MIDWEEK MATCH PREVIEW – MET POLICE (AWAY) KICK-OFF 7.45 PM

After Dulwich’s FA Cup dreams wafted away on the Hendon wind, it's a return to Ryman League action on Tuesday night with a trip to the Met Police.

MIDWEEK MATCH PREVIEW – MET POLICE (AWAY) KICK-OFF 7.45 PM

After Dulwich’s FA Cup dreams wafted away on the Hendon wind, Hamlet return to Ryman League action on Tuesday night with a trip to the Metropolitan Police

As Dulwich Hamlet found themselves thwarted at every turn by the Dons, the Met Police were belying their lowly status as Isthmian League basement boys going down late at the hands of National League South side Eastbourne Borough. Indeed, until 60 seconds from end of 90 minutes, the Boys in Blue looked set to take their loftier opponents back to a replay at Imber Court. From as early as the ninth minute when Ollie Robertson had nodded home Charlie Collin’s free kick the Police had frustrated Borough. Early breakout, early goal then dogged defence in its wake. ‘Keeper Nathan Baxter earning his corn as he kept the opposition off the scoresheet with a string of fine saves. However, the thin blue line finally yielded in the 75th minute when former Dulwich striker Nat Pinney provided the finish after Miguel Baptista’s cross was headed across goal by Ian Simpemba. Met dreams were dashed at the death as substitute Gavin McCallum completed the smash-and-grab raid, playing the Get Out of Jail card for his side as he drilled home the heartbreaker for Jim Cooper’s valiants.

Bar a disastrous opening to the season that saw the Police conceded nine goals in their opening two games, the Ryman League Premier Division season has followed a similar pattern to that Eastbourne Borough reverse with single goal defeats at the hands of Havant & Waterlooville, Kingstonian and Hendon as well as draws with Harrow Borough and highflying Tonbridge Angels.

Day one of the season saw Staines Town come to Imber Court and with the Swans already four goals to the good after just 24 minutes, Jim Cooper and his men must have been wishing they could start preseason all over again. De'Reece Vanderhyde inflicted the first blow after just five minutes, Daniel Brown dropped number two on the Police three minutes later. 18 minutes and Max Worsfold made it 3-0 with Tyrell Miller-Rodney added a fourth 6 minutes afterwards. Though a Darnell Smith own goal cut the deficit to 1-4 in the second half further goals from Reece Tison-Lascaris and Jonathan Hippolyte in the last 8 minutes left the Police shell-shocked as the Swans triumphed 6-1. Taking in the bracing sea air of Worthing provided no tonic for the traumatised Boys in Blue. Two goals in three minutes from Reis Stanislaus and Harvey Sparks put the Mackerels in the driving seat before the break, Zack Newton finding the back of the net to make it 3-0 in the latter stages of the contest. The vastly experienced Richard Pacquette did get one back in the dying moments but by then the Police had been totally overrun.

A trip to Harrow Borough provided no goals for either side but at least it was a point in the bag and a clean sheet to boot. With Jason Prior in the Hawks ranks, the Police faithful must have feared for the worst given the porousness of their defence but, when Collins found the back of the net after just 2 minutes, they were the ones rejoicing. However, barely had those celebrations died down than the Hampshire visitors were on level terms with former Bognor Regis man Alfie Rutherford tucking one away. The Boys in Blue might have held on for a hard-earned point but three minutes from time Matt Patterson pounced on ‘keeper Luke Edgecombe’s parry to send the travellers home happy. Next up a visit from a Tonbridge Angels side boasting a 100% record, a match that produced a tale of two Nathans. Steve McKimm’s Angels side broke through with just two minutes on the clock as Nathan Elder nodded home a cross from Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and for a while had the Police under the cosh. However, they could find a telling second goal in a period of intense pressure following that goal allowing the Police to find a foothold back in the contest. Yet still it seemed as if the Angels would continue their winning ways, that was until the deepest depths of stoppage time. To their credit Met Police never gave up and in the 96th minute they at last pierced the Tonbridge defence with a left wing cross that was headed past Anthony Di Bernardo by Nathan Smart.

If fate can give with one hand she can also land a crippling blow in the solar plexus. Two days later the Police were up by a Collins goal and looking towards their first win of the campaign when along came an 89th minute leveller from Ryan Moss followed in quick succession by Pelayo Pico Gomez’s match winner. At least the Emirates FA Cup provided some relief with Collins bagging a double to sandwich Orlando Smith’s goal as CB Hounslow were sent packing. But back in League action seven days later it was the same old story with Niko Muir settling a 2-1 victory for Hendon at Imber Court after Rob Bartley had cancelled out an early penalty for the hosts. Revenge was served still warm in the Robert Dyas Cup back at Silver Jubilee Park three days later as the Police proved the deadliest marksmen in a penalty shootout winning 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes. Matt Lane put the Police ahead after 11 minutes, before Muir’s goal drew the sides level ten minutes before the break. Ollie Sprague smacked home a penalty to give Hendon the advantage in the 58th minute from the spot after he was fouled, but the Boys in Blue equalised with six minutes to go when Orlando Smith capitalised on an error by home ‘keeper Berkley Laurencin.

Tuesday night game takes place at the Metropolitan Police Sports Club at Imber Court, Ember Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BT. Travelling by train the nearest stations are Esher and Thames Ditton.