Leatherhead 1 Westfield 2
Leatherhead snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, conceding two late goals to
Westfield in this mid-table clash at Fetcham Grove on Tuesday.
Tanners led through a well taken goal from Lukas Franzen-Jones, scored just before
half time. But defending a slim one-goal lead, the tide turned gradually in Westfield’s
favour in the second half, with goals from Tobi Adaje and John Adebiyi.
The match started slowly but burst into life on 25 minutes when Leatherhead’s Rhys
Murrell-Williamson turned inside two Field defenders and tested goalkeeper Lewis
Gallifent with a fierce drive from the edge of the box.
And a minute later Murrell-Williamson picked out Franzen-Jones in Field’s penalty
area, whose stinging shot was well saved by Gallifent.
Westfield quickly broke to the other end with Manolis Gogonas forcing a fine save
from Leatherhead keeper Sonny Wheeler from eighteen yards.
But the main pressure in the first half came from Tanners. On 36 minutes Ruben
Bartlett-Antwi combined with Franzen-Jones, who forced another good save from
Gallifent.
And two minutes later Franzen-Jones fed a pass into the path of an advancing Bartlett-
Antwi, who received a challenge from a Field defender. There was a strong appeal for
a penalty as Bartlett-Antwi went down in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Tanners’ persistence eventually paid off with a superb goal from Franzen-Jones on 42
minutes. Bartlett-Antwi won the ball from a Field defender at the half-way line and
quickly played it forward to his fellow striker. Franzen-Jones chested the ball down
on the edge of the area and with his next touch smashed it into the back of the net.
Westfield missed a chance to level at the start of the second half. Adaje nudged the
ball past a Tanners defender before poking his shot a yard wide of the post.
Leatherhead made their first substitution on 69 minutes, introducing midfielder Kenny
Beaney in place of Bartlett-Antwi. The move left Franzen-Jones up front as a lone
striker, as Tanners sought to hold on to their slim advantage.
But Field had other ideas. On 73 minutes Westfield’s Tom Dryer broke clear at the
halfway line and picked out an unchallenged Adaje at the far post, who fired home
from a wide angle.
Tanners missed a chance to restore their lead six minutes later. Tyler Cox struck a low
shot from the edge of the box, but Gallifent made another fine save.
Leatherhead conceded a second goal on 83 minutes. The Tanners’ defence were once
again caught out by a quick Westfield break, with Adebiyi slipping past his marker to
fire home from close range.
Field’s second goal clearly rattled Tanners. And the hosts nearly conceded a third goal
four minutes later. Wheeler rushed off his line to make a hasty clearance but sliced the
ball horribly into the path of Westfield’s Jonny Efedje.
The midfielder should have buried it in the back of the net, but he rushed his effort,
striking the ball straight back to Wheeler for a comfortable save.
There was still time remaining for a Leatherhead fight back. On 90 minutes Tanners
pumped a free kick deep into Westfield’s box. Marco Haigh fell to the ground and
there were loud appeals for a penalty. But once again the referee saw nothing wrong
and calmly waved play on.
The result ends Tanners’ nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, stretching back
to before Christmas.
It also makes the prospect of reaching the end of season play offs even harder for
Leatherhead, who remain rooted in eleventh place in the table, nine points behind
fifth-placed Hartley Wintney and having played one more game.
Tanners return to league action on Saturday when they visit newly promoted Rayners
Lane. Kick-off is at 3.00pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Alfie Huckle (Jamarie Brisset 86), Niran Butler, Alex
Pearce, Tyler Cox, Kelvin Manuel Massango, Kane Fitzgerald, Rhys Murrell-
Williamson, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi (Kenny Beaney 69), Lukas Franzen-Jones, Anuar
Ceesay (Marco Haigh 82)
Westfiield: Lewis Gallifent, Dylan Merchant, Billy Nutbeam (Sam Balogun 77),
Malik Sesay (Tom Dryer 65), John Adebiyi, Jack Beadle, Andrew Crossley (Luke
Elliott 90+4), Manolis Gogonas, Gary Abisogun, Tobi Adaje (Jonny Efedje 82)