By Andrew Finch

After an uneventful opening half hour the game sprung to life with two goals inside 60 seconds through headers from Epsom's Mark Jarman and Molesey's Ross Chalke.

Having missed an earlier sitter Matt Baxter put the Moles in front on the stroke of half-time, but amid growing second half pressure Karl Douglin restored parity with a deflected effort past Wester Young on the hour mark.

Young made an uncertain start to the game but the Moles were indebted to him by full-time for pulling off at least three top-draw saves. The point blank stop at his near post from Jarman's header was as good a save as is likely to be seen this season.

Neither side would have been particularly pleased with a below average refereeing performance, although the Moles will justifiably claim to have been on the wrong end of the lion's share of questionable decisions, with the opening Epson goal coming from a throw in that looked like it should have gone the Moles' way, whilst Martin Weighill was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul in the build up to the second.

The Moles lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, which has brought them mixed success during the infrequent occasions they have used it over the past couple of seasons, and it hadn't been used since a 7-1 mauling at Egham Town 13 months ago.

The result was a marked improvement on the disappointing midweek defeat to Horley Town, both in terms of players' performance and the shape of the team. James McShane was given a largely free role behind Baxter rather than being stuck out on the wing and was at his destructive best, whilst wing backs Aaron Stephens and Luke Elliott worked tirelessly to provide support in attack and defence.

As is usually the case when these sides meet the opening stages were tight and edgy. There were a couple of half-chances at both ends but the first real chance of note came from a deep Epsom cross that was headed back across goal by Sam Currie and cleared off the line by Ollie Robinson.

There was an element of controversy about the opening goal, as Elliott appeared to play the ball off Carl Downs and out for a Molesey throw, however, they lost concentration at the quickly taken throw, and another deep cross was once again headed back across Young by Jarman and into the far corner.

The Molesey response was immediate, as Chalke set McShane free down the right, and his terrific cross was bravely headed home by Chalke for his tenth goal of the season.

Young spilled an effort from Downs but gobbled it up at the second attempt, and then superbly tipped a dipping free-kick from Jarman over the bar.

Currie's short back pass was cut out by the alert McShane. With home keeper Kieran Campbell in no man's land McShane's cross was put on a plate for Baxter, but under slight pressure from home defenders he headed onto the top of the bar from 5 yards out.

However, he didn't have to wait long to make amends, with McShane again instrumental in the build up by playing Elliott in down the left. Campbell flapped at the cross and Baxter made no mistake second time around to head in for his first goal since the home defeat against Epsom in November.

The Salts changed shape in the second half and put the Moles under a lot of pressure, with Young saving from Alex McGregor before Douglin restored parity by getting on the end of Jarman's knock down. He was challenged by Weighill and the ball looped over Young before nestling in the corner.

Young then tipped an effort over the bar, before reacting wonderfully to turn Jarman's close range header around the post, which drew applause from both sets of supporters.

Having been under the cosh for large period of the second half the Moles nearly nicked it at the death. Substitute Jamie Linegar caused panic in the box and the ball fell to Baxter, whose effort from 8 yards drew a very good save from Campbell.

The keeper then took exception to Tom Windsor trying to pounce on the loose ball, and threw his forehead into Windsor's face. Ironically, at about the same time some 250 miles away ex Epsom player Alan Pardew was doing pretty much the same thing to a Hull City player and now faces widespread condemnation. Predictably, the ref missed the incident but booked Windsor for his part in proceedings.

The draw leaves Epsom ten points behind leaders South Park having played a game more. The Moles remain sixth, but extended their winless run to seven games, dating back three months. They will hope to put that right with a trip to bottom of the table Bedfont Sports on Tuesday.