Combined Counties League

Premier Division

Bookham 2 Molesey 1

An outstanding defensive display underpinned Bookham's narrow win over Molesey in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.

Bookham scored the winner in injury time after being totally dominated for the second 45 minutes with keeper Warren Aburn having to make three outstanding saves.

Added to this with the scores locked at 1-1 Molesey's centre forward Matt Baxter conspired to miss a free header inside the six yard box.

Both teams started brightly with Molesey having just the better of possession but Bookham always looked a threat as Mark Jarman in particular looked to continue his scoring run. Clear cut chances were at a premium with Aburn having to make a smart save from O'Leary and Chris Woodward just failing with a difficult headed chance.

However, as half-time approached Jarman's run into the box was halted by a trip and James Piercy confidently scored the resultant penalty.

Bookham started the second half on the back foot and never managed to put together any concerted possession with passing by the home side a missing art. A host of hopeful balls towards Jarman and Woodward rarely had the quality to allow Bookham to take the game forward.

Despite Molesey's obvious superiority they created few clear chances due to the tenacity of Bookham's defending with Aburn earning his place when all else failed.

Molesey's best chances were always dead ball kicks and they duly equalised on 55 minutes when Ackerman's in-swinging free-kick was converted by Joe Yeates.

As full time approached their ideas seemed to have run out and in the 89th minute Woodward had a headed chance that found its way into the visiting keeper Nash's grateful arms. This was Bookham's first goal attempt of the half.

Molesey were made to pay for their wastefulness two minutes later when Billy Ramsey was played in and beat Nash with a confident finish.

Bookham have now only lost one of their last nine games and have done well in a run of matches against those teams below them in the league.

However, points may become more difficult from now on as their run in contains matches against all of the current top six and only four games against teams below them.

This Saturday Bookham travel to Colliers Wood Utd, before their league cup quarter final tie against Chertsey at Meadowbank on Tuesday night.

Bookham: Aburn, Currie, Van Gelder, Padgett, Dicks, Piercy (McGregor), Carnota, Moffatt, Woodward, Jarman, Ramsey.