On an afternoon of very few positives the Moles can at least take heart from the fact that they still find themselves a healthy ten points clear of the bottom three.

However, they’ll need to find a way of grinding out more points from their remaining dozen games, with this latest defeat meaning it’s just four points collected from their past ten matches.

The task won’t be made any easier with an impending three game ban for Dre Grobler. Grobler is the only Molesey player to find the net in the past five games but was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident midway through the second half.

Lewes were looking to get their playoff challenge back on track following costly home defeats to the top two of Tooting & Mitcham and Dorking Wanderers over the past seven days, and in the end they were good value for their four goal win.

It could have been different had Grobler not been denied by a combination of goalkeeper and defender on the line when he met Craig Lewington’s corner in the opening minute, but the Rooks took control soon after.

The impressive Lloyd Harrington was twice denied from distance by Liam Allen, but ex Met Police striker Jonte Smith slotted home midway through the half after a corner had only been partially cleared.

Sam Charles was one of the few Molesey players to emerge from the game with any credit, and he nearly grabbed an instant equaliser when he intercepted keeper Chris Winterton’s throw out, danced around several challenges but was denied by a fine Winterton save.

It turned out to be Molesey’s final effort of note.

Harrington was again denied by Allen, and Smith thought he had grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time but was denied by a linesman’s flag.

There were very few chances for either side during the first twenty minutes of the second half, but the turning point came when Smith got on the end of a fine team move and was taken out by Allen to earn his side a penalty.

Mike Dixon’s weak effort was parried by Allen, but Smith made no mistake from the rebound, blasting home from close range.

Any slight chance that remained of the Moles taking anything from the game all but vanished two minutes later when the ref spotted an incident at a Lewes corner that was deemed worthy of a red card for Grobler.

The Rooks had plenty of chances to extend their lead from then on, but tidy finishes from substitutes Callum Kealy and Wifried Grimaud late on sealed their win.