Title hopes hit by defeat

UEL’s footballers came out on the wrong side of a six-goal thriller with Queen Mary’s University.

The second string lost the top of the table clash 4-2 and are now one point behind their rivals with two games left.

Queen Mary’s hit the ground running and took an early lead in the second minute as a one-two between their QM strikers on halfway sent Gemill racing clear to give goalie Sam Pashley no chance.

They went close to a second when another break saw a shot fired straight at Pashley, but UEL rallied and Marley Spindel’s run and cross found Harry Tew-Robinson, whose overhead kick went just wide.

Queens hit a post before UEL’s Johan Caney-Brown burst into the box and crossed for Maliki, who shot was held just before half time.

And Richard Johnson’s curling effort was spilled after the restart, before the keeper recovered to smother the loose ball.

UEL were rewarded for their hard work on the hour when Spindel’s ball over the top sent Tew-Robinson into the box, where he was fouled by the keeper.

Johnson converted the penalty to level but UEL were behind again nine minutes later when Pashley’s clearance fell to a Queens striker, who tucked his shot home.

UEL were back on terms almost immediately as Johnson curled a free kick into the bottom corner to make it 2-2 with less than 15 minutes to play.

And their hopes were further raised when Queens were forced to replace their injured keeper with an outfield player for the closing stages.

But UEL were caught out five minutes from time when a defence-splitting pass left Brandon Manoka in a race with the Queens winger, who slid his shot home.

The same player broke again on the right soon after and when his cross was spilled by Pashley, under pressure from a Queens striker, the ball was smashed home.

UEL could not find a way back during seven minutes of injury time and slipped to second, ahead of their final home match of the season against Essex University thirds, and hoping Queen Mary’s slip up if they are to win the league.

UEL: Pashley, Spindel, Feehily, Egole-Harold, Darren (Manoka 63), Baloye (Mirza 63), Johnson, Hayden, Maliki (Jason 45), Tew-Robinson, Caney-Brown.