Molesey 1 Leatherhead 0

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

The problems with fixtures show no sign of abating, though, as their two previous scheduled games were focred off through adverse weather, leaving the Moles very fresh to take on the Tanners - who are dealing with their own busy programme - in this Southern Combinations Cup quarter-final.

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

The first half was a rather sterile affair, with the game not being allowed to flow due to the very stopstart nature of the referee.

He can hardly be blamed for this, though, as the pitch was one that invited mistimed 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 Defoe and Sinclair dragging shots wide.

This was match by a freekick that was placed just over the bar at the other end by Leatherhead's Rod Stevenson.

Molesey were finding their groove, though, and, minutes after Ackerman skewed a shot wide, Sam Lampard put in an inviting cross that 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 Lampard decided it was time for Molesey's goal of the season.

A hopeful ball forward found him 30 yards out and he ran straight at and past each of Leatherhead's four defenders.

The, from an acute angle just inside the box, he struck a sweet left-footed shot that dipped just under the crossbar, leaving Anthony Gurney in the Leatherhead goal with no chance.

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

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