By Andrew Finch

Mike Burton's hat-trick in the final fifteen minutes secured a deserved three points for the visitors in a game that was stopped for ten minutes in the second half due to a freak storm.

There was also a stoppage in the first half because of a pitch invader, but after evading a couple of challenges the black Labrador was eventually coaxed off the pitch by Moles manager Steve "The Dog Whisperer" Webb.

The Moles had won comfortably at Cove earlier in the season, but those halcyon autumn days now seem like a long time ago for a Molesey side lacking imagination going forward and over-elaborate in defence. The two best chances for Cove in the opening period came after the Moles had twice given the ball away inside their own half, with Wester Young saving well from Charlie Gee and then diving bravely at the same player's feet after he had taken an over-heavy touch.

Molesey's best chance came when Kristian Webb glanced a Craig Lewington corner goalwards, and he was unlucky to see his effort cleared off the line.

The front two of Matt Baxter and Dale Marvell offered little all afternoon, with the exception of a superb piece of link up play that resulted in Marvell's dipping volley being tipped wide by Sam Freeman.

The Moles felt, with some justification, that they were on the receiving end of more than their fair share of rough decisions by the ref, and he awarded a free-kick against Ollie Robinson in the opposition box when it looked like the Moles defender had been hauled to the ground.

They were also frustrated by the Cove front two's tendency to go to ground a bit too easily, although Burton's exaggerated stumble in the box from Tom Windsor's challenge was waved away by the official.

Ross Chalke slalomed his way through three challenges but shot weakly at Freeman, but it was the visitors who looked hungrier and more likely to open the scoring.

Marvell put in an effort across goal in the second half and Chalke had another effort easily kept out, but it was the last fifteen minutes when all the drama occurred, with two Molesey efforts against the bar, three Cove goals, and an apocalyptic-like downpour.

Baxter looped a volley onto the bar from the edge of the box with Freeman beaten, and within two minutes Cove had taken the lead, when Burton's smart control, turn and volley nestling into the bottom corner.

The dark clouds that had been gathering all afternoon then dumped a veil of rain on the pitch, followed by thunder and lightning. The players initially sought refuge in the dugouts, and just as the ref was leading them back into the changing rooms the conditions eased up sufficiently for play to resume.

Webb looked to the bench to inject some energy to his lacklustre side - the Labrador wasn't an option, unfortunately - and opted for Jamie Linegar, who looked lively during his brief cameo but could stop the visitors' dominance.

Webb was pushed up front for the closing stages and his over-hit cross from the right came back off the angle, but that was sandwiched in between two efforts from Burton, who had the freedom of Walton Road on both occasions to complete the scoring and give the final result a slightly flattering look, although few could argue that the Moles deserved anything from the game.

The return from suspension of James McShane can't come soon enough to prevent what appears to be a futile effort to prevent the division's top four riding off into the sunset, and he'll be free to take his place in the moles' line-up for Tuesday's rearranged clash against Croydon.