After FC Queens Park suffered their first defeat last week in the NEWFA Challenge Cup, Flint Mountain went into this game hoping to inflict a first league defeat on the league leaders. The Dock Road pitch had suffered at the hands of the elements but the game was able to go ahead.

The game started with both teams trading blows, but no real shots on target. The opening goal came in just the ninth minute. Working down the left, Queens Park put in a cross into the area. The danger wasn't cleared by Mountain as their striker got away an effort which defender Kevin Thomas was unable to keep out as he got back onto the line.

Queens Park had a chance to double their lead but for a great save low to his left from Mountain goalkeeper Ricky Bennett. The chance, from a free kick was parried out for a corner.

Mountain were proving resilient and difficult to break down after that and could, and probably should have been level. Nick Longridge, in his first start for the club was put through one on one with the Queens Park keeper. However, he failed to capitalise on the chance by only tamely striking an effort which was easily saved. Further chances followed, with Chris Layne's lobbed effort falling narrowly wide and Ryan Jones' close range stab on goal also missing the target narrowly.

Into the second half, Mountain were undone early on as Queens Park doubled their lead. The early stages of the half also saw midfielder Keiron Moore replaced by the returning Luciano Ciati. Mountain rallied after the goal and got one back in the 63th minute. Down the right, Chris Layne's direct running found him the box. His effort was saved by the Queens Park keeper but the ball fell to Ciati, who fired into the roof of the net.

That goal should have seen Mountain gain momentum but it was Queens Park who got the decisive next goal, only two minutes after Mountain had themselves back in the game. From a corner, Ryan Jones' headed clearance could only find it's way further into the area where Queens Park scored from a header at the back post. Moments later and Park had effectively put the game with another easy finish.

Mountain tried to get back from that with more substitutions. Adam Humphreys and Tom Snaith come on to replace Alex Millington and Ryan Jones. With nine minutes to play, Mountain did have their second. From Luciano Ciati's cutback, Nick Longridge made amends for his earlier miss with an effort from the edge of the area. The ball struck the bar and then off the keeper and in.

Sadly, as with the first Mountain goal, sloppiness again proved Mountain's downfall as Queens Park again got through the lines to score.

With that result and others in the league, that defeat has now seen Flint Mountain drop a place into third in the table. Next up for The Mountain Men is a trip to face league basement team Cornist Park. Mountain will be looking for a repeat of the earlier meeting between the sides, where Mountain prevailed 11-0 on the opening day at Dock Road. The game also sees Flint Mountain returning to Albert Avenue, where we played our home games in our very first season back in 2009.