Molesey's chances of surviving the drop were severely dented on Saturday as they surrendered a two-goal lead to go down 3-2 to fellow strugglers Leatherhead.
With just twenty minutes remaining the Moles seemed on course for an unlikely double over their local rivals, and just as the home fans were contemplating their first home victory for nine months, and their first clean sheet for ten, a Carl Gibbs-inspired fight back saw the points go back to Fetcham Grove to leave the Moles ten points adrift of safety, and with a mountain to climb if they are to preserve their Ryman League status.
For 70 minutes the Moles had out-played and out-fought their more illustrious neighbours, with Steve Omonua a constant threat down the right, and 17 year old centre half pairing Doug Ford and Ben Beswick keeping the experienced Tanners front two of Dave Stevens and Andy Martin in their pockets.
Despite having the majority of possession in the first half, Tanners keeper Aaron France was rarely tested, although their back line were having difficulty dealing with the pace and tenacity of Kwayke, and the direct runs of former Maidenhead and Hampton & Richmond front man Adrian Allen, making his Molesey debut. Rob Wilkinson should have done better with a volley from the edge of the area that went sailing over the bar whilst several teasing crosses from Omonua just failed to find a Molesey head.
Andy Martin was lucky to escape with a ticking off from the ref following a late tackle on Beswick by the touchline as the Tanners inability to get a hold on the game began to tell, and the final action of the half saw Grant Keywood's cross come shot well blocked my Matt Jones.
The Moles deservedly took the lead six minutes after the re-start, when, attempting to cut out a through ball that was meant for Kwayke, Asher Hudson stuck out a leg and was unfortunate to see his interception go sailing over the head of France into the unguarded net for the Moles first goal at Walton Road in five weeks, and the advantage was doubled ten minutes later when a ball to the far post fell at the feet of Omonua, who got just enough of a connection on the ball to see it spin over the diving France and trickle into the far corner of the net.
A third should have followed almost immediately afterwards as Kwayke got the better of Holmes following a Leatherhead corner and found himself running at Hendry, with Edgehill and the unlikely figure of Ford in support. After running half the length of the pitch Kwayke played the ball into Ford, who took a touch, before playing an inch perfect ball back into an unmarked Kwayke 8 yards out. With the crowd waiting for the net to bulge, and the Moles fans no doubt already thinking that they'll soon be within four points of safety once more, the unthinkable happened, as the former Hornchurch man's diving header went sailing over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Moles would soon be made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal.
The frustration of the Leatherhead players threatened to boil over at one stage as Martin and substitute Adam Bernard almost squared up to each other following a misplaced pass, the latter sensibly choosing to walk away from the confrontation, and the hapless Martin was extremely fortunate to stay on the field moments later following a late, studs up challenge on Jon Ashwood. To the keepers credit he made very little of the challenge and the Leatherhead man escaped with a long over-due caution.
Former Moles boss Ian Hazel brought on Carl Gibbs for the final twenty minutes, and the ex Walton and Tooting man's impact was instant, his smart turn and cut back inside the penalty area falling kindly for Lynval Duncan to slot home from close range to reduce the deficit. All of a sudden the Moles began to panic, and they stopped doing the things they had been doing so well for the previous 70 minutes. Matt Fowler was brought on to replace the tired looking Adrian Allen up front, whilst Anthony Gale came on to bolster the midfield, but Leatherhead, and in particular Dave Stevens had the bit between their teeth, and there was a sense of inevitability about their equaliser.
Gibbs was fouled on the edge of the box to give the Tanners a free kick in a promising position. Stevens powerfully struck shot appeared to be heading the wrong side of the post until a wicked deflection left Ashwood wrong footed, and to the delight of the sizeable Leatherhead contingent behind the goal, the ball spun up and into the net.
How Stevens must love playing at Walton Road, this being his sixth goal in his last three games at the ground following his brace in the 2-2 between the sides last season and his hat-trick for Met Police last month
The Tanners delight was so nearly short lived, as Anthony Gale's powerfully struck 20 yard effort was kept out by France only for the ball to fall kindly for Fowler, who put the ball into the unguarded net from eight yards out. However, the ball had fallen a little too kindly for the front man, and he was correctly flagged offside.
With the home support cursing the dropping of two points, the unthinkable happened. With five minutes remaining Gibbs was given too much space in the penalty area and he fired past Ashwood from ten yards to give the Tanners the upper hand for the first time in the game.
Despite the constant encouragement of Phil Caughter the Moles could not find a way back, and although for 70 minutes they played some delightful football on a difficult surface, will be hugely disappointed to have not taken anything from a game they were in control of for so long.
With the three teams directly above the relegation zone winning, it leaves the Moles in a precarious position ahead of next Saturdays trip to Ashford Town. If they are to pull of the greatest of escapes, they will need to start collecting points ahead of the February visits of Division heavyweights Kingstonian and Dover.
1) Jon Ashwood
2) Ben Beswick
3) Phil Caughter
4) Steve Omonua
5) Andy Davidson
6) Doug Ford > Fox
7) Eric Kwayke
8) Rob Wilkinson > Gale
9) Adrian Allen > Fowler
10) Luke Edgehill
11) Grant Keywood
12) Matt Fowler < Allen
14) Jamie Findley
15) Adrian Fox > Ford
16) Anthony Gale <Wilkinson
17) Matt Jordan
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