Blues 1 Met Police 2

A goal six minutes from time condemned fifth placed Leiston to a third home defeat of the season in a match sponsored by Jim Girling & Godbold Properties Limited. The hosts will probably feel they did enough to win the game but Met Police ended the game strongly and sealed the win after missing an earlier penalty. Both sides struggled in the blustery conditions that at times made play extremely frustrating. The Blues began attacking the Fairground End with the strong wind in their favour and started well almost immediately on the attack. Joe Francis was very prominent in the early stages with the visitors defending in numbers to repel the home attack. Despite their promising start the Blues fell behind on 14 minutes totally against the run of play and with the visitors first attack of the game. Tom Bullard's sliced clearance fell to Charlie Collins whose pass released new signing Leon Smith, the ex Hendon striker raced clear to calmly finish inside the near post of Ashlee Jones. Undeterred by this set back the hosts continued to search with some neat interplay. Fifteen minutes after the opener Leiston deservedly drew level albeit somewhat fortuitously. Seb Dunbar's probing run down the left ended with a good cross that was palmed into his own net by Craig King. As expected due to the wind, Leiston held the upper hand and almost went into the break ahead. But Billy Clark's ambitious effort from wide on the right skimmed the bar and landed on the roof of the net.

HT - Blues 1 Met Police 1

The second half began with an early yellow card for the visitors Ryan James for a deliberate hand ball inside the six yard box. Now attacking the stiff breeze Leiston's attacks were a little more creative and just before the hour mark King in the Met Police goal atoned for his earlier error to deny Gareth Heath on 59 minutes after the Leiston midfielder raced onto Leon Ottley-Gooch's pass inside the box and drilled his effort low towards goal. Three minutes later another neat build up released Joe Francis who got just inside the box before lobbing the advancing King but watched his effort roll wide. Met Police chances were limited at this stage but they did create a well worked move on 73 minutes that ended with Charlie Collins prodding an effort wide. The game then looked to be turned on its head for the visitors on 79 minutes with the award of a hotly disputed penalty when a close range Leon Smith shot struck a home arm in a melee of players. Leiston were incensed but relieved moments later when Ashlee Jones made a fine save low to his left to keep out Charlie Collins spot kick. A minute later Ashley Jones excelled again to deny Ryan James from six yards, diving full length to his right to claw out the goal bound effort. With six minutes remaining Met Police pressure brought a goal. Tom Bullard's foul, that brought a yellow card, saw a free kick wide on the right flank that was launched into the box. Billy Crook headed the free kick across goal at the far post for Joe Turner to head home unchallenged. There was still time for the hosts to claim a deserved point but after a neat lay off from Jake Taylor, Christy Finch fired an effort niches wide of the far post as the Blues slipped out of the play off places.

FT - Blues 1 Met Police 2

Blues - Jones, Saker, Dunbar, Trotter (Taylor 90 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Clark (Brothers 90 mins), Heath, Ottley-Gooch, Finch, Francis. Subs not used - Winter and Rossis.

Met Police - King, Lovett, Treacher, Crook, Salmon, Bartley, Collins, Campbell, Smith (Hickey 86 mins), James (Barrett 81 mins), Turner. Subs not used - Taylor, Kozakis and Ahamed.

Match sponsors Jim Girling & Godbold Properties Man of the Match - Ashlee Jones

Attendance - 138