Lowestoft Town dominated this game from the start and were well worth their two-goal victory. Chris Henderson returned alongside Matt Nolan up front in place of the injured Jamie Forshaw and he proved to be the match winner with two second half strikes.

The other change to the starting line up saw Lubo Guentchev preferred to Jamie Godbold who dropped to the bench.

Lowestoft made the running from the start and should have made an early breakthrough when Robert Eagle's low cross found Gunetchev but he stabbed his effort the wrong side of the upright.

There was a let off for the Trawlerboys as Andy Reynolds allowed a cross from the right to drop from his hands against the post but the keeper redeemed himself by getting down quickly to parry twice from namesake Duran Reynolds and once from Stafforde Palmer before the danger was averted.

Lowestoft were soon back on the front foot though with both Matt Nolan and Dean Sinclair seeing efforts clear the bar. Just past the half hour mark the Trawlerboys were forced into a re-shuffle as central defender Matt Halliday limped off to be replaced by Erkan Okay.

The substitute was prominent early in the second period as he combined with Nolan down the right and from the latter's cross Sinclair placed his header straight at Jamie Butler. A free kick by Tyron Smith saw Duran Reynolds place a free header wide of the target.

Lowestoft deservedly took the lead in the 65th minute as a spell of Trawlerboys pressure ended with Andrew Fisk feeding Guentchev whose driven cross was headed into the net by Henderson.

Lowestoft were producing some of their best football for several weeks and it was no surprise when they increased their lead in the 75th minute. Another fine build up ended with Nolan slipping the ball inside to Henderson who moved to his left to bypass Jay Lovett before shooting past Butler and just inside the post from the edge of the penalty area.

Henderson was close to completing his hattrick as he raced on to a Sam Gaughran through ball but keeper Butler was out quickly to save bravely at his feet.

Police's substitute Ed Smith was close to a consolation goal in the closing seconds with a fine volley inches wide of the upright.

Lowestoft's management team were delighted with the performance and with Billericay held to a draw by bottom club Horsham and AFC Hornchurch losing for the second time in a week they are right back in the mix in the race for the championship.

• Metropolitan Police: Butler, Taylor (Mu Maan, 75), Sutherland, D Reynolds, Lovett, Hurrell (Flanaghan, 80), Brown, T Smith, Palmer, Montalgan (E Smith, 36), Bourne. Subs (not used) MacLeod, Mo Maan.

• Lowestoft Town: A Reynolds, Mitchell, A Smith, Fisk, Halliday (Okay, 36), Gaughran, Guentchev (Godbold, 90+3), Sinclair, Nolan, Henderson (Frew, 84), Eagle. Subs (not used) Francis, Forbes.

• Attendance: 141