By Andrew Finch

Old master Paul Cross’ first goal of the season gave the Moles a deserved lead after quarter of an hour before Mario Embalo followed up Elijah Ogunseye’s shot to draw Wood level.

Wood went on to have the better chances but had to wait until extra-time to take the lead when Ogunseye sprung the Moles offside trap and gave Embalo a tap in for his second.

Kristian Webb rifled Molesey level moments after the start of the second period of extra-time and the same player had a shot blocked by the arm of Dre Grobler at the death and Pratley-Jones sent John McBride the wrong way from the spot.

The manner of defeat was harsh on the visitors, who will feel they did enough to take the game to penalties, and could also justifiably have some complaint at the decision to award a penalty on the basis that Grobler was only a couple of yards away from Webb when he struck the ball.

Moles boss Steve Webb continues to give youth a chance and handed Sam Galliers a first team debut from the bench, whilst Matt Knight put in another assured display at right back in the absence of skipper Andy Graves.

Manny Quarshie had the chance to open the scoring against his former team but shot just wide after good play on the Molesey left by Tom Dilloway and Ross Chalke.

Nick White then had a well struck volley saved as the home side started the game the brighter, and deservedly took the lead when Pratley-Jones won possession inside the opposition half and set up Chalke, whose cross was expertly volleyed home by Paul Cross.

This seemed to rouse the visitors and Wester Young made the first of a string of fine saves when he lunged bravely at Embalo’s feet after no one from the home side had matched the Wood forward’s run.

25 minutes were on the clock when Wood drew level. Webb failed to deal with McBride’s long kick, which presented Ogunseye with a chance that Young did well to keep out. The ball fell invitingly for Embalo, and his fierce volley stung the fingertips of Young, which inadvertently took the ball over the head of the retreating Jordan McCartney, who might otherwise have managed to clear.

Adrian Boreland fired just over for the visitors, whilst Pratley-Jones had a shot well saved for the Moles, but as the half progressed it was the visitors who looked the more likely to take the lead, Young again saving well from Boreland before flapping at a dangerous cross and seeing Embalo’s follow up blocked.

A terrific piece of covering from Dilloway prevented Boreland with a free shot at goal but his interception sent the ball spinning goalwards, Young pulling off his best save of the night to claw the ball away from behind him to keep the Moles on level terms going into the break.

Most people in the ground thought that Colliers Wood had taken the lead when a quick free kick caught the home defence napping and Embalo nipped in ahead of Young to prod the ball goalwards, but the ball hit the side netting before creeping through a hole in the net.

Embalo squandered a chance late on by firing wide first time despite having the time to take an extra touch, and both Boreland and Chalke had headers that crashed against the bar in the closing stages as both sides tried to avoid the need for extra time.

Both Embalo and Ogunseye missed golden opportunities in the opening stages of extra-time before the pair of them sprung the offside trap and Embalo gave Wood the lead.

Molesey centre halves McCartney and Webb combined to draw the home side level as McCartney’s free kick was controlled by Webb on the edge of the box before he turned sharply and volleyed into the bottom corner.

McBride saved well from Dilloway as the Moles pushed for a winner and Chalke fluffed the best chance of the game when Dilloway’s cross found him all alone eight yards from goal but he got his feet in a mess and allowed McBride to save.

Webb and McCartney were again the driving force behind Molesey’s winning goal with another free kick/volley combo that led to the penalty that Pratley-Jones dispatched to set up a quarter final tie with last year’s beaten finalists Sutton United on Thursday week.

The Moles will go into the game with nothing to lose and with memories of victory against the same opposition in this competition two years ago.