Javen-Scott Palmer fired home the winning penalty to send Whyteleafe into the 3rd Round Qualifying of the Buildbase FA Trophy, but the plaudits belonged to Leafe ‘keeper Tyler McCarthy at Church Road.
After The Millers has dominated both territorially and in terms of goalscoring opportunities, McCarthy repeated his performance of seven days ago to deny the Valley strike force.
The last 3 matches between these two teams had produced 13 goals so there was a touch of inevitability that sequence would be broken, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying as the visitors attack peppered McCarthy’s goal – Francis Babalola being particularly profligate in front of goal.
As the teams lined up, there were no fewer than 11 changes to the sides who played out a 2-2 draw in the League last week – The Millers giving game time to Danny Smith, Ollie Farmer and Ryan King-Elliot, while there was a recall for Matt Warren in advance of next week’s Emirates FA Cup 4th Round Qualifying tie at Maidenhead United.
And it was the visitors who were quickly into their stride – a second minute free kick from the excellent Sam Hasler striking the Leafe bar. The former Folkestone Invicta man them set about sending a series of raking cross field passes into the path of his wide men – one such occasion finding Ade Yusuff, whose cross into the six yard box was wastefully headed wide by Babalola.
The same triumvirate were in action in the 40th minute, this time Babalola’s shot being saved by the legs of McCarthy, before Yusuff’s six yard effort was denied by the young keeper shortly after.
With the second half continuing in much the same vain, Assistant Manager Tommy Osborne – in charge while Kevin Watson was on a scouting mission – sent on Hassan Ibrahiym - for the ineffective Farmer - and Kieron McCann in search of the elusive breakthrough.
But as the clock ticked down, Harry Hudson’s Whyteleafe team saw possible sanctuary in a penalty shoot-out as they gathered in formation behind the ball.
A 90th minute Millers attack saw Babalola have a good chance 12 yards out but his weak effort was saved as the full-time whistle blew.
The shoot-out couldn’t have started worse for The Millers as Yusuff’s tame effort and Warren’s drive were saved by McCarthy – Leafe’s first two penalties being converted. There was brief hope for the visitors as Courtney Clarke fired over the bar and Walker made a fine save from Hogan, but with Ibrahiym putting his kick wide it was left to Palmer to settle the tie.

Millers thoughts now move on to their final chance of a visit to the national stadium this season in next week’s Emirates FA Cup tie.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN – Sam Hasler

LEAFE : McCarthy, Dennis, Atkinson, Thompson, McGeoghegan, Kanu (Archer 62), Clarke, Orome, Palmer, Walker-Barth (Ezennolim 67), Carpene (Hogan)
Not Used : Jones, Milambo, Jackson, Graham

MILLERS : A.Walker, Smith, Hickey, Sains, Tumkaya, Babalola, Hasler, Farmer (Ibrahiym 67), Warren, King-Elliot (McCann 70), Yusuff
Not Used : Adeyemo, Thomas, Gayle

Referee: Nicholas Metcalfe

Photo courtesy of Dave Cumberbatch: A Millers attack is cleared by the Leafe defence

OSBORNE’S OBSERVATIONS

Despite dominating much of the match, The Millers slipped to a “penalty shootout” defeat to Whyteleafe in the Buildbase FA Trophy on Saturday.
With Manager Kevin Watson otherwise engaged, we caught up with his Assistant, Tommy Osborne, in the car park at Church Road to get his take on proceedings.
When asked his views on the performance, Tommy focused more on a lack of creativity, than putting responsibility on his misfiring strike force.
“D’ya know what, in the first half I didn’t think we played as well as we can, but we made 2, I would say 3, good chances.
In the second half, we bossed possession, had a lot in their half of the pitch. Had lots of the football but not managed to turn that possession into good opportunities or goals really, and that’s the disappointing thing.
I think from my point, it’s that we had enough chances and possession of the football, and in 90 minutes not scored. That’s disappointing.”
With Whyteleafe showing a lack of ambition in the last 20 minutes – indeed defending deep with all 10 men behind the ball in the last 10 – Tommy added “yea, and I think they’re not gonna be the only team that play like that against us this year. I think there’s gonna be quite a few teams, so that’s something we’ve got to learn to deal with and play against.”