By Andrew Finch

The Moles had not won since 1 December and had not kept a clean sheet since a fortnight before that so would have accepted a victory regardless of the circumstances, but fully deserved three points against a youthful Windsor side played on an excellent surface.

The game’s only goal came on 16 minutes when Tawonezvi chased a deep Tom Windsor cross to the touchline and utilised his sizeable frame to protect the ball and wriggle past two defenders before cutting inside and firing an unstoppable left footed shot past Rob Bullivant into the far corner.

In the first half in particular Tawonezvi was at his bulldozing best; he was a beast of a centre forward that scared the Windsor back four to death.

The Moles came into the game against a Windsor side deprived of a number of regulars, including top scorers Ben Harris and Rob Lazarczuk, as well as influential centre half pairing Dan Hicks and ex Mole Chris Ellis, both of whom impressed when Windsor won at Walton Road back in December.

However, the Moles themselves were without Kristian Webb, Joe Pratley-Jones, Ross Chalke and Moses Spencer, and in the midst of a hectic schedule of six games in thirteen games. They were, however, boosted by the return to the starting line-up of Lewis Ackerman and Andy Graves.

The home side were neat and tidy on the ball and assiduous in possession but rarely penetrated the impressive Moles defence of Graves, McCartney, Knight and Dilloway. When they did find a way through they came up against Wester Young in fine form.

Neverthless, the complexion of the game might have changed had Geroge Gould not headed wide with the goal at his mercy in the opening ten minutes.

Molesey had started the brighter, stroked the ball around confidently and forced a number of corners in the opening stages, most of which were gobbled up by the imposing Bullivant.

Manny Quarshie had a stinging effort that deflected wide, whilst Michael Butcher got his head to Knight’s cross just before Ackerman, who was preparing for a free header six yards from goal.

Tawonezvi then produced his moment of magic to score Molesey’s 399th Combined Counties League goal, and tried his luck again shortly afterwards but was hacked down by substitute Alex Bruce on the edge of the box.

Tom Dilloway fired across goal and Tom Windsor clipped the top of the bar as the Moles looked for a second, whilst at the other end Young saved bravely at the feet of Gould before making a routine save to keep out Jake Lovell’s shot from 20 yards.

Nick White’s corner nearly caught Bullivant out at his near post but kissed the top of the bar on its way out of play.

The second half saw less goalmouth action, with Lovell skewing wide when well placed early on, whilst Young tipped a free kick from the same player over the bar in the closing stages.

Tawonezvi was more subdued in the second period but had the best opportunity of the half when sent clear by Ackerman. His shot was parried by Bullivant but still trickled towards goal, however, Tom Kemp got his foot to the ball a split second before Quarshie and cleared the danger.

The tireless runs of Dilloway down the left flank helped alleviate the late pressure from the home side as the Moles hung on to claim a morale-boasting victory ahead of midweek games against Sandhurst Town and Sutton United.