Met Police dented Croydon Athletic's promotion hopes with a 2-0 win at the KT Stadium on Saturday.

Tim O'Shea's side will feel hard-done by though having twice seen efforts cleared off the line and twice hitting by the post.

Athletic started quite brightly with early attempts falling to Taurean McDonald-Roberts, who saw his header hit the post with the keeper stranded and Andy Little pulled off a good save at the other end of the field from the lively Craig Brown for the Police.

In the 17th minute. it was the away side that got the breakthrough as a great shot from Phil Ruggles that found the back of the net from 25 yards.

Croydon tried to push forward with new loan signing from Gillingham Jacob Erskine returning to the club where he came through the youth ranks and he laid the ball on nicely to McDonald-Roberts to shoot just wide in the 22nd minute.

However, the away side were resilient in their defence whilst having chances of their own, with goalkeeper Andy Little having to be on top form to keep out Craig Brown’s strike for the Police.

Danny Waldren had a great attempt from his free kick in the 28th minute which just went over for the Rams, but the Croydon attack could not penetrate the Police defence.

In the second half, Waldren again had an excellent free kick from 30 yards which smashed against the post and you got the feeling it was not going to be Croydon's day.

Croydon had another ball cleared off the line, this time from Gareth Williams’ header in the 53rd minute, and just a minute later a corner in from the lift fell to Jeremy Williams to head over the crossbar.

As the 60th minute approached, a good cross in from Nathan Simpson from Police saw Craig Carley pick up the ball and strike it home to put the Police 2-0 up, and substitutions were quickly made by Croydon Athletic.

Two goalmouth scrambles in the Police defence just would not fall for the Rams and the ball was cleared off the line on both occasions.

Croydon will see this as a hiccup in their promotion push although they still top the table, a point ahead of Folkestone Invicta and can put things right tonight against Dulwich Hamlet.

Croydon Athletic: Andy Little, Joe Howe, Chris Bourne, Danny Waldren, Joe Dolan, Jeremy Williams, Taurean McDonald-Roberts, Chris Piper, Gareth Williams (Gary Noel, 58), Jacob Erskine (Ben Godfrey, 61), Rory Hill (Tom Bolarinwa, 61). Subs not used: Bentley Graham, Leslie Thompson.