Molesey deepened Walton & Hersham’s relegation worries with a hard fought 3-2 victory at Stompond Lane.
The win leaves the Moles clinging to the coattails of the playoff chasers, but they were made to work hard for the three points against a Walton side vastly improved from the 6-2 thrashing handed out in the reverse fixture back in October.

The Swans were much the better side in the opening half hour, and Gareth Chendlik’s breakaway goal midway through the half gave them a deserved lead.

James McShane’s equaliser from the penalty spot was the catalyst for the momentum to swing in the Moles’ favour, and when Staforde Palmer gave them the lead on the hour mark they didn’t look like relinquishing it.

However, substitute Andy Salako put the Swans back on level terms with seven minutes remaining, but parity lasted less than a minute, with Reis Stanislaus getting on the end of Palmer’s flick to grab the winner.

Walton fielded high profile new signings Richard Pacquette and Gary Holloway in their starting lineup, taking their total number of players used beyond the fifty mark, whilst the Moles were unchanged from the side that put in the Jekyll & Hyde performance against Worthing seven days previously.

As was the case against Worthing, Molesey were poor in the opening exchanges. Possession was surrendered cheaply in dangerous areas and Walton didn’t have to work particularly hard to create chances – the Moles were handing them to them on a plate.

Barely two minutes were on the clock when another of Walton’s new signings, Orlando Smith, played a ball in from the right that Liam Allen and Craig Lewington left to each other. Chendlik nipped in but couldn’t steer his shot in at the near post.
Chendlik was presented with an even better opportunity when Ollie Robinson slipped when in possession, giving him a clear run at goal, but his dinked effort over Allen just cleared the far post.

The Moles failed to heed the warnings, and when Smith climbed above the otherwise excellent Luke Elliott on the halfway line, the Swans were suddenly counter attacking three against one. Pacquette played in Chendlik, who made no mistake on this occasion, firing past Allen into the corner.

Another breakdown in communication between Allen and Joe Pratley-Jones nearly allowed Pacquette in, but the pair combined to sort the situation out and prevent a second

Molesey’s response was to go more direct, and Palmer’s 25 yard volley from Stanislaus’ knock down just cleared the bar.
The Moles drew level when another ball over the top released Palmer, who drew a good save from Liam Beach, and when trying to retrieve the loose ball Ross Chalke was sent sprawling by Cristiano Goncalves. McShane slotted home the penalty.
Having picked up just five points from their previous dozen games – a timespan that also takes into account a three point deduction – the goal was a massive blow to the Swans’ already fragile self-confidence. For the Moles, it was the wakeup call they needed.
All of a sudden, the tide had turned and it was the visitors doing all the running, with Stanislaus seeing a point blank effort saved by Beach.

McShane’s influence was on the increase after a quiet opening period, and his exquisite through ball played in Tom Windsor, whose volley whistled past the post.

Stanislaus drew another terrific save from Beach early in the second half, and Windsor just failed to get his head to Stanislaus’ cross.
A magnificent piece of skill from McShane that took out two defenders deserved to be rewarded with a goal, but he was denied by a combination of Beach and James Richmond.

A Molesey goal was coming, and Chalke once again had a hand, dummying McShane’s through ball for Palmer, who created half a yard on his left foot and fired beyond Beach at his near post.

Robinson had the freedom of Stompond Lane to plant a Lewington corner against the crossbar, and Stanislaus fired over as the Moles looked to put the game to bed.

But they were dealt a sucker punch when Salako’s shot from the edge of the box crept under Allen and squirmed into the net, in what was a very rare foray into Molesey territory.

However, virtually from the kick off Palmer helped Lewington’s through ball into the path of Stanislaus, who had the pace to go past CJ Williams and the strength to hold him off, and rolled the ball past Beach to put the Moles back into the lead, which this time they did not surrender.

The Moles are still some way off the swashbuckling form that took them as high as second place in the autumn, but are continuing to grind out points.

You sense that February will be a crucial month in terms of play off aspirations, with three of their six games against promotion chasers and two against relegation battlers.

They start that sequence with a home game against Whitstable Town next Saturday, who are beginning to look increasingly cut adrift at the foot of the table.