Report
On the face of it, the Lilywhites were up against a hard one: Molesey could have got to third spot if they’d have won today. Boasting ex Chelsea stalwart Clive Walker and three ex Woking players Molesey would seem to have had the whip hand. The Lilywhites had other thoughts though. Tommy Lee was able to field what he’d probably see as his first choice: only Ian Barnes (suspended) was missing and the team were ready to build on solid league displays of recent weeks. This Leyton Pennant team is no longer the easy push over we saw at the start of the season. The defence has grit and determination built on the solidity of Terry Scotchmer and Neil Morgan who commanded the air and did not give one inch of ground to the home team.
As early as the second minute, the Lilywhites set out their stall: flowing intelligent passing coming forward and a non compromising defence. Jim Peters won a free kick on the right of the Molesey penalty area. Neil Tilley’s free kick had the Molesey defence in a right mess and the ball came to Lilywhites’ captain, Simon Tickner. His shot was bravely saved by Batty in the home goal who had to dive backwards to stop the ball on the line. The Lilywhites dominated the wing play with Peters ( who really is showing to be an excellent player) on the right and Spencer Fletcher ruling on the left.
Molesey’s first real attempt at goal came after 25 minutes when they won their first corner. The ball was flighted in dangerously to the six yard box but Neil Morgan cleared the danger and his long ball out turned defence into attack. Jamie Reilly picked up the ball on the half way line, sent two defenders the wrong way and shot from thirty yards. Unhappily the ball just skimmed by the Marlow upright. Ten minutes later, Dave Curtis pulled off the save of the match when Molesey’s tricky forward, Ben Papa headed goalward from eight yards. His glancing blow would have eluded most ‘keepers but Curtis somehow threw himself high to his left and pushed the ball onto the bar and over.
By the end of the first half, the Lilywhites had given Molesey one or two lessons in how to play football. The second half was a bit harder as Molesey were now playing with thje advantage of the swirling wind and a “home” linesman who seemed to have a cactus stuffed under his armpit every time the Lilywhites attacked.
After only two minutes of the restart, Ben Papa found himself in exactly the same positioning front of Curtis’ goal. This time it was a low hard shot that Curtis had to save. And he did! Going low to his left Curtis stopped a certain goal and made it seem so easy. For the next fifteen minutes the Lilywhites had to suffer a string of strange off side decisions which left the travelling fans flabbergasted and the home supporter (there was only one)laughing all the way to the Referees’ Summer Ball.
For the next twenty minutes the Lilywhites controlled the game and rarely looked troubled. They were no longer defending on the six yard line (as in days of old) but were easily breaking down the opposition game ten yards outside the penalty box. Much of this breaking down play was done by Simon Tickner (who had another fine battling performance) and Neil Tilley who was tireless in his efforts. The Lilywhites sensed a win and, in the last ten minutes really piled on the pressure. On 83 minutes Jamie Dormer somehow stole the ball in midfield, ran to the Molesey penalty area and unleashed a rasping shot which Batty somehow managed to keep out of the net. Molesey’s Dean then brought another fine save from Curtis and the whistle blew for full time.
If we’d have come away with three points we’d have deserved it for the excellent football we played. So many excellent performances on the day from Scotchmer, Curtis, Morgan Tickner… the whole team. But Jim Peters deserves a special mention for the way he has come into the team, learned and got stronger every match. Today he had the right side of the field as his own territory, troublesome going forward and strong in defence.