Leatherhead 2-3 Westfield Match Report
Written by Jake Cox
Westfield’s first half flurry of goals was enough to secure victory in a 2-3 away win
against Leatherhead in a top of the table clash at Fetcham Grove.
Goals from Ethan Lindo and Tom Dyer helped the away side narrow the gap to just two
points behind Leatherhead in the league. Nathan Hogan’s penalty and a strike from
Anas Igozouln was not enough for the home side in a fierce clash.
With less than two minutes gone Westfield exposed a gap in the Leatherhead backline,
a fantastic ball found left-back Tom Dyer in a dangerous central position who
progressed forward and slotted the ball past Sonny Wheeler to give the away side an
early advantage.
Westfield dominated the early stages, but the game sprung into life for Leatherhead with
a crunching tackle which saw John Adebiyi pick up a seventh minute yellow card. A
threatening ball into the box followed, but nobody in green and white could steer it home
for a swift equaliser.
A loose ball out from Sonny Wheeler found Didi Ndombe who charged forwards and a
penalty for a pull on a Westfield shirt was only prevented by Ethan Lindo tapping the
ball into the Leatherhead net to put the Tanners firmly on the back foot.
The second goal would’ve been a real frustration for Ian Selley as his side were just
growing into the game and beginning to look dangerous, the two-goal deficit meant the
Tanners had it all to do.
With 26 minutes gone, Leatherhead broke in electric fashion after a failed Westfield free
kick down the left-hand side. The ball was played across to Mehme Halim, who was
through on goal and the keeper, Lewis Gallifant, brought Halim down and the referee
wasted no time in pointing to the spot.
Nathan Hogan stepped up from 12 yards and directed the ball superbly into the bottom
left corner with a side-footed effort that halved Westfield’s lead with just under half an
hour played.
A slice of luck was awarded for Westfield’s positive play in the first half. The ball
ricocheted like a pinball off several players and fell into the path of Ethan Lindo who
reacted the quickest to slide the ball past Wheeler and restore the away side’s two goal
cushion, seven minutes before the interval.
A brace from Ethan Lindo and an early goal from Tom Dyer was the difference at the
break with Nathan Hogan on target from the spot to halt the flow of Westfield who were. slightly too sharp for the Tanners in the first half which saw the away side take a 1-3 half
time lead.
Ian Selley made a double substitution at half-time, hoping to inject some impetus into
his side with Leatherhead’s lead at the top of the table set to be narrowed.
The exact impetus was delivered instantly with Charlie Kennett down the left-hand side,
he found Anas Igozouln who fired the ball into the roof of the net past Gallifant from 10
yards to reduce the deficit, 2-3 to Westfield with 47 minutes gone at Fetcham Grove.
With half an hour remaining, the 1 st vs 2 nd spectacle was certainly living up to the
expectations with Leatherhead dominating proceedings, the Tanners were eager to
convert chances to an equaliser.
However, Westfield’s threat remained, Didi Ndombe sprinted down the left-hand side,
but a good defensive interception denied a tap in and a goalmouth scramble followed
from the consequential corner for Westfield. This kept the game tightly contested with
25 minutes left.
Leatherhead persisted with a series of corners and opportunities as the clock ticked
past the 80 minute mark. A good header was cleared off the Westfield line, but the
home side couldn’t convert.
A strong effort from Liam Flanighan thundered off the right post to deny Leatherhead a
point as six minutes of additional time was indicated. It began to feel like it wasn’t
Leatherhead’s day.
A close battle ended in a 2-3 triumph for Westfield with their physicality and pace just
proving too much for Ian Selley’s Leatherhead who were visibly frustrated at the end of
a disjointed performance which saw their lead at the top of the table reduced to two
points.
Next up Leatherhead host Southall at Fetcham Grove this coming Tuesday (2 nd
December, 19:45 Kick-Off)
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Nathan Hogan, Isaac Olaniyan (Kelvin Manuel-
Massango 46), Mark Waters, Louie Paget (Liam Flanighan 46), George Hedley (Seb
Tauta-Caballero 82), Anas Igozouln, Mehme Halim (Jordy Gallagher 74), Cameron
Black, Charlie Kennet, Kane Fitzgerald (C)
Westfield: Lewis Gallifant, Billy Nutbeam, Caleb Wright, Dylan Merchant (C), John
Adebiyi, Tom Dyer (Nathan Rogers 67), Max Heaton (Ellis Osbourn 49) , Ethan Lindo
(Jack Knight 83) , Michael O’Connor, Mangolis Gogonas, Didi Ndombe (Andrew
Crossley 94)
