The reserves traveled down to Crawley for their game against Oakwood in high spirits after getting back to winning ways the previous week against South Park. The game itself was a brilliant one for the neutrals, but not for a manager.

Molesey started the much better team as they took control from the off and settled into their possession play very well. It wasn't long before they had the lead. Sean Hindle came forward from left back and sent a decent ball between two defenders for Nehemiah Adams to run onto inside the area and fire into the goal. 1-0 Molesey.

Molesey gained even more confidence from the goal and looked to capitalize on the drained of confidence opponents. They doubled their lead shortly after the opening goal. A good run from right back saw Tom Gillette pick up the ball on the right flank. He took a touch and crossed into the area for Michael Riggon to chest down for Rob Wilkinson on the edge of the box. Wilkinson hit his volley into the bottom corner to double the Moles advantage. 2-0.

It was all Molesey for much of the half and some efforts from Michael Riggon and Wes Lennon forced the keeper into saves. Any threats Oakwood did have were wasted by ballooning shots over the bar.
It was Wes Lennon who would add the third for Molesey. The impressive Nehemiah Adams took on his marker on the right wing and delivered a decent ball for Lennon to nod home his fourth of the season. 3-0.

Halftime Oakwood 0-3 Molesey.

The second half would show the bad side to Molesey. Their instructions were to not get complacent and not to let Oakwood back into the game with an early goal.
Two minutes into the half Oakwood won a corner. The ball went to the back stick where a player was unmarked. His shot went in to give Oakwood a lifeline. 3-1.

This should have been a kick up the backside for the Molesey players, but it didn't have the desired affect. Five minutes later a through ball found a striker one on one with Dan Hatton and Oakwood had their second.

Oakwood had gained in confidence and now had the upper hand and it didn't take long for them to be on equal terms. The ball came through the midfield and was sent over the top of the Molesey defence. Dan Hatton came out but the chasing striker got to the ball first, shooting over Hatton and into the goal. 3-3.

Molesey then made a double substitution with Charlie Pratley-Jones coming back from injury to try and settle the defence down and youth teamer Harry July coming on at left midfield. Kimmar Edmond and Clint William made way for them.

Molesey settled down a bit but Oakwood were still on top and could have taken the lead on a couple of occasions, but for Pratley-Jones clearing off the line twice. The first saw a shot from outside the area palmed away by Dan Hutton. A stiker ran onto the rebound but Hatton was up quickly to tackle the player. The ball then fell to another Oakwood attacker, but again Hatton was up quickly and narrowed the angle well. The player shot, but Pratley-Jones had got back on the line to head it away.

As the half went on Molesey began to take more of a hold, although Oakwood still looked a threat. The Moles were forced into a change with twenty minutes left as Sean Hindle had a recurrence of a calf injury that has kept him out for a couple weeks. He was replaced at left back with Anthony Jones.

Harry July came close to giving the Molesey the lead again, when a cross in from the right found him at the back post. His shot clanged against the post and went out for a goal kick. Michael Riggon also had a chance at the back post but could only head over the bar.

Molesey did take lead again, but it was one hell of an early Christmas Present. The Oakwood goalkeeper had the ball in his hands. His defenders ran upfield ready for the kick, but the resulting boot was mistimed and the ball fell to Michael Riggon, who made no mistake in rounding the goalkeeper and scoring Molesey's fourth. 4-3 Molesey.

Molesey again looked the better team and could have wrapped the game up but for the crossbar. Harry July arrived in the middle of the six yard box to meet a cross and shot straight at the goalkeeper, who fumbled and sent the ball straight back to July, who kneed the ball onto the bar.
In the end Molesey did hang on for a 4-3 victory, but will be disappointed with the way they allowed Oakwood back into the game. A win is a win at the end of the day though and another three points comes back to Walton Road.

Line Up

1. Dan Hatton
2. Tom Gillette
3. Sean Hindle
4. Rob Wilkinson
5. Charlie Matthias
6. Kimmar Edmond
7. Nehemiah Adams
9. Wellesley Lennon
10. Michael Riggon
11. Clint William
12. Sam Galliers
Substitutes
13. Owyn Rees
14. Anthony Jones (for Hindle 70 mins)
15. Charlie Pratley-Jones (for Edmond 60 Min's)
16. Sean Boothe
17. Harry July (for William 70 Min's)