Joe Grant's deflected close range effort set them on their way before Luke Elliott's first goal for the club from open play doubled the lead, also via a deflection. Substitute Will Marlowe put the gloss on the victory with well-taken volley in the closing stages.

Boss Steve Webb used the occasion to experiment with the shape of his team, opting to deploy Elliott and Tim Pitt as wing-backs in a 3-5-2 formation. The last time the Moles set up in such a way led to a humbling 6-1 home defeat to Hanworth Villa 12 months earlier, however, abetted by a decent surface and a Lammas side finding their feet under new management the Moles passed the ball better than they have done all season and other than a ten minute spell before half-time were in control throughout.

Andy Graves organised from the back, and he had two willing and effective carriers either side of him in Kristian Webb and Doug Ford. What the midfield three lacked in creativity they made up for in industry and work-rate, and Elliott and Pitt provided width and energy to give the Moles a pleasing balance. Elliott in particular gave as good an individual performance as you're likely to see, with his role in the team transformed from dependable full-back to a Gareth Bale-style flying machine that terrorised Jack Shearing and his defensive colleagues all evening.

Lammas started with ex Moles Steve Brown and Ben Jacob, whilst a recent change in management has seen midfield stalwart and ex Mole Steve Wilmore take charge on a caretaker basis.

Molesey zipped the ball around confidently in the early stages, with Elliott getting to the byline on several occasions and his cut-back flashing across the 6 yard box. Both Joe Grant and Arnold Tawonezvi stung the fists of Josh Richardson in the home goal, Joe Pratley-Jones curled an effort over the bar, Graves had his annual attempt at goal that cleared the crossbar and nearly the M25, whilst several mix ups between keeper and defence went unpunished by those in white.

The home side grew into the game as the half wore on, with Jacob firing over and Shane Rideout capitalising on hesitancy from Wester Young but seeing his shot clear the far post.

The Moles resumed control after the re-start. Grant was put through on goal but was held up rounding Richardson allowing defenders to crowd him out, and Tawonezvi getting on the end of Elliott cushioned header but seeing his volley from the edge of the box deflect agonisingly wide.

Elliott was clearly bundled over in the box during another rampaging run but the ref allowed the move to develop and Tom Windsor shot just over the bar.

Elliott was unplayable at times, and it was no surprise that he was involved in the build up to the opening goal, cutting back from the left and after Tawonezvi's shot was blocked the ball fell invitingly to Grant, whose close range effort - which was possibly going wide - deflecting off a home defender and creeping in at the far post.

Within five minutes it was two. Jamie Redrup gave the ball away deep inside home territory and the ball found it's way to Elliott, who cut in from the left and let fly from the edge of the box that deflected off Redrup and took it beyond the reach of the diving Richardson for his first goal for the club that didn't come from the penalty spot.

More casual defending and Windsor's tenacity nearly made it three when Richardson took an age over a clearance that was charged down and just cleared the post.

Marlowe and Lewis Ackerman added another dimension to the Moles attacking play when introduced, and they combined for the winner, with Ackerman and Pitt combining on the right and Marlowe meeting Windsor's cross with impish precision to flick an effort over Richardson at his near post.

Whilst by no means getting carried away, Webb will no doubt have been encouraged by his side's performance. Sterner tests undoubtedly lie in store over the coming weeks but the Molesey management will be delighted that Elliott appears to have picked up the mantle of club talisman following the departure of the previous incumbent of that role, his ex Staines Town team-mate, James McShane.

They will go to Sandhurst Town on Saturday with renewed confidence having arrested a mini slump that had seen them winless in their four previous matches.

By Andrew Finch