With Lloyd Macklin and Lewis Putman back and selected to start the Met side looked as strong as any fielded this season. K’s fielded two Met old boys, Jerome Federico and Tom Collins.
For a quarter an hour there was nothing between the teams as each tested the other and adjusted to the greasy surface. K’s had the first opportunity of the game but Luke Williams had a simple catch from a close range header. Met had two good chances in the first half with Tolfrey in the home goal making first a diving save to a shot from Luke Robertson then a block save from a crisp shot from Ryan James. A good half from the Met, never seriously troubled as the teams went in at 0-0.
The second half began with a real scare for the Met as Federico broke free on the right but his squared back pass was missed by everyone and went to safety. The Met then dominated the game for the next half hour with some slick passing and movement. Sam Gallagher and Luke Robertson both went close and although Luke Williams made a point blank save from a close range header it was the Met who continued to be in the ascendancy. On 65 minutes Luke Robertson finally broke the deadlock with a well struck drive from the right which nestled in the far corner giving Tolfrey no chance for 1-0. Enter K’s talisman Ricky Sappleton to put pressure on the Met defence. But within 5 minutes the Met doubled their lead with a great solo strike from Lloyd Macklin from 25 yards which curled its way into the top corner again giving Tolfrey no chance. A minute later Lewis Putman almost sealed the game with a stunning drive which just cleared the cross bar. On 76 minutes Met made a double substitution with Jeremy Arthur and Charlie Collins replacing Jonny Wright and Luke Robertson. This was preceded by a double substitution by K’s which certainly livened them up and on 77 minutes produced a reward when after a hectic scramble in the Met penalty area the ball struck Ryan James and bounced limply into an unguarded net from a couple of yards. On 82 minutes Met made their final substitution with Rylan Myers replacing Lloyd Macklin. Despite some frenetic attacking by K’s the Met held on for a well deserved victory and overall their best performance of the season.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
8. | Staines Town | 46 | 75 |
9. | Wingate & Finchley | 46 | 69 |
10. | Metropolitan Police | 46 | 66 |
11. | Tonbridge Angels | 46 | 64 |
12. | Harrow Borough | 46 | 63 |
13. | Kingstonian | 46 | 59 |
14. | Dorking Wanderers | 46 | 58 |