Three goals in the final twelve minutes saw Molesey complete a stunning comeback to overcome Harlow town and progress to the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

The visitors took an early lead through Jared Small’s header, which was doubled on the half hour mark when Luke Elliott turned into his own net.

Stafforde Palmer halved the deficit before half-time, but Leon Fisher’s smart finishing restored Harlow’s two goal advantage ten minutes into the second half.

Reis Stanislaus’ late double completed the comeback, after James McShane had given them hope by making it 3-2.

It was harsh on the visitors, who had been the better side in the first half and looked set to see the tie out comfortably until their late capitulation.

However, the win owes much to the Moles never say die attitude, as a tie that for most of the afternoon appeared beyond them was turned around in spectacular fashion.

The win was all the more remarkable given that regular centre halves Ollie Robinson and Rob Sheridan were serving suspensions, meaning a makeshift centre half pairing of Dre Grobler and Joe Pratley-Jones, meaning that three of the back four were midfielders by trade.

And they had their hands full. Harlow’s front four of Small, Fisher, Alex Read and Junior Dadson bristled with menace all afternoon and carried a genuine goal threat every time they went forward.

It took only three minutes for them to take the lead, as Small was afforded way too much space in the box to head home Ryan Melaueh’s corner.

Elliott’s terrific block denied Fisher a certain goal after Dadson tore down Molesey’s right, whilst McShane was denied by Fabion Simms’ block at the other end.

There was controversy when Fisher burst clear down the Molesey right and wad taken out by Liam Allen in the Molesey goal. He was at an unfavourable angle but replays seem to suggest that he would still have been able to get a shot away before the two covering defenders had got back in time.

It was a let off for the Moles, but their stay of execution didn’t last long when another dangerous Melaueh set piece was turned into his own net by Elliott, with Craig Pope ready to pounce at the far post.

The visitors deserved their two goal lead, but Palmer threw the Moles a lifeline when he bustled past two defenders and played a quick give and go with Stanislaus and finished clinically into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

It almost got even better moments later when Palmer broke the offside trap but in getting clear of the final defender his touch was too strong and Niklas Freund was able to smother.

Molesey started the second half brightly and a surging run down the right from Stanislaus nearly resulted in an equaliser for McShane, but Freund kept out his header.

Stanislaus was then denied by Freund, but the momentum swung back in favour of Harlow when Fisher’s smart near post flick restored their two goal advantage following Layne Eadie’s rampaging run down the left.

The Moles threw men forward, but it looked like their efforts would be in vain as chances came and went for Stanislaus, Palmer and Tom Windsor.

The visitors still looked dangerous on the break, and a cross from Small was misjudged by Allen and trickled across the six yard box, somehow evading everyone.

It was to prove a critical moment, as a goal then would have killed the tie, but McShane kept it alive with a typical McShane goal.

Ross Chalke’s cross was brought under his spell and he side stepped a defender to buy himself half a yard in the box and finished beyond Freund.

Stanislaus was again denied by Freund, but he got the goal he deserved when Pope failed to cut out Palmer’ through ball and he finished low beyond the keeper.

So, just as spectators were trying to find out whether extra time is played on the first game of an FA Trophy, as well as the best way of getting to Harlow on a Tuesday night, the Moles did the unimaginable and scored again.

The Harlow back four was caught napping as McShane snuck in behind. His low cross seemed to take an age to reach Stanislaus, but he tucked it into the far corner to give the Mole the lead for the first time in the afternoon just as the clock was striking 90 minutes.

It nearly got even better as Sam Robinson’s drive just went past the post, but it mattered little as the Moles held out to claim the much needed £3,250 prize money and a place in the final qualifying round.