The last month has been a pretty tough one for Whyteleafe FC, with only one league victory in five games. The only other win came in the Surrey Senior Cup (SCC) when beating Chessington 4-0.

The month started brightly with a 1-0 win away to local rivals Croydon Athletic. Scott Simpson scored the winner in a game that for all bar the last 15 minutes the Leafe had controlled. This was the fourth game in an unbeaten run and fans rightly had some optimism that things were coming together, but that optimism was undone as the team then embarked on four Match action v. Chipstead. straight losses. Firstly 2-0 at home to another local rival Chipstead, who have been making great strides this season under the leadership of former Leafe favourite Mark Tompkins. They then had consecutive away trips to the Kent coast and lost 2-1 to Whitstable in a game that they really should have got something out of, and then 4-0 away to Hythe who are in their first season at this standard of football having come out of the Kent league last season. Everyone hoped for a bit of a lift in the next game when another newly promoted team, Crawley Down arrived at Church Road. However the new boys, who had themselves been struggling this season, earned a 1-0 win leaving the Leafe hovering just one place above the relegation spots. We must hope that the new year brings a turnaround in form otherwise relegation for the first time in the club's history is a possibility. You can catch the Leafe in home action during January on the 2nd v Godalming, 7th v Worthing, 17th v Carshalton Athletic (SSC) and 21st v Ramsgate.