Twenty years have passed since the clubs’ only previous encounter, when Ebbsfleet, in their previous guise as Gravesend & Norfleet, put six past the Moles in an FA Cup qualifier.

The travelling Molesey fans would have gladly taken another 6-0 defeat at around quarter past three on Saturday afternoon, as an explosive start from the hosts saw them race into an unassailable 3-0 lead in the opening 13 minutes, and they looked like scoring every time they ventured forward.

And they ventured forward a lot; with good reason, too. Back in 1995 the clubs were only separated by geography, both competing at what was then step 2 in the non league pyramid, Molesey in the Isthmian Premier Division, and Gravesend & Norfleet in the Southern Premier.

These days there is such a gulf in resources between the respective clubs that Molesey have arguably never gone into a game as such overwhelming underdogs.

A full strength Molesey line up would have been up against it. However, a Molesey side missing their two top scorers in James McShane and Stafforde Palmer made their task even more difficult against an Ebbsfleet side 51 places above them in the non league ladder and brimming with ex league talent.

McShane in particular would have enjoyed playing on the perfectly flat pitch at Stonebridge Road that would have showcased his skill, passing and vision.

Ex Ipswich winger Danny Haynes spent the opening half bombing down both wings like a freight train, and he set up Matt Godden to open the scoring in the fourth minute.

Molesey would have hoped to make a solid start and not let the game run away from them early on. But before too long it was two, with Haynes and Godden again combining, and after Liam Allen made a good save to deny Godden a second, the ball fell kindly for AFC Wimbledon legend Danny Kedwell to blast home from close range.

Ebbsfleet were on fire. The Molesey midfield were all at sea, and the defence could not cope with the pace and movement of Kedwell, Godden and Haynes.

The front two combined to make it three before thirteen minutes were on the clock, with Kedwell playing in Godden, who rounded Allen and finished smartly.

The Moles needed a hero, and up stepped Liam Allen. He had no chance with any of the goals, but when faced with Godden in another one on one situation he dived at the striker’s feet to prevent a fourth.

A breathtaking Allen save from Stuart Lewis’ header was the highlight of the half. His handling was confident and his distribution back up to its usual high standard after a slight wobble in midweek.

His calming presence gave the Moles the opportunity to get a foothold in the game, and as the half progressed they slowly settled down and enjoyed some possession on the ball and the occasional opportunity to reduce the arrears.

The best chance came when Reis Stanislaus’ free kick took a huge deflection and fell kindly for Dre Grobler, who was extremely unlucky to see his header thump the top of the bar and land on the top of the net.

Godden came close to adding a fourth as order was restored, and Allen again did well to keep out Haynes’ stinging drive.

To their immense credit, the Mole gave as good as they got in the second half. The passing was crisper and more incisive, the midfield harried and the defence looked solid against an Ebbsfleet side who admittedly seemed to take their foot off the peddle somewhat.

The goal the Moles deserved arrived on the hour in almost comical circumstances. Tom Bonner’s backpass was completely scuffed by Brandon Hall, and the alert Stanislaus had the simple task of sliding the ball into the empty net.

It seemed as though things had got even better for the Moles six minutes later, as Stanislaus beat Hall to Craig Lewington’s corner, and Rob Sheridan swept home the loose ball. 3-2. Momentum in Molesey’s favour. Game on.

Or not. Luck was not on the Moles’ side as the ref ruled that Stanislaus had gained an unfair advantage in beating Hall to the ball, with replays seeming to suggest that the awarding of the free kick was extremely generous.

James Cottee hit a half volley just over, whilst Sam Robinson stung the gloves of Hall as the Mole enjoyed their best spell of the game, with the workrate of the front two causing Ebbsfleet problems.

However, with the talent at their disposal Ebbsfleet always had it in their locker to turn on the style once more, and the remarkably subdued home crowd had a killer fourth goal to celebrate ten minutes from time when Kedwell grabbed his second after a clever free kick from Jordan Parkes.

That completed the scoring, and the Moles have now followed up their ten wins in eleven games with three defeats in a week, all against Kent opposition.

However, the opening fifteen minutes aside, they can be proud of their afternoon’s work at Stonebridge Road.

They have the opportunity to get their playoff challenge back on track on Tuesday in the rather more modest surroundings of East Grinstead Town, kick off 7:30pm.

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