Sam Lamps Leatherhead

by David Morgan

Molesey 1-0 Leatherhead

The fixture chaos which is causing all of the Combined Counties clubs headaches continued this Thursday night as Molesey who were meant to be playing their third game in a week lined up against Ryman Division One play-off hopefulls, Leatherhead.

The problems with fixtures show no sign of abating though as the two previous games this week were forced to be called off by the adverse weather meaning that Molesey would be very fresh to take on their higher league rivals, in this Southern Combinations Cup Quater Final.

The pitch must have only narrowly passed inspection because it was extremely waterlogged especially in the two goal mouths.

The first half was a rather sterile affair with the game not being allowed to flow due to the very stop start nature of the referee. He can hardly be blamed for this though as the pitch was one that invited miss-timed challenges and reckless slides.

The only two chances both fell to Leatherhead but they were unable to test the Leatherhead 'keeper on either occasion.

Molesey, and indeed the whole game livened up in the second half, with both Defoe and Sinclair dragging shots wide. This was match by a freekick that was placed just over the bar at the other end by Leatherheads Rod Stevenson.

Molesey were finding their groove though and minutes after Ackerman skewed a shot wide, Sam Lampard put in an inviting cross which Akerman made good contact with but the volley flew just over the bar.

Just a couple of minutes later and pacy winger Sinclair showed his defensive capabilities by heading a Leatherhead corner off of his own goal line.

In the 80th minute Leatherhead had their best chance of the game when an excellently whipped cross was volleyed goalwards at close range, but Wester Young flung himself sideways and made a tremendous reactions save to keep the game level.

But it was just when fans were contemplating another half an hour in the cold for extra time when Sam Lampard decided it wa time for Moleseys goal of the season.

A hopeful ball forward found Sam Lampard who turned about 30 yards out and ran straight at and then past each of Leatherheads four defenders the from an accute angle just inside the box he struck a sweetly hit left footed shot that dipped just under the crossbar leaving Anthony Gurney in the Leatherhead goal absolutely no chance. 

The action wasn't over however and with Molesey pinned inside their own 18 yard box Dan Lucas put his body on the line to make a crunching block of a possibly goal bound Leatherhead shot.

Molesey had done enough though and will now face an away trip for their semi-final.

Weather permitting Moleseys next match is at home to Raynes Park Vale