AFC Uckfield 2-1 Molesey

After Extra Time

By Andrew Finch
 
Molesey’s second trip of the season to Sussex resulted in their second defeat of the season as AFC Uckfield followed up Littlehampton’s FA Cup win over the Moles last month to secure a 2-1 extra-time win in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Vase.
 
A wonder strike from Jack Divall gave the hosts a deserved half-time lead, but Tom Winsor’s header five minutes after the re-start forced extra-time.  Andy McDowell restored Uckfield's lead in the first period of extra-time and the hosts held out to set up a second qualifying round tie at Sussex rivals Peacehaven.
 
The hosts were dominant in the opening period, with the Moles missing tackles, losing headers and being comprehensively out-played, and if it wasn’t for the wayward shooting of Sam Schaaf they might have found themselves out of contention by half-time, but the Uckfield top scorer sent three shots high into the trees behind Wester Young’s goal before shooting tamely at Young with team-mates better placed.
 
A terrific piece of covering and block by full-back Tim Pitt prevented a scoring opportunity for Greg Manton, and Young denied his brother Brad shortly afterwards.
 
Despite their lacklustre performance the Moles had arguably the best two chances of the half.  Nathan Motley, whose pace caused the pedestrian Terry Gaicas problems all afternoon, got behind the Uckfield full back and fired across goal for the onrushing Ross Chalke, whose effort was somehow kept out by Jake Buss in the home goal at point blank range.
 
Shortly afterwards a Luke Elliott corner was met by the head of Doug Ford and he should really have done better than plant his free header over the bar.
 
So it was slightly against the run of play that the hosts took the lead on 38 minutes.  Kristian Webb had difficulty dealing with a high bouncing ball with attackers buzzing around him.  His partial clearance fell to Divall, whose first touch brought the ball under his spell and his second was an unstoppableswerving drive with the outside of his foot that would be a contender for FA Vase goal of the season.  If such a competition existed.
 
Joseph Grant came close to getting the Moles back on terms, but after cleverly evading two tackles his strike was well saved by Buss.  However, an equaliser at this time would have been unjust, and the Moles first half performance was summed up by a terrific free-kick by Joe Pratley-Jones that split goalkeeper and defence and was crying out to be attacked but was left to each other by those in white.
 
The Moles became increasingly frustrated by a slightly erratic refereeing performance, whose tendency to ignore his assistants’ irritated players and supporters alike, and were relieved to go in at the break only one down.
 
The visitors were much sharper after the break and parity was restored when Motley again got the better of Gaicas and WinsoPr reacted superbly to re-direct the Molesey wingers deflected across back across Buss and into the net.
 
The Moles went on to dominate possession in a much improved second half performance, although chances were limited, with two sliced clearances from home defenders being the closest they came to taking the lead, whilst at the other end Uckfield nearly won it at the death when Schaafcame within a whisker of getting on the end of a header across goal.
 
The Moles continued to look the more likely victor as extra-time begun, but after Motley and Winsor saw efforts fly wide they were hit with a sucker punch when McDowell got on the end of Schaaf’s knockdown and fired beyond Young from close-range to restore Uckfield’s lead.
 
Molesey’s best chance of an equaliser came when Chalke got on the end of Agyeman’s cross but could only put his free header over the bar at full stretch, whilst Webb was infuriated when a clearance by a home defender hit a linesman’s thigh and remained in play and left Webb in a promising position but the assistant incorrectly flagged for a Molesey throw.  Webb picked up a booking for protesting too vehemently.
 
The Moles threw on strikers Arnold Tawonezvi and Adam Roberts, and by the end also had Webb and Elliott up front but could not find a way through the home defence, and whilst they might feel hard done by not to force a replay, can have few complaints about their second cup exit of the season after such a poor first half showing.