The visitors weren't jaded from their trip to Walton Road though as for the first ten minutes they dominated play and the home side struggled to get themselves in the game.

However, that all changed in the 11th minute when after a good move the ball came to Marlon Rodney on the edge of the box and his shot with the outside of the boot left the Chichester 'keeper with no chance but the away side were saved by the crossbar as the ball bounced away to safety.

Four minutes later the Moles got the breakthrough. A long ball forward was flicked on down the wing by Lewis Ackerman, Darius Heravi won the race for the ball. Heravi forced Matt Short to make a save but the rebound went straight to Mannie Quarshie who nodded it home.

Molesey didn't have long to dwell on the goal though as just six minutes later their lead was cancelled out.

A huge mix up amongst the defenders left a three on one situation and after taking Wester Young out of the game with a pass it was an easy side footed finish for Joe Briggs.

Molesey had a chance to regain the lead five minutes later when Mannie Quarshie got in behind but his effort was saved and then the rebound was put wide.

Molesey were made to pay on the half hour mark when after a James McShane free kick was saved the ball was just cleared up pitch, but Luke Elliott was easily beaten by Dean Reed who then raced away and finished it well.

In the last minute of the half Molesey had a chance to get themselves level when Mannie Quarshies powerful effort clipped the top of the bar as it went over.

The Moles must have received quite a team talk at half time as they came out for the second half like a house on fire.

Just five minutes into the second half a Marlon Rodney corner was headed over by Ross Chalke when it would have been easier to score.

A few minutes later Molesey did find the keys to the Chichester defence.

Ross Chalke found James McShane on the edge of the box. McShane took a couple of touches to steady himself then he fired home to haul the Moles level again.

The visitors were always causing a threat though and just after the hour mark Joe Briggs nearly broke the Molesey crossbar when he thundered a shot off of it from the edge of the box.

Then the Moles found themselves a goal down again on the 73rd minute.

A corner was whipped in, Chichester won the first header and the ball fell to Jack James who managed to turn the ball around Wester Young and put the away side 3-2 up.

That lead only lasted four minutes though as Molesey came right back and equalised.

James McShane and Lewis Ackerman linked up with a great one-two move which ended with McShane firing one low and hard and into the corner at the near post.

With eleven minutes to go Andy Graves was withdrawn as he had run himself into the ground and he was replaced by Doug Ford.

The away side had a great chance to steal it in the last minute when three Chichester players broke the offside trap! However, Joe Briggs' touch was very heavy and Wester Young came charging off of his line to bravely smother it.

That was enough to see the Moles into extra time.

After six minutes Marlon Rodney was replaced by Harry Wise.

But a minute later Chichester scored what would prove to be the deciding goal. Luke Elliott gave away a free kick in a bad position, but no one could have legislated for Louis Edwards stepping up and bending it into the corner from 30 yards.

The Moles legs had gone as they desperately tried to keep going even as their energy levels reached minimum.

The Moles threw on Joseph Grant up front to try and find a way back into the game, but it was all for nothing as the Moles crashed out at the first hurdle against opposition they would be expected to beat.

A final word for the referee, Mr. Sotimirin (?) ran the game brilliantly and contributed to a very exciting game. A step above the usual level of referees seen at Molesey.

Match details

Match date

Sat 22 Oct 2011

Kickoff

15:00

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