Tuesday Night’s Match Preview – Met Police (Away) KO 7.45 pm

With the FA dream on the backburner for another year, Dulwich Hamlet return to league action with a trip to Imber Court.

It has been a tough season so far for the men of the Met with the boys in blue currently struggling at the wrong end of the table. The Met have suffered a frustrating start to the campaign that has seen goals hard to come by at the right end and too many shipped at the other as manager Jim Cooper has rejigged his side.

It all seemed to be going so well when the season opened with a goalless stalemate against one of the promotion favourites, Staines Town before goals from Charlie Collins and Matt Pattison helped the Police to a full haul of the points away to Lewes. Ironically, on the scoresheet for the Rooks that day was former Blues’ skipper Steve Sutherland who had departed Imber Court for the Dripping Pan via C Champion Hill. However, he would later find himself back in the ranks of the Police.

That steady start to the season came to shuddering halt away to Kingstonian as seven goals were shipped on a disastrous Saturday afternoon, Dan Bennett bagging a hat trick for the K’s. The Alan Turvey Trophy gave a modicum of relief though it took a penalty shootout for the Blues to edge their way past a determined Haringey Borough side, the North Londoners having held their Premier Division superiors to a 2-2 draw in normal time.

Though Collins bagged a brace at home to Merstham, it was not enough to stop the Premier Division new boys leaving Imber Court with their swag bag full of three points and though the Police held their nerves to beat Bognor Regis 1-0 in their next outing consistency proved hard to come by. Josh Casey’s goal on the brink of halftime was enough to settle matters in favour of the Beavers of Hampton before Wingate and Finchley’s smash and grab raid saw Blues beaten at home.

The experience of Jon Nurse proved key as the Met bounced back with a single goal win away to Farnborough but though Nurse popped up with another goal in the return fixture with Bognor it was not enough to provide much needed pain relief, the Rocks taking the points with a 2-1 win.

Attention turned to the FA Cup and, hosting Isthmian South side Sittingbourne, the Police must have fancied their chances of making it through. However, a goalless stalemate at Imber Court sent the tie back to Woodstock Park and more pain for the Police. The key action happened late on with the Police awarded an 84th minute spot kick only for the Brickies’ Adam Molloy to keep out Collins’s kick. Two minutes later the decisive goal was conceded at the other end and the Blues were out.

When the Police returned to league action the following Saturday, they looked to be heading for a narrow victory at home to fellow strugglers VCD Athletic thanks once more to Collins but in the 89th minute former Hamlet man Lewis Tozer popped up with an equaliser to break blue hearts.

Ahead of last Tuesday’s trip to Billericay Town there came a number of key changes in the Police ranks. Cooper moved to sign Tamille Roache on loan from Sky Bet League Two side Barnet, Neil Barrett from Leatherhead and Nathan Campbell from Tonbridge Angels whilst Tom Collins and Ronayne Marsh-Browne were released and the loan deal young Luton Town goalkeeper Craig King was not renewed. The changes in personnel definitely had an impact though not in the manner hoped. Late withdrawals due to illness hit the squad but the manner of the Police’s demolition at the hands of the Essex boys was brutal. Six goals shipped and a long, miserable journey back south of the river to follow as the Met reflected on a second rout that left then in 19th spot, two places shy of the relegation zone.

This game takes place at Imber Court, Ember Lane, East Molesey KT8 0BT and kick-off time is 7.45pm. Click here for directions.

Admission Prices:
Adults: £10
Concessions: £5 (OAPs / Students with valid ID)