Chessington & Hook 1-1 Molesey - Official Match Report

Molesey's best-ever start to a season under Steve Webb continued with a 1-1 draw at Chessington & Hook, however, it was a game where the Moles were largely second best for 75 minutes against a Chessington side who had lost five of their opening six matches.

Arnold Tawonezvi's header after half an hour gave the Moles the lead against the run of play, but parity lasted just five minutes before Owen Davies equalised. The home side continued to look the more dangerous until the final fifteen minutes when only excellent goalkeeping from Mark Daniels prevented the Moles from stealing all three points.

With Kristian Webb, Jordan McCartney and Luke Elliott all unavailable it was a patched up back four that started the game, although there was a welcome return to first team action for skipper Andy Graves, making his first appearance of the season as a second half sub. The Moles persisted with the 4-3-3 formation that proved for the most part ineffective against Camberley ten days previously, and once again lacked width and somehow seemed over-run in midfield, despite their numerical advantage in that area of the pitch.

The goalkeeping masterclass was not limited to the Chessington goal, with Wester Young pulling off a string of fine saves in the first half to keep the Moles in contention, the pick of which was a superb reaction save to tip Billy Harding's close range header onto the bar. He also kept out efforts from Victor Martin and Tom Tyler, whilst Harding just failed to get on the end of a cross with the goal at his mercy.

Forays into Chessington territory were rare, with Daniels easily keeping out headers from Taweonzvi and Tom Windsor, but the ex Mole keeper could do nothing about the Moles' well worked opener.

Tim Pitt made tremendous progress down the right flank, and even when out-numbered and dispossessed managed to get a tackle in that meant that the ball fell kindly to Ross Chalke, whose peach of a cross was superbly headed home by Tawonezvi for his first goal since his 2011/12 campaign was ended prematurely almost six months ago to the day.

The lead was undeserved, and the Moles almost rubbed salt in the wound within a minute as Chalke intercepted the re-start and sent Tom Dilloway scampering away down the left. His cross was partially cleared but fell to Windsor whose shot was tipped around the post by Daniels.

The Moles looked as though they would go on to dominate, but the home side drew level when Leslie Nte was afforded too much space on the right wing and his cross-come-shot was tapped in from close range by Davies.

Despite the calming presence of Graves the Moles struggled for any fluidity for most of the second half, and although Young was rarely tested the home side had the majority of possession and fizzed several dangerous balls across the Molesey goal.

The introduction of Will Marlowe and Adam Roberts finally introduced some urgency into the away side as they went hunting for the winner. The ref waved away claims for a handball inside the box, and deemed that Windsor was bundled over just outside the area despite his momentum taking him five yards inside.

Daniels leapt to his right to his right to keep out another Tawonezvi header, but saved his best for last when Tawonezvi wriggled clear on the byline and his ball across the six yard box was met at the far post by the unmarked Chalke. A goal seemed inevitable but the keeper somehow flung across goal and blocked his effort, and with it went Molesey's last chance of nicking all three points.

On this evidence the Moles look a long way short of being genuine title contenders, although it is to their credit that they remain the last unbeaten side in the division. The players could certainly not be accused of a lack of effort but were wasteful in possession, lacked a cutting edge going forward, and appear to miss the creativity and guile of last season's triple player of the season award winner, James McShane.

They hope to continue their unbeaten start with a tricky looking trip to Horley Town on Saturday.