Met Police earned a fine 1-0 home win over Maldon Town on Saturday.

The Police opened the scoring after just six minutes. Striker Frankie Sawyer was unlucky when his 20 yard drive was well charged down by Malden’s goal keeper Rhys Madden.

The ball bounced back out of the goal area and Craig Brown’s brave diving header saw the ball hit the back of the net.

Surprisingly it was to prove the only goal of the game despite numerous chances created and missed by both sides during the remainder of the game.

A Lee Gledhill cross was headed by Marcus Moody goal bound only for Madden to tip it over the bar.

James Greenaway also had a header well saved by Madden. Maldon had a good chance as Nathan Fletcher broke free and crossed to Joe Euber whose header was just wide.

Into the second half and almost straight from the re-start Police captain Steve Sutherland won the ball just inside the Maldon half, strode forward rounding 2 defenders and finishing with a 30 yard right footed shot which just shaved the wrong side of the bar.

James Abbott then seized on a mistake by a Police defender and with the whole goal to shoot at struck the ball well wide from 16 yards out. He really should have hit the target from that distance.

The Police continued to attack and cross the ball creating chances which were wasted. Late into the game Gary Drewett just on as substitute hit a 25 yard volley over the Maldon keeper only to see defender Sebastian Murfet running backwards brilliantly head the ball off the line. With the game into stoppage time a 22 yard free kick by James Abbott was inches wide of the Police near post.

Not to be outdone the Police then broke away with 3 forwards taking on two defenders, creating two shots on goal which were both blocked. A deserved win for the Police but they made hard work of it.

In the next round, the Metropolitan Police have a plum home tie against Kingstonian.