Molesey 2-1 Hastings

The win was the perfect response to Saturday’s heavy defeat at South Park, and were it not for bad luck in front of goal they would have won by a more handsome margin.

It took Tom Windsor’s scrappy 90th minute goal to finally secure the win, after Hastings’ Billy Meadlock had earlier cancelled out Charlie Samuels’s strike.

Ollie Robinson and Reis Stanislaus returned to the starting line-up, and Stanislaus was lively throughout, volleying just over the bar in the early stages.

Samuels twice drew good saves from Joe Taylor, and both Robinson and Ross Chalke headed narrowly wide from corners in a first half dominated by the Moles.

Samuels had a goal controversially disallowed for offside, whilst a speculative effort from distance by Joe Pratley-Jones had to be tipped over by Taylor.

Hastings created two presentable chances in the opening minutes of the second half, with Meadock hitting the side netting and Sam Adams having an effort deflected over.

The opening goal was all about the skill and pace of Samuels, as he tore down the Molesey left and found Stanislaus with a clever cut-back. Stanislaus’ effort looked like it would be saved by Taylor, but the ball was inadvertently diverted back into the path of Samuels by a defender, who prodded home from six yards.
The lead lasted barely five minutes, as a cross from deep on the right bounced kindly for Meadlock, who headed over Liam Allen into the net.

The Moles will feel particularly aggrieved as Meadlock was at the centre of an off the ball incident in the first half for which he was said to be lucky to escape with just a yellow card.

The Moles also had a let off with the scores goalless following an x-rated challenge by Pratley-Jones on Kevant Serbony. It was more mistimed than malicious, but the force of the challenge practically broke the ex Sutton United man in half. Luckily for the Moles the ref only deemed it worthy of a booking.
James McShane shot wide and Pratley-Jones had a header saved as the Moles went in search of the winner, and it duly arrived as the clock struck 90 minutes.

Windsor’s forceful run from deep started the move, and Stanislaus and Samuels combined to set up a header for McShane. Windsor intercepted, and after a mini scramble 6 inches from the goal-line he was eventually able to scramble the ball home.
There was a hint of offside about the goal. And there was still time for more controversy, as substitute Dre Grobler’s handball in the Molesey box was obvious to everyone in the ground other than the ref.
It was a let off, but anything other than three points for the Moles would have been unjust.
Hastings will have the opportunity for revenge before the season is out, with the reverse fixture just 17 days away.
Prior to that the Moles will hope to derail the play-off hopes of Hythe Town on Saturday, and improve their own promotion chance in the process.