Byatt 70), Luke Gay.

Subs not used : Daniel Green Attendance : 107 Red Cards : Kane Sergeant (90) Yellow Cards : Scott Hassell (58), Andy Gibbons (33)