You're right, there is theoretically no connection between the editorial positions of a paper and the news reporting.  The different sections of the paper are edited separately.

On a macro level, however, you could probably argue that the editors of the news sections are hired and promoted by the same people who hire & promote the editorial-page editors, so there is likely to be some similarity in their political leanings -- would a raving conservative editor-in-chief who works for a conservative publisher hire a raging liberal as Metro editor?  I doubt it.

But on a practical level, no, the editorial board has no control over day-to-day reporting.