Kingstonian's stop-start season stalled again on Wednesday night with a 2-1 defeat at Metropolitan Police.

The newly promoted Met, with three serving officers in their first XI, went behind to a Bobby Traynor penalty but long-range strikes from Tyron Smith and then Stafford Palmer with 10 minutes remaining meant the three points went to the boys in blue.

Not for the first time this season, the men in red and white lacked fluency but nevertheless created enough chances to win, and will regret a point-blank header from Tom Hutchinson that went badly wrong.

Ali Chaaban, meanwhile, hit the foot of the post after dazzling the Met centre-backs with a jinking run, and Romone McCrae struck a shot from the edge of the area which was beaten away by Jamie Butler.

Despite the home side's superior passing, it was Ks, seemingly content to hit on the break, who took the lead in the 40th minute.

Bobby Traynor, through on goal after a fine pass by McCrae, was brought down in the box and calmly converted the penalty.

But only a minute later Smith tried a swerving shot from 25 yards that went through the dive of Ks keeper Rob Tolfrey.

Level at the break Met Police emerged in the second period to dominate possession in the style that has seen them establish a top-three position in the league.

A laboured Kingstonian midfield, anchored by a tiring Simon Huckle, couldn't arrest the wave of attacks and it seemed inevitable that in the 80th minute Palmer should score the winner with a strike that swerved across Tolfrey.

The result leaves Ks in midtable ahead of the home match against Carshalton on Sunday which, with the return to Kingsmeadow of former stars Dean Lodge and Paul Vines, managed by controversial owner Paul Dipre, should develop into a lively encounter.