Casuals get back on track by turning over Leafe

Casuals executed their game plan perfectly at Church Road, nullifying the Whyteleafe attack with dogged defending for 70 minutes and then counter attacking with speed and precision as the game drew to a close.

It was a triumph and a tragedy for left midfielder Byron Brown, who had the game of his short Casuals career before succumbing to the agricultural side of Whyteleafe's defending and being sent off with a straight red in the final few seconds.

A speculative effort up the Church Road slope from Daniel Green almost got the game off to a flyer for the amateurs, but his opening minute volley dropped a couple of feet over the bar.

The threat of Leafe's wide men was soon apparent. Daniel Platel and Chris O'Flaherty looked fine players as they repeatedly took on the Casuals fullbacks and sent crosses into the box.

The only criticism could be that their final ball was often wide of their colleagues who were not up in support in enough numbers.

Platel had Paul Smith scrambling on the half hour with a shot across goal.

Smith got a hand to it but only parried the ball as far as Sam Clayton who was sliding in at the far post. Fortunately for Casuals, his effort went wide.

The closest Leafe came in the opening period was a bit of a fluke.

Dale Hennessey's clearance from 10 yards cannoned into Clayton and ricocheted over the bar.

Despite all their possession it was the Casuals who created the better chances.

Carlton Murray-Price flicked a header over Robert Tolfrey in the Whyteleafe goal but it was scrambled to safety.

He also shot tamely into the keeper following Jon Cartledge's misjudgment of a high ball and could well have had a penalty when trying to bring down Byron Brown's fine cross.

The home defence were not ones for standing on ceremony and cleared player and ball but the referee was not interested.

Green and Brown were also to suffer from some questionable defending as they were repeatedly nudged from behind, held by an arm or caught high by a swinging arm.

Credit to the amateurs, though, they made little of it. Until the end that is.

The second period began in much the same vein as the first.

Smith had to be alert to beat away an O'Flaherty drive, Sean Rivers' left shot drive went inches past the post and Clayton blazed well over from a knock down.

The break Casuals needed came on the hour when Whyteleafe took off their dangerous wingmen.

The replacements were equally keen to attack but not so happy to track back once the move had broken down.

Suddenly, Luke Gay and Brown found room to play in and Casuals now looked the better side.

The amateurs took the lead in the 75th minute and it did not please the locals.

Murray-Price and Alhajie Jabbie were tussling for the ball as Murray-Price broke through.

Jabbie fell to the ground on the edge of the box and Tolfrey foiled Murray-Price's effort but cleared only 20 yards to Gay, who advanced and shot low past the keeper.

The Whyteleafe support complained that Gay should have put the ball out of play and doubtless, had Tolfrey's clearance made half way he would have, but it was three against one after a defensive error and the goal was taken.

With six minutes left, Murray-Price thought he had finally broken his duck for Casuals finishing off a neat pass from Brown, but the goal was harshly ruled offside.

With two minutes remaining and Casuals breaking with ever more danger, Brown raced down the left flank and drove over the perfect out-swinging cross.

Murray-Price, who had missed a hatful, finally got his goal, hanging in the air for an age before thumping close-range header into the roof of the net.

As Casuals ran down the clock in the corner, Brown looked to be caught by another high arm and reacted by kicking out in anger.

He was shown a straight red with the original offence being deemed worthy only of a yellow.

The whistle blew just a couple of seconds after that and Casuals climbed to 19th and seven points above the drop zone.

Casuals: Paul Smith, Russell Banyard, Dale Hennessey, Scott Hassell, Chris Horwood , Tyrone Myton, Luke Gay, Ayokunle Olusesi, Daniel Green, Carlton Murry-Price (Hinga Amara 87), Byron Brown. Subs not used: Danny Sacha, Mark Thompson, Colin HarrisBooked: None. Sent off: Byron Brown (90)Scorers: Luke Gay (75), Carlton Murray-Price (87) Attendance : 161