MATCH REPORT: CONCORD RANGERS 2-4 EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

 Concord Rangers 2 

Eastbourne Borough 4 

 

A second half brace from Danny Green wasn’t enough for Concord Rangers, as the Beach Boys fell to a sixth straight defeat in a game which contained its fair share of controversial officiating. 

The first half started slowly but the visitors did ultimately strike first at the Aspect Arena just before the half hour mark. The Sports were awarded a corner that looked to be a clear goal kick for Concord and from the resulting set piece Colchester loanee Jake Hutchinson flicked the ball past Melvin Minter from close range to break the deadlock. 

Eight minutes later Danny Bloor’s men doubled their lead. Shiloh Remy found Hutchinson in space, the 20-year old’s blocked shot then fell kindly back to Remy just outside the area and the 21-year old’s drilled effort rustled into the bottom corner – ensuring Eastbourne would go in at the break two goals to the good. 

Chris Search’s men came out the second half a much better side and got themselves an early route back into the contest. An inswinging corner from Ben Search was headed against the crossbar by debutant Harvey Beckett, and the ball broke kindly to Green who scrapped the rebound home for his first goal of the season – ensuring that Eastbourne’s wait for a league clean sheet goes on. 

Ten minutes later the Beach Boys thought they had levelled the scores through Search but the officials believed otherwise. An Aaron Eyoma cross was met by Search whose header appeared to come off the hand of James Hammond and then the youngster looked to have scrambled the ball over the line. However, the ref didn’t give a penalty nor a goal instead signalling for a Concord corner. 

The hosts kept the pressure up and three minutes later again went close to levelling the scores. Bedford Town loanee Luke Pennell picked out Nana Kyei with a long ball and the 24-year-old cut inside and curled an effort towards goal that was headed off the line by Mitchell Dickenson. 

These missed opportunities would prove costly as just past the hour mark Eastbourne restored their two-goal cushion. A long goal kick from Lee Worgan picked out Hutchinson out wide who managed to wriggle away from Pennell and deliver a low cross to the unmarked Jaden Perez who slotted the ball beneath Minter and into the back of the net. 

Once again Concord rallied and with ten minutes left on the clock were given a golden opportunity to get themselves back into the game. Substitutes Lewis Johnson and Ricky Modeste did well to dispossess Miquel Scarlett before the latter was pushed to ground by the Guyanan; leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot and award the Beach Boys their second spot kick of the season. Danny Green stepped up and saw Worgan get down well to save his penalty, however the 32-year-old reacted to quickly to follow up and convert the rebound to make it 3-2. 

Just three minutes later and Concord's hopes of getting a point were evaporated. A lapse in concentration for the hosts allowed Greg Luer to get through on goal and the substitute calmly slotted the ball past Minter for his second of the campaign. 

Defeat for Chris Search’s men sees their retched run of form go on as their seven game unbeaten run at home to Eastbourne comes to an end. The Beach Boys do remain outside of the drop zone thanks to Hungerford Town and Dulwich Hamlet both falling to defeats (against Ebbsfleet United and Chippenham Town respectively). 

A first win at Concord since 2014 means Eastbourne are now in the top half of the table. 

Concord Rangers are back in action on Tuesday night as Worthing come to the Aspect Arena hoping to continue their unbeaten away record. 

 

Concord: Minter, Popo (Thompson 76’), Theobalds, Beckett, Williamson, Green, Kyei, Davies, Pennell, Search (Johnson 69’), Eyoma (Modeste 66’) 

 

Eastbourne: Worgan, Innocent, Barry, Dickenson, Perez (Mbonkwi 73’), Hammond, Remy (Pinto 89’), Vaughan, Gravata, Scarlett, Hutchinson (Luer 70’) 

 

By Nathan Williams