By Andrew Finch

McGregor pounced on an uncharacteristic mistake from Luke Elliott in the 88th minute, whose back header fell short and when Mark Jarman and Moles keeper Wester Young competed for the loose ball it fell kindly for McGregor to tap into an empty net.

It was harsh on Elliott, who had been Molesey’s best player in a game in which they fully deserved a share of the spoils.

The decision to pick a clearly injured Young was possibly a mistake from the Moles management, particularly when there was a more than capable deputy in Dan Hatton on the bench.

Young was unable to take his goal kicks and kicked the ball out of his hands with his unfavoured left foot having got injured against Windsor in midweek.

He also appeared slow off his line for the winning goal, and was sluggish to get down to Jarman’s opener moments before half-time, which was cancelled out just after the re-start by Matt Baxter.

The Moles had won only one of their previous five home games against The Salts, and had failed to score in the other four, and came up against an Epsom side well rested having not played for 3 weeks.

Kyle Hough had the opening chance of the game when played through by Jarman, but Young did well to turn his shot away.

Baxter hit an overhead effort that was going harmlessly wide but was athletically and dramatically helped on it’s way by Salts’ keeper Kieran Campbell.

Molesey’s best route to goal appeared to be down their left through Elliott and James McShane, although the latter should have done better than crash a volley against the bar with just Campbell to beat.

Elliott then had an opportunity inside the six yard box after McShane’s corner had caused havoc in the visitors’ defence, but his effort cleared the bar and very nearly the giant oak tree behind the goal.

There was some confusion when Baxter hit a shot through the side netting that initially looked like it had crept inside the post and gone through a hole in the net.

Jarman’s pace and power at the apex of Epsom’s attack caused the Moles some problems, and he was instrumental in a move that saw Karl Douglin burst into the box and appear to be tripped before being able to get his shot away, but the ref waved away the penalty claims.

On the stroke of half-time Epsom broke three on two, and when Douglin fed Jarman he rifled an effort past Young.

The second half was barely thirty seconds old when Kristian Webb played a ball over the top, and Baxter out-muscled George Murphy and poked an effort past Campbell to draw the sides level.

Molesey edged possession during the remainder of the game, with McShane seeing a volley go just wide with Campbell beaten, although clear-cut chances were infrequent until the final ten minutes.

First Baxter was played clean through but shot wide of Campbell’s near post, and with time running out Ross Chalke clipped the top of the bar from the edge of the box.

It was to prove a crucial moment, as within a minute came McGregor’s winner.

Molesey pushed forward in the little time that remained, and Craig Lewington nearly salvaged a point at the death but his strike from the edge of the box rolled agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

The loss concluded a disappointing week for the Moles having been frustrated by the goalless draw with Windsor in midweek, but they’ll have to dust themselves down for the trip to fellow high fliers Camberley Town next Saturday.