Metropolitan Police 2 Merstham 1

Following a poor defeat at Sittingbourne last Saturday, the Blues got quickly back into their winning ways to earn three points and put them back in the top half of the table.

Manager Jim Cooper could not have asked for more commitment as his side had a dream start, thanks to his two strikers.

On just five minutes, Craig Carley found the back of the Merstham net with an opportunist right-footed drive.

Five minutes later and it was the turn of Phil Ruggles, who picked up a great long pass and blasted the ball with a brilliant volley well outside the area into the roof of the net to put the Blues two up.

More goals should have followed. Twice, midfielder Michael Cobden ventured up field and tested Merstham goalkeeper Ian Chatfield with shots on target just outside the area. Merstham to their credit may have been down but they were far from out of the game as they fought back.

The writing was on the wall, when Reggie Savage put the ball in the Blues net via the underside of the cross bar only for it to be ruled offside.

Wes Goggin then broke free of the Blues defence but somehow completely missed the target from only 18 yards out. Into the closing minutes of the first half and the game could have been dead and buried but the Blues failed to score.

A good cross by Ruggles into the goal area was met by the full force of Rob Smith at point blank range; somehow the ball was blocked on the line.

The ball rebounded to Carley, who also fired back towards the goal only to see his shot blocked on the line.

Into the second half and the excitement continued. Ruggles evaded the offside trap, picked up a long ball and his on target shot was only just tipped over the cross bar by Ian Chatfield. Not to be outdone, minutes later it was the turn of Blues goal keeper Mo Maan, who amazingly got down to a great Goggin header and got a hand to it and deflected it around the post for a corner.

It was a warning sign for the Blues that the game was far from over.

On 75 minutes, Merstham's Roy Ferguson finally found the back of the net from a corner for a deserved goal.

The final 15 minutes were hectic, with Ruggles coming closest to score with a shot just wide from only 10 yards out.

Three valuable points nevertheless for the Blues.

Blues: Maan, Gledhill, Cobden, Sutherland, Humphrey, Honey, Brown, Smith, Ruggles, Carley, Drewett

Subs used: Edwards, Simpson, Francis

Attendance 62