Sirens might just be starting to wail at Wingate and Finchley after the club lost its fourth straight league game at Metropolitan Police last night.

The Blues ended with 10 men as Ahmet Rifat fell foul of the law, as did Met Police's Tom Hickey, but two first-half goals from Calum Kealy had long put the game beyond the visitors.

Met's 2-0 win lifts them up to 11th, a place and a point behind Wingate, who are now three points outside the play-off positions.

And their bad-tempered defeat at Imber Court will provide little belief that they can mount a rapid turnaround of form before Merstham visit the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Saturday.

Confidence is in short supply for Keith Rowland's side and despite starting on the front foot, they did not have the guile or belief to carve out any clear-cut openings.

Then within 16 minutes, they were cut open in similarly timid fashion. Kealy latched onto a loose ball in the box before prodding beyond Shane Gore, who was restored after missing Saturday's defeat at Tonbridge Angels.

Jonny Wright almost doubled the lead minutes after but it was not long before the hosts would take a two-goal lead. Wingate failed to clear their lines, and Kealey was there again to finish off a scramble at the back post.

Rob Laney finally tested Luke Williams with a bicycle kick and Joe Kizzi was unfortunate not to receive a penalty when he was hauled down by Jay Gasson, but Wingate were second best and deservedly behind at the break.

Sam Gallagher, at the other end, pulled a diving save out of Sam Gallagher, and the hosts were then denied a third only by a goal-line clearance after a corner.

The second half was Wingate's to attack, with Met Police happy to soak up any pressure.

Reece Beckles-Richards' shot was turned goalwards by Marc Charles-Smith, but not close enough to trouble Williams or his goal.

Rifat headed over as Wingate sought a foothold with increasing desperation, but would later put a dent in their own hopes as he was sent off for a second booking.

Hickey followed him down the tunnel for his involvement in the aftermath, but there was still time for some late drama. Ben Pattie's curler struck the crossbar with Williams beaten, in what would prove another agonising miss for the visitors.

Wingate: Gore, Eales, Dickson, Kizzi, Cronin, Rifat, Ifil (Pattie 72), Laney, (Mavila 60), Charles-Smith, Beckles-Richards, Tejan-Sie.

Not used: Pearce, Sharpe, Alfano.