Berkhamsted 2
Concord Rangers 0
Concord Rangers dreams of an FA Cup run evaporated following a 2-0 loss at step four Berkhamsted.
Goals from Ben Walster and Lynton Goss were enough to hand the Comrades a place in the third qualifying round for the first time in their history.
The first half started slowly with neither Craig Hill nor Melvin Minter being tested. After 25 minutes Ryan Blake tapped home a Jonathan Lacey cross, but the linesman's corner flag chalked the goal off and kept the game goalless.
Three minutes later Berko went extremely close to taking the lead. A Walster corner was nodded goalwards by Adam Watkins, but Teddy Perkins was in the right place at the right time to head the ball off the line.
With two minutes left till half time the hosts did finally break the deadlock. A corner was diverted towards goal by Watkins and Walster was able to flick the ball past Minter and into the bottom corner from a few yards out for his first goal of the season.
Similarly, to the first, the second period started slowly but with just under 20 minutes to play Chris Devane's men were able to double their lead. Watkins got into the penalty area from a wide position and the 31-year-old dragged the ball back to Goss who coolly side footed the ball into the bottom corner to spark jubilant scenes from players and fans alike. This strike was the former Aylesbury striker's fifth of the campaign.
With eight minutes left on the clock Berkhamsted's Craig Hill was forced into his first and only noteworthy save of the afternoon. New signing Luke Pennell found Aaron Eyoma just inside the Berkhamsted half and the 24-year-old went on a strong solo run before letting fly just inside the area. However, Hill was equal to the effort, getting down well to turn the low strike behind.
A defeat for Concord means it's now five straight defeats for the Beach Boys who haven't won or scored on their travels since opening day.
A win for Berkhamsted sees their 100% home record this campaign continue and the Comrades were also able to keep a sixth clean sheet of the season.
Chris Search's men return to action next Saturday as Eastbourne Borough come to the Aspect Arena.
ATT: 281
By Nathan Williams
Comments
Post a Comment