By Andrew Finch

Tom Dilloway scored his first goal for the club when his attempted cross flew into the top corner, and a disputed penalty from Joe Pratley-Jones ten minutes later doubled the Moles' advantage.

David Smith hit a fine consolation with ten minutes to go but the Moles held on to all but end any lingering title hopes the visitors might have had.

There was an element of fortune to the victory given the circumstances of the two goals, and the visitors can have some justification in feeling aggrieved at not leaving Walton Road with a share of the spoils; they will also point to several refereeing decisions they felt went against them, not least the decision to award a penalty for Jerry O'Sullivan's tug on Kristian Webb.

Jordan McCartney pulled up injured in the warm-up and was replaced by Moses Spencer in the starting lineup but the Moles were otherwise at full-strength, if not a little jaded following a recent run of six games in thirteen days.

The first half was played at an enjoyable tempo with the Moles' shading possession and getting into several promising positions, but was completely devoid of goalmouth action other than a three minute spell in which South Park hit the foot of the post and forced Wester Young into two decent saves in quick succession.

Molesey's only efforts on goal saw Arnold Tawonezvi toe poke wide after being set up by Lewis Ackerman, and Joe Pratley Jones shoot over from distance.

Molesey started the second half brightly and ten minutes in Tom Windsor's driving run picked out Dilloway on the left. His miss-hit cross flew over ex mole James Wastell and into the top corner to give the Moles the lead.

The home side threatened a second, with Tawonezvi and Nick White both seeing efforts from the edge of the box well saved by by Wastell, whilst the goal provided extra impetus for the visitors, with Chris Smith firing wide and Jack Stafford stinging the palms of Young.

When Molesey were awarded a corner midway through the half they took the unorthodox approach of filling the near post with bodies. The ref had already had to halt the taking of the corner in order to speak to Webb and Nathan Miles about pushing, and when White eventually swung the corner in O'Sullivan - about a foot smaller than everyone else in the six yard box - was adjudged to have held Webb to give the Moles a spot kick.

Without having the best view the decision looked harsh, although O'Sullivan's defence that "everyone was doing it" hardly counts as mitigating circumstances.

O'Sullivan was shown a yellow card, and was extremely fortunate not to receive another one before the evening was out by continually contesting the decision and questioning the ref's impartiality in no uncertain terms.

Pratley-Jones eventually placed the spot kick beyond Wastell when peace was fleetingly restored.

South Park upped the pressure and the Moles were guilty of inflicting several dangerous situations on themselves by giving the ball away in threatening areas. Young tipped over Chris Smith's free kick, before David Smith found Young's bottom corner from 22 yards to halve the deficit.

As time ticked on the moment for Chris Ward to get his wish of "getting away from this s***hole" grew ever closer, but not before he shot high and wide from the angle of the box with team-mates queuing up at the far post to receive a cross, and fellow full-back in crime O'Sullivan wriggled clear of Dilloway and Webb and shot dangerously across goal but evaded everyone and the ball trickled harmlessly out for a throw.

The Moles held on to move above Guernsey into seventh place, albeit having played ten games more than the islanders!