Isthmian League

Brazilian magic the difference against 8-men Leafe

Whitehawk 1 Whyteleafe 0

The Hawks took three points in this top four clash, in which the big talking point was the six yellow and three red cards given to the visitors by referee Tristan Greaves.

Playing downhill, Leafe should have taken the lead after 20 minutes when Corie Andrews turned Marvin Hamilton in the box, but dragged his shot wide of the near post.

Six minutes later they were behind to a superb solo effort by Lucas Rodrigues. Picking up a cross field pass from Sinnkaye Christie, the Brazilian nutmegged Peter Wedgeworth, then burst into the box, went round Jamie McGeoghegan and put the ball through the keeper’s legs.

Leafe continued to have the upper hand in terms of chances. Ryan Gandoh shot straight at James Broadbent when well placed. Bentley Graham hit the angle of bar and post with a clever shot, before Corey Holder headed a left-wing corner over the bar. Leafe also had a big shout for a penalty turned down after a bouncing ball struck Christie’s arm.

The game fell apart for Leafe six minutes into the second half. Graham was shown a second yellow card after felling Ahmed Abdulla and in the ensuing melee, Wedgeworth was also shown red for pushing the referee.

The Hawks had all of the ball for the rest of the match without killing the game off, partly due to some fine goalkeeping by Tyler McCarthy. His best save was a tip round the post from a Duane Ofori-Acheampong right foot shot on 83 minutes. Leafe’s Helge Orome was sent off a minute from the end of normal time for a second yellow card, before Rodrigues hit the bar with a header and put the rebound over the top in injury time.

Hawks: Broadbent, Walsh, Banya, Kissock, Christie, Hamilton, Rodrigues, Abdulla, Ofori-Acheampong, Tighe, Martin (c)

Subs not used: Unwin, Ramsis, Torres, Munt

Leafe: McCarthy, Mensah, Thompson, McGeoghegan, Campbell (c), Holder, Gondoh (Parker 59’), Graham, Sobowale (Sesay 63’), Andrews (Orome 73’), Wedgeworth

Subs not used: Duru

Booked: Abdulla, Martin (Hawks): McGeoghegan, Campbell, Andrews, Parker (Leafe)

Sent off: Graham (second yellow), Wedgeworth (red), Orome (second yellow) (Leafe)

Referee: Tristan Greaves

Attendance: 148

Hawks man of the match: Dave Martin

Leave a Reply