Whyteleafe returned to action in the Southern Counties East league after a two-month gap and immediately found the form that had been missing in recent cup games.

Since their last league match, Leafe had won just once in seven games, but they were back to their best at the weekend with a 3-0 with at fellow nine-man Erith Town.

Leafe remain sixth in the table, but with games in hand over all of the sides above them.

Goals from Jason Thompson from the spot, Taylor Smith and Jensen Grant late on, sealed the points - and but for an excellent display from Daniel Clark in the Erith goal, it would have been a lot more.

Leafe started game strongly and created a series of early chances - Taylor Smith was clear in the eighth minute and chipped the ball over the advancing Clark but by the time he reached the ball the angle was too narrow to find the net.

Roscoe DSane and Bentley Graham also went close with early chances.

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Goalscorer: Jensen Grant, right in his Croydon days, scored Leafe's killer final goal at Erith Town

In the 17th minute, Leafe found the net but it was ruled offside, Graham slotting the ball home from close range after Clark could not hold DSane’s shot.

A minute later however, Leafe were awarded a penalty when a defender handled a corner and Thompson fired the spot kick home.

Clark then made good saves from a 25th minute Jensen Grant header and a 29th minute Graham shot from the edge of the area.

DSane found Clayton in the box in the 41st minute, and he attempted to place the ball in the bottom corner but Clark at full stretch managed to save his effort.

Erith rallied briefly in the last few minutes of the half, Aaaron Jeffries hitting a fierce 25-yard shot but straight at Sheik Ceesay who did well to hold on to the ball.

Erith continued to attack early in the second half, Ceesay making a good save to deny Ricky Cable, but it was was not long before Leafe regained the ascendancy.

Their speed and skill was too much for the hosts who resorted to some crude and late challenges resulting in a spate of yellow cards.

Clark made two outstanding saves on the hour, tipping over a superb 25-yard strike from Thompson, then again from the resulting corner, a similar effort from Graham.

Both sides then hit the bar, Erith from a cross come shot in the 63rd minute, and Clayton from a direct free kick in the 68th minute.

Despite Leafe’s dominance there was always a risk that Erith could snatch a point all the time that the lead was just one goal, but that danger was put to bed in the 75th minute when Leafe scored their second.

Lewis Knight completely fluffed a clearance and Grant sent Graham clear down the right, and his cross found Taylor in the box who hit the back of the net from close range.

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Assist: Bentley Graham set up Taylor Smith for the second goal in a 3-0 win

Knight nearly gifted Leafe another in the 80th minute when another attempted clearance went to Clayton who’s shot just curled the wrong side of the post.

In the 83rd minute, Erith were reduced to 10 men when Lee Coburn was sent off for a crude two-footed challenge from behind.

Leafe got their third in the 89th minute when Thompson curled a free kick into the box into the path of Grant who struck the ball home.

Erith’s misery was complete in stoppage time when Aaron Jeffries was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Up next for Leafe is the visit of Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Whyteleafe: Ceesay, Merchant, Penfold, Abraham, Thompson Broomhead, Graham (Pratt 89), Grant, DSane (Fowler 67), Clayton, Taylor Smith (Thornton 86).

Sub not used: Burnett, Tommy Smith.