Rangers Caught in Steve’s Webb

By Andrew Finch

Molesey 3-0 St Francis Rangers

                                                                                                                   

Molesey eased into the third round of the FA Vase with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sussex County League side St Francis Rangers.

The performance was almost certainly the most impressive of boss Steve Webb’s 66 games in charge of the Moles, as the visitors had no answer to the pace, movement and workrate of the front three of Matt Baxter, Lewis Ackerman and Liam O’Leary, whilst at the other end Rangers attack got little change out of Joe Yeates and Rob Lewis, and on the rare occasions they found a way through found Matt Nash in imposing form.

Daniel Coombes replaced injury victim Dan Sacha whilst Baxter came in for Paul Cross in the only changes from the side which defeated Horley Town seven days earlier whilst there was a recall to the bench for young striker Owen Bent.

Rangers only clear goalscoring opportunity came as early as the second minute, and had Sam Jeremiah converted that chance it could well have changed the whole complexity of the game, however after finding himself one on one with Matt Nash his effort was brilliantly kept out by the Moles keeper before being hacked to safety by Yeates.

Coombes had an equally good chance seven minutes later having been put in the clear by Sam Lampard, but saw his effort clear the bar when well placed and with time to take a touch.

It was the Moles who were doing all the running and deservedly took the lead on the half hour mark as O’Leary sent Ackerman scampering away down the left, his deflected cross wrong footed Ranged keeper Simon Lehkyj and landed at the foot of Baxter 2 yards out for his tenth goal of the season.

Baxter almost double the home sides lead five minutes later but his sharp turn and shot from an Andy Graves throw cleared the bar, before Graves became the first of seven players booked for a late tackle on Iain Wood.

Liam O’Leary doubled Molesey’s lead in the 40 minute in what was one of the goals of the season.

Baxter had the ball by the corner flag with his back to goal and two defenders for company but somehow managed to squeeze a pass into Ackerman, whose clever back heel in turn found Lampard.  Lampard, possibly playing some of the best football of his career, certainly had the chance to shoot, but unselfishly chose to set up the better placed O’Leary, who slotted beyond Lehkyj from ten yards, in a move that was almost, almost, like watching Gascoigne, Sheringham and Shearer destroy Holland at Euro 96.

The Moles looked to slow things down in the second half and attempt to protect their lead, yet Nash was little more than a spectator, and it was the home side who continued to create the best chances, and O’Leary nearly added a third but saw his drive from thirty yards just clear the bar with Lehkyj not even in the same postcode.

Lampard was then sent clear by O’Leary but saw his shot well saved before Baxter’s second and Molesey’s third goal killed the game.

Graves did exceptionally well on the Molesey right as he cut infield before finding Ackerman.  With the Rangers defence backing off Ackerman drove on before crossing for Baxter unmarked at the far post who once again made no mistake from close range.

The third goal knocked the stuffing out of Rangers as the Moles threatened to run riot in the final ten minutes, as first of all Baxter shot wide having been set up by Ackerman, before a dangerous Baxter cross across the face of the goal somehow evaded both Ackerman and Lampard, then O’Leary was sent clear at the death by Lampard’s terrific pass but saw his effort well saved by Lehkyj.

A late flurry of bookings was the only stain in an otherwise hugely entertaining game as Steve Brown and Lewis joined Graves in the book, as well as the away sides Gacias, Wood, Maynard and Slade, but Webb will care little as his side joined Camberley Town and Frimley Green as the last remaining representatives of the Combined Counties League in the last 64 of the competition..

Webb will now look to address Molesey’s stuttering league form as they take on the divisions’ bottom two sides in the coming seven days.

Line up:  Matt Nash, Andy Graves, Matt Jordan, Rob Lewis, Joe Yeates, Steve Brown [c], Sam Lampard, Daniel Coombes, Matt Baxter, Lewis Ackerman, Liam O’Leary.  Subs (not used) Danny Roberts, Ross Defoe, Moses Spencer, Mark Sherwin, Owen Bent