Graham Mackay turned up the title heat on his old club last night after being given a reprieve by Horsham's bosses.

The stand-in wide man was struggling to make an impact when manager John Maggs told him to try his luck down the middle against lowly Molesey.

He responded with the 62nd minute drive which sent the leaders on their way to a precious 3-1 triumph and eased a lot of nerves at Queen Street.

Mackay, who netted twice for Lewes this season before swapping East Sussex for West, helped Hornets go seven points clear at the top of Ryman League division two, though second placed Rooks have two games in hand.

Maggs revealed "It wasn't working for us and I thought about taking Graham off but my assistant Ali Rennie suggested we switch things round and I'm glad we did.

"It took us an hour to wake up but everyone wants to have a go at us now we are top and the games will keep getting harder."

Horsham's nervy hour came despite a second minute goal, calmly guided home by the impressive Dave Flemming following a Marcel Dennis flick.

Phil Ruddles brought the visitors level just seven minutes later and Dante Alighieri then bounced a shot off the outside of the post before Horsham got back on the attack.

Dennis had an effort well blocked by keeper Gary Robinson and Eddie French should have done better than head wide from a corner in a frustrating first half.

Molesey generally kept men behind the ball but, when they were for once caught under-manned at the back, the busy Lee Carney slid the ball forward and Flemming teed-up Mackay's rasping finish.

Flemming completed a productive night by hooking the ball across goal for Gary Charman to head the third 20 minutes from time and only then could Horsham relax.

Horsham travel to Tilbury on Saturday before entertaining Lewes on Monday.

Horsham: Chatfield, Bird (sub O'Donnell 84mins) , Hardy, French, Kirby, Carney (sub Barnes 74mins), Gedling, Dennis, Mackay, Flemming, Charman. Unused sub. Macklin.

Attendance: 236.

Man-of-the-match: Flemming (Horsham).