Molesey 0-1 Windsor - Official Match Report

Molesey fell to their fifth home defeat of the season as Josh Parker’s goal midway through the first half was enough to give Windsor all three points at Walton Road.

The Moles were desperately unlucky not to take at least a point from a game that they dominated for the final hour, but were thwarted by fine goalkeeping, terrific defending and downright bad luck.

The game was a tale of two goalkeepers, with Wester Young having a rare off day for the Moles, whilst the experienced Rob Bullivant pulled off a string of fine saves for the visitors.

Molesey were given a boost before kick off with the news that Windsor’s 14 goal top scorer Ben Harris was not included in their line up, whilst the home side made four changes to the side that crashed out of the League Cup in midweek.

In a rather pedestrian opening quarter it was one of those changes who had the opening chance of the game, with Nick White picking up the ball 25 yards out and seeing his dipping effort fizz past the far post.

Joe Pratley-Jones tested Bullivant from a free kick, before what turned out to be the winner arrived on 23 minutes.

Alex Bruce combined neatly with Rob Lazarczuk down the Molesey left, with the latter picking out Parker in space 25 yards from goal.

There seemed little threat, but the Moles were slow to close him down and although his shot at goal was well directed it seemed to lack the pace to beat Young.

Young, however, appeared to get his feet in a mess in the boggy goalmouth and the ball went underneath him and trickled into the net.

The game needed a goal, and the disappointment of falling behind served to give the home side some much needed urgency, and they twice came close to going in at half-time on level terms but were denied by Bullivant on both occasions, as he tipped Dean Thomas’ header over the bar before denying White after a fine team move led to him being one on one with the Windsor keeper.

In a rare foray into Molesey territory Pratley-Jones made a timely interception to block an effort from the impressive Jordan Dowdican that appeared destined for the far corner.

Molesey significantly increased the tempo in the second half, and an equalizer seemed inevitable but unfortunately for the hosts, it never came.

Thomas was denied once again when Bullivant tipped his swerving drive over the bar, and White’s clever pass presented Tom Dilloway with a one on one but Bullivant denied the Moles once more.

Dilloway’s surge down the left and Lewis Ackerman’s clever dummy presented Arnold Tawonezvi with a chance, but after getting his toe to the ball just ahead of the defender the ball drifted agonisingly over the bar with Bullivant beaten.

Molesey threw on forwards Manny Quarshie and Joe Grant in the final stages and in committing men forward gaps were left at the back, Lazarczuk nearly adding a second for the visitors after a sublime bit of skill from Dowdican had taken out three Molesey defenders but he was denied by Young.

A niggly game that was difficult to officiate was not helped by some gamesmanship from players on both sides, with six foot plus Windsor centre halves Chris Ellis and Dan Hicks going down easily on occasion, however, both defended magnificently, and in the pair of them, Bullivant, Parker and Dowdican, Windsor have an impressive spine to their team that will frustrate other clubs before the season is out.

Despite the defeat, a victory on Tuesday at Cove would see the Moles leapfrog the opposition into fourth place as both clubs look to cling to the coat tails of the top three.