Lowestoft Town 2 Metropolitan Police 2

The visitors looked set to leave with all three points thanks to Tyron Smith’s double but Nolan struck in time added on to nod home Lubo Guentchev’s cross.

T Smith fired his side ahead from close range just after a quarter of an hour during a first half in which Lowestoft failed to gain any attacking rhythm.

Andrew Fisk pulled the Blues level early in the second period but T Smith’s wonderful free-kick looked to have secured all three points for the Met.

However, just when all hope looked to have been lost, Nolan struck from close range to lift the Blues into second place after AFC Hornchurch lost at home to Hendon.

The danger signs were there for Lowestoft in the sixth minute when Erkan Okay’s poor clearance landed at the feet of T Smith, who was free on the edge of the box, but his effort was repelled by Jessup, standing in for the injured Andy Reynolds.

Frew had a half chance after good work by Forshaw but blasted over and Metropolitan Police deservedly took the lead after 15 minutes.

The lively Craig Brown, who was afforded too much space down the right flank for the whole first period, gained a yard on Stuart Ainsley and drilled in a cross that was cleared only as far as T Smith, who fired home from 10 yards.

Lowestoft had a golden opportunity to get back on terms at the start of the second period and it was all of the Met’s making. In trying to clear his lines defender Jay Lovett played the ball against T Smith and the rebound fell to Nolan, who found himself through on goal. However, the forward’s control was too heavy and allowed Jamie Taylor to charge off his line and smother the danger.

But the Blues had visibly upped the tempo of their play in the second half and they got their reward just after the hour mark. Forshaw burst through the Met defence but saw his effort saved by Butler. However, the ball fell kindly for Fisk to slam the rebound home and get Lowestoft back in the game.

It wasn’t to last though and in the 73rd minute T Smith struck what looked to be the killer blow with a fantastic free kick, which sailed into the top corner from 20 yards.

Lowestoft rallied in an effort to salvage a point and a flowing move involving Nolan and Guentchev resulted in the Bulgarian bringing a good save out of Butler.

However, the winger made a telling contribution in injury time when his beautifully flighted cross found Nolan at the back post and the former King’s Lynn man headed home to preserve a point for his side.

Mark Armstrong

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