Ash United 1-2 Molesey - Official Match Report

Molesey begun the new season with two wins from two as goals from Ross Chalke and Lewis Ackerman gave them a hard fought 2-1 victory at Ash United.

The win was ultimately deserved for the neat football played and sheer volume of chances, however, the Moles had Wester Young to thank for making several fine saves at crucial stages of the game.

Kristian Webb came in for Jordan McCartney in the only change to the side that begun the campaign with a win at Farnham on Saturday, and the Moles were the quickest out of the blocks, with Dean Thomas shooting wide when well placed, and Nick White seeing a shot from distance deflect the wrong side of the post.

Aaron Agyeman caused the home defence problems with his pace and direct running all evening, and got behind the back four twice in the opening half, seeing a shot cleared off the line, before unselfishly trying to pick out Joe Grant but the ball wouldn't drop the Molesey forward and the chance was gone.

Ash came more into the games as the half wore on, with the dangerous Jimmy Norman operating a shoot on sight policy but failing to trouble Young, whilst Karl Dalloway had two golden opportunities when one-on-one but cleared first the near then the far post by a matter of inches.

The second half was an entertaining and full-blooded affair, and Norman almost found the top corner in the opening minutes with a mis-directed cross that Young did exceptionally well to claw away, and within seven minutes of the re-start the Moles had taken the lead.

Agyeman did well to turn his marker on the halfway line and combined with Ackerman to get to the byline and deliver a cross that was only partially cleared.  Ross Chalke did what he does best and arrived at the right place at the right time to fire the loose ball into the bottom corner.

The lead lasted a matter of minutes, and was surrendered in comical circumstances as a terrific corner from Norman was left by goalkeeper and defenders, and in trying to clear the loose ball Tom Dilloway blasted it at Webb (or possibly the other way round) and it trickled over the line to draw the sides level.

The winning goal stemmed from a fine ball from Dilloway out to Grant, who in turn picked out Ackerman charging through the centre.  Ackerman's first touch was exquisite as he brought the ball under his spell, and with defenders chasing back and goalkeeper charging out he expertly lifted the ball into the unguarded net to restore the Moles' lead.

Ash pushed forward and fired plenty of balls into the Molesey box, but the back four held firm and the front men nearly added to the tally in the gaps left by the home side, with substitute Will Marlowe firing over after a pull back by the excellent Luke Elliott, before fellow sub Ade Oshilaja saw an effort cleared off the line from an Elliott corner.

Young clawed away another cross destined for the top corner as the home side piled on the pressure in the closing stages, and they looked to have rescued a point in stoppage time with a similar move to the one that brought Molesey's winning goal, however, Dallway's attempted lob was stopped by Young at full stretch and he gobbled up the rebound to ensure maximum points for his side.