Leatherhead 0 Westfield 0
Leatherhead and Westfield shared the points at Fetcham Grove on Monday, where the
two goalkeepers’ performances provided the main talking points at the end of a
disappointing goal less draw.
Field’s Sonny Wheeler made a string of fine saves to deny Tanners, while
Leatherhead keeper Serine Sanneh was fortunate to receive only a yellow card
midway through the second half, after rushing off his line and colliding with
Westfield’s Junior Da Cruz outside his penalty area.
Sanneh earned his placed back in goal for the hosts after Mikey Allen injured his
wrist in Leatherhead’s 2-1 win at South Park on Saturday. But Wheeler was the
keeper in the spotlight on Monday, especially during the second half, as Tanners
pressed forward in search of an elusive winner.
Wheeler was first called into action on 11 minutes, making a good block to deny
Leatherhead’s Jamie Splatt.
Westfield’s Mayowa Adaje produced the visitors’ sole effort on target on 37 minutes,
which easily gathered up by Sanneh.
Tanners looked much sharper at the start of the second half, following the
introduction of Trevan Robinson as a half time replacement for Gus Sow.
Robinson forced a fine save from Wheeler on 48 minutes, with the Westfield keeper
turning his fiercely driven shot behind for a corner.
Tanners had a strong shout for a penalty on 50 minutes after Fikayo Atewologun was
brought down on the edge of the area. Instead the referee awarded a free kick to the
hosts just outside the box.
But Fabio Saraiva was unable to recreate his magical goal from Saturday’s match at
South Park. The Tanners midfielder struck the free kick low to Wheeler’s right, but
the keeper made another excellent block to scramble the ball behind for a corner.
Tanners kept up the pressure, with Wheeler having to make another good save to deny
a wide-angled shot from Robinson on 54 minutes.
Westfield slowly tempered the storm and came close to scoring on 76 minutes with a
forty yard effort from Didi Ndombe clipping the top of Leatherhead’s crossbar.
Tanners ended the match pressing forward, with Dan Hector, Alpha Diallo and Ollie
Cook all forcing further fine saves from Wheeler.
And yet the overwhelming impression at the end was that this was below par
performance from Leatherhead, who were unable to break down a stubborn Westfield
defence and their highly impressive goalkeeper.
Leatherhead: Seine Sanneh, Alpha Diallo, Michael Elechi, Jerry Puemo, Ollie Cook,
Fikayo Atewologun, Fabio Saraiva (Tyler Cox 70), Kenny Beaney, Dan Hector, Gus
Sow (Trevan Robinson 46), Jamie Splatt (Trey Masikini 59)
Westfield: Sonny Wheeler, Manolis Gogonas, Billy Nutbeam, Alfie Huckle, Luke
Elliott, Lewis Jackson, Didi Ndombe, Andrew Crossley, Jacob Breckon (Aidan King),
Tayshan Hayden-Smith (Theo White), Mayowa Adaje (Junior Da Cruz)