A new-look Merton side fielding three newcomers narrowly defeated Molesey in Raynes Park with a somewhat patchy performance. Molesey finished mid-table in the Guildford & Shere league last season, and will play in the division below Merton next season. Merton kicking uphill took an early lead after 6 minutes when Louis Barron-Pell placed a incisive through ball into the path of Jack Malin who held off a strong challenge before beating the advancing keeper with a shot that curled inside the far post. After that Molesey dominated the midfield and put a lot of pressure on a Merton defence that seemed very disorganised. It was left to the experienced Adam Marie and Lewis West to sort out several anxious moments. However, the visitors equalised after 11 minutes when the ball was driven home from close range after a mix-up at the back. Two minutes later Molesey took the lead with another soft goal when the home defence failed to clear the ball. Just before half time Jack Malin lobbed a clever pass into the path of substitute Craig Stanley, who accelerated away but shot inches wide as the keeper narrowed the angle.

The second half began with a brief period of Molesey pressure before Merton regrouped and gained midfield supremacy with Eddie Lyne making an impressive contribution. Jack Malin missed a couple of reasonable chances before the hosts finally equalised on 40 minutes when Craig Stanley accelerated past a defender and then beat the keeper with a well-placed effort that crept inside the far post. Merton continued to press and repeatedly penetrated the Molesey defence but chances were missed by Jack Malin, Craig Stanley and Daniel Johnson. Molesey rallied somewhat but Adam Marie and Jonathan Kehoe managed to rescue the situation and deny the visitors a sight of goal. Four minutes from time Craig Stanley got the winner with another sublime finish that gave the keeper no chance. Moments later Jack Malin powered through the last defender but shot straight at the keeper having done all the hard work. In the dying minutes Molesey poured forward looking for an equaliser but could find no way through and never looked like scoring.

Team: Stuart Reddington; Billy Kelly, Adam Marie, Lewis West, Spud Bradley; Raphael Grant, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, Harrison; Jack Malin, Louis Barron-Pell. Sub: Craig Stanley, Eddie Lyne, Jonathan Kehoe.