In their final game of 2011, Lewes picked up a respectable point with a 0-0 draw at in-form Metropolitan Police.

Steve King made two changes to the side which had beaten Hastings United in their previous game, with Malvin Kamara and Michael Malcolm replacing the suspended Nic Ciardini and Ian Draycott in the starting line-up.

Metropolitan Police started the game brightly and could have taken the lead inside the first few minutes, with
Staforde Palmer sending a curling effort from just inside the penalty area over the crossbar.

The hosts then saw Eddie Smith go close twice in quick succession, with the striker first seeing a powerful 25-yard shot hit the outside of the post and the sending a volley from point-blank range over the crossbar after Palmer had flicked on a cross from Craig Brown.

The Rooks first attempt on goal followed soon after, as the lively Christian Nanetti cut inside two players on the right-hand side and sent a low shot straight at Jamie Butler in the hosts goal.

Metropolitan Police then had their best chance of the game, when a quickly-taken free-kick ended with centre-back Duran Reynolds sliding the ball wide of what was essentially an open goal at the far post following a low cross from Brown.

Lewes started the second half a bit brighter, but it was the hosts who went closest to opening the scoring in the opening minutes of the second period when the dangerous Palmer dragged a left-foot shot just wide of the far post following a quick counter-attack.

Metropolitan Police had an even better opportunity to take the lead just after the hour mark, when Smith sent a low shot from close range straight at Rikki Banks following a Brown cross when it seemed easier to score.

The Rooks enjoyed their best spell of the game after this let-off, with Steve Robinson sending a far-post header from a Nanetti free-kick just wide.

Lewes then had two good chances in quick succession, with Michael Malcolm chipping the ball straight into the arms of Butler after latching onto an Albert Jarrett through-ball, before Nanetti saw a low shot from inside the penalty area comfortably saved by the hosts goalkeeper.

The Rooks were continuing to enjoy the majority of the play at this stage and felt they should have had a penalty when Jarrett appeared to be brought down in the penalty area.

They nearly took the lead soon after this when an audacious 35-yard lob from Harry Harding went over the crossbar.

The introduction of Ron Edwards and Jerome Walker off the bench in the closing stages galvanised the hosts, who saw Edwards send a shot from the edge of the penalty area straight at Banks before having several opportunities to score in a goalmouth scramble following another dangerous low cross from Brown.

It was a cross from the impressive Brown which led to Smith sending a close-range header over in the final five minutes, as the hosts searched for all three points.

Despite this, it was Lewes who had the best chance to win the game during injury-time. Unfortunately for the Rooks, Butler made a superb save low down to his left to keep out Malcolm’s header from a pinpoint Jarrett cross.

A point away from home against a side who have been in and around the play-off places for much of the season is a respectable result for the Rooks, who were missing one of their most impressive players so far this season in Nic Ciardini due to suspension.

Impressive Lewes performances came from Steve Robinson, Max Hustwick, Christian Nanetti and Albert Jarrett.

Metropolitan Police:

Butler, Taylor, Bourne, Reynolds, Lovett, Maan (Edwards 76), Brown, Sutherland, Palmer (Wilson-Denis 86), Smith, Hurrell (Walker 80).
Unused Subs: Gwyther, Clarke.
Booked: Smith, Edwards.

Lewes:

Banks, Kamara, Hamilton, Somner, Robinson, Hustwick, Stavrinou, Harding, Malcolm, Jarrett, Nanetti.
Unused Subs: Booth, Draycott.
Booked: Kamara, Somner.

Referee: Mr A Parker