Molesey moved to within a point of the play-off positions with a hard fought victory at relegation-threatened Peacehaven & Telscombe.

It was another vital three points following Saturday’s victory by the same scoreline against another bottom six side in Chatham Town to keep them well in the mix in a heavily congested top half of the table.

The Moles welcomed Ollie Robinson back from suspension, although injury forced his half-time withdrawal. With Stafforde Palmer and Reis Stanislaus unavailable, Dre Grobler played in an unfamiliar forward position, whilst a debut was given to ex Walton Casuals striker Connor French, who replaced Robinson at half-time.

Remarkably, since the reverse fixture back in October Peacehaven had lost 20 of their 21 fixtures in all competitions until earning a draw with Tooting & Mitcham on the weekend, but they’ll fancy their chances of picking up more points as the season rumbles to a close following an energetic and gutsy performance where they might feel they should have got something from the game.

The Moles started brighter in a game played on a bobbly pitch in cold, windy conditions, but when Liam Allen’s attempted clearance held up in the wind and didn’t reach its intended target, Peacehaven broke, and the ball was teed up for ex Walton & Hersham striker Andrew Dalhouse to finish from the edge of the box.

Peacehaven were in the ascendency, but just when it looked like the game might be in danger of drifting away from the Moles, they drew level.

Joe Pratley-Jones did well down the right flank, and his deflected cross fell into the path of Charlie Samuels, whose drive was kept out by Ryan Burbridge but fell to Tom Windsor to slot home from a tight angle.

Windsor covered every blade of grass and was as creative as he was industrious. He had a hand in what turned out to be the winning goal, playing in Samuels who was fouled in the box by Derek Ubah. James McShane smashed home the resulting penalty.

Grobler’s physical presence gave the Moles the option to go more direct. Samuels got on the end of one of his flicks but poked his effort just wide.

The second half was scrappy, but demonstrated the Moles’ ability to win ugly. McShane was back to his sparkling best after a couple of indifferent displays by his exceptionally high standards, but missed two golden opportunities to put the game to bed as the half wore on.

Despite their best efforts Peacehaven didn’t threaten until stoppage time, when Dalhouse got on the end of a pullback but sliced his effort harmlessly wide from 10 yards.

There was a lucky escape with virtually the last kick of the ball when Ubah’s goalbound header was inexplicably headed off the Molesey goal-line by a team-mate.

It was a let off. And it would have been considerably more appropriate for the Peacehaven manager’s misguided and unfair abuse at the ref at the full-time whistle to be directed at the culprit.

The Moles now start a crucial period with five out of the next six games against teams who also have play-off aspirations. Take your pick of idioms for that sorting the men from the boys/wheat from the chaff/sheep from the goats, etc.