Herne Bay 0-0 Molesey
Molesey travelled to Herne Bay with the goal of improving their performance at both ends of the pitch, and achieved one of those two objectives with a second clean sheet in three games.
However, they were frustratingly ineffective at the other end as a whole raft of chances went begging that really should have seen them go home with all three points against a limited Herne Bay side.
The game should have been done and dusted by half-time. The Moles had thirteen attempts at goal during that opening period, but the few efforts that did find their way on target were little more than catching practise for home keeper Ben Hunter.
The game was less than thirty seconds old when Ross Chalke fired a couple of feet over the bar, and both Ronald Sobowale and Olu Akinsanya both failed to find the target when well placed.
Full backs Ato Okai and Ashby Charles caused all manner of problems with their pace and energy, and twice Okai got in behind but the front men failed to convert.
The midfield diamond of Chalke, Craig Lewington, Ashley Lodge and Josh Andrew all had pops at goal, whilst one of the few efforts to hit the target – a free kick from Antonio Simeone was easily dealt with by Hunter.
Both Sobowale and Akinsanya had volleys that cleared the bar by inches during the closing stages of the half, although it was the hosts who arguably had the game’s best opening when Connor Wilkins clipped the top of the Molesey bar following a goalmouth scramble.
The second half was much more even, and Liam Allen had to be alert to keep out headers from Jake Embery and Jono Richardson during the early stages.
The Moles continued to press, although it perhaps summed up their day that the closest they came to a goal was a mis-hit cross from Sobowale that was dropping under the crossbar before being tipped over by Hunter.
Junior Aikhionbare and Nassim Dukali kept Allen honest with efforts from distance, but it was the Moles who came the closest to taking the three points when in the closing stages both Chalke and substitute Anthony Kozakis had goalbound efforts blocked.
With the Moles’ back four holding firm despite Simeone hobbling through the final ten minutes the Moles will hope to focus on finishing chances off as they approach a busy schedule of fixtures, with high-flying Sittingbourne visiting Walton Road on Tuesday evening.