For the second week in a row the Moles put in a tepid first half performance and were fortunate to only trail to Ricardo Cannon’s goal midway through the first half. A change in formation and personnel around the hour mark was key to a change in fortune, and Kristian Webb headed his first goal for the club with quarter of an hour remaining.

Three changes were made to the side that lost to AFC Uckfield seven days previously, and there was a change in shape with three central midfielders and three centre forwards naturally leading to a lack of width, and the Moles were careless in possession and lacked any cohesion going forward.

The only two chances of note for the visitors in the opening period both came in the opening few minutes courtesy of an ambitious volley then far post header from Joseph Grant, neither of which came close to troubling Liam Stone in the home goal.

The Krooners were dominant, but despite the Moles not carrying an attacking threat they could not be accused of a lack of effort and stood up well to Camberley’s direct approach, with Webb and Luke Elliott in particular winning their fair share of headers, however, it came as no surprise when the home side took the lead on 23 minutes.

Grant gave the ball away far too cheaply deep inside Camberley territory, and when the ball was cleared to Cannon he held off Webb and skipped past Joe Pratley-Jones’ challenge before firing towards goal. The ball bounced awkwardly in front of Wester Young but he will be disappointed to have got two hands on the ball and not keep it out.

The remainder of the half was played inside Molesey territory, with Young’s poor distribution and the front three’s inability to hold on to the ball the main catalysts for the pressure the Moles found themselves under.

Young spilled another Cannon strike but managed to gobble up the rebound, Junior Owusu-Akonor shot wide and Ashley James shot high and wide as the hosts looked to double their lead.

The Moles improved after the re-start but only had a weak free-kick from Pratley-Jones and a wild one from Grant to show for their efforts, but the introduction of Ross Chalke and Aaron Agyeman – both surprisingly left on the bench, seemed to give them more balance and urgency.

The equaliser arrived when Pratley-Jones’ deep free kick was headed in from close range by Webb. Ugly scenes followed when Webb’s momentum took him into his namesake and Camberley skipper Dale – both no relation to Molesey manager Steve, as far as I know – and what looked like a bit of handbags followed, although those better placed seemed to think punches were thrown by both Webbs along with Stone, and all three picked up a booking for their troubles.

The Krooners continued to toss long balls into the Molesey box but Young remained well protected, whilst there was almost an undeserved Molesey winner at the death when Grant beat Stone to a through ball but with the angle against him his clip across goal went the wrong side of the post and just evaded the onrushing Chalke.

Another minor scuffle broke out before the end that seemed to be instigated by Grant and prolonged by Dale Webb, and it was to the ref’s credit that all 22 players remained on the pitch when the final whistle blew.

The draw ends a run of five straight victories for the Moles over the Krooners in all competitions, however, with five league games played this season, all away from home, and thirteen points on the board the Moles can feel pleased that they’re in the mix at the top despite still having another couple of gears to find. They continue their nomadic start to the season with a trip to Chessington & Hook in ten days’ time.

By Andrew Finch