RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER
Metropolitan Police 2 Wealdstone 1
Gordon Bartlett’s side began the day knowing if they won and other results went their way they could clinch the crown with six games to spare.
They took an early lead courtesy of Sean Cronin’s penalty , but looked jaded almost throughout and after conceding an equaliser to man of the match Steve Sutherland 10 minutes before the break their 17-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end courtesy of Ty Smith’s 78th minute winner.
It was not all bad news for Stones as the mornings’ nearest challengers AFC Hornchurch also lost, while Bognor could only draw at Margate.
It all means Wealdstone officially need four points to be champions, but in reality if they can beat old rivals Lowestoft for the first time ever at The Vale on Tuesday night only defeats in the last five games and a monumental goal difference swing could see Bognor rob them of glory.
Bartlett made five changes from Thursday’s 3-0 win at East Thurrock as the effects of a fourth fixture in eight days took their toll on the squad.
Tom Pett sat out altogether troubled by a calf strain, while Luke Pigden was rested to the bench where he was joined in the dugout by Wes Parker, and Scott McCubbin – Jey Siva was away on business.
It meant recalls for Tom Hamblin, James Hammond and Jerome Okimo in the back line, while Stefan Bailey returned to central midfield duties and Johnny Wright was cast as central front-man with Charlie Penny and Carl McCluskey in support.
Stones started well enough and were gifted the chance of an early lead on 11 minutes when Elliott Godfrey was pushed in the back causing referee Dan Robothan to point to the spot.
There was a slight delay while Ricardo Joseph was treated for an injury, but nothing was going to put off Sean Cronin who thumped home the penalty beyond Stuart Searle’s right hand.
The goal did not settle the visitors and they found themselves penned in for a spell by the probing hosts who just lacked a final ball.
Bailey understandably did not look match sharp after his layoff, leaving Watford loanee Luke O’Nien and Elliott Godfrey overworked in the midfield engine room.
The former was booked for deliberately blocking the taking of a free-kick as the visitors’ lacklustre display continued and it was no surprise when the hosts drew level on 35 minutes.
The visitors sent a corner into the hands of Searle and when he launched a counter-attack Hammond was harshly penalised for a foul on the right.
However, that was no excuse for the slack marking at the set piece which allowed Sutherland to rise and power home a header at the back post.
The rest of the half was increasingly untidy in a strengthening wind and the two sides headed for the dressing-room all square
The second half was delayed by an injury to referee Robothan with requests made over the tannoy for a qualified match official to replace him.
When play did resume Bailey, not surprisingly gave way to Scott McCubbin as Bartlett sought to keep more of the ball in midfield.
The reshuffle saw Charlie Penny in a more central role than the first half and he soon wriggled beyond the last defender, but shot wide from an acute angle.
Hamblin’s return to action came to an end on 51 minutes, when apparently still struggling with his recent neck problem he came off to be replaced by club skipper Parker.
The Met remained a threat and North had to tip over Bradley Hudson-Odoi’s header with 53 minutes played, though Stones almost retook the lead three minutes later when Hammond’s miss-hit cross cannoned off Sutherland and went behind.
The resulting corner was only half cleared to O’Nien, whose sweetly struck low shot forced a diving stop from Searle.
However, Stones were soon labouring again and Glen Little was thrown into the fray in place of Carl McCluskey with 25 minutes to play.
O’Nien went close with a chip at one end, while North had to tip over Tom Bird’s long-range drive at the other end as both sides tried to seize the initiative.
Parker stabbed over from a corner on 77 minutes, but it was the hosts who stole in front with 12 minutes left.
Hammond missed his man out on the left and when the ball reached Ty Smith via Jordan Hibbert he hit a low shot which beat North down to his right. It was a shot ‘Mr Safe hands’ will reflect he should have done better with.
Facing a first defeat since January 11, Stones rallied with Hammond’s pull back from the by-line allowing Penny to volley a shot deflected behind for a corner by the colossus that was Sutherland.
North kept his side in it with the sort of save from Charlie Collins he should have made those few vital minutes earlier, but time ran out for Stones who must now refocus for tomorrow’s visit of the Trawler Boys.
