Farnborough 2
Concord Rangers 1
Concord Rangers were beaten by Farnborough thanks to an injury time goal for the second time this season as a last gasp Ricky Holmes goal sealed a 2-1 comeback win for Boro.
When the two sides met in February Mason Bloomfield converted a 96th minute penalty to secure a 1-0 victory for Farnborough and the 26 year old was on target against Concord once again; bagging an equaliser to cancel out a Lewis Manor header before the experienced Holmes struck at the death.
The first half was pretty even at the Easy as HGV Stadium. Concord had half chances through Manor and Ben Steward but it was the Beach Boys goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney that was the busier of the two shot stoppers.
Just before the half hour mark home defender Ollie Robinson launched a long throw into the penalty area that was flicked goalwards with a glancing header from Jack Ball, but the back peddling Beeney was able to tip the ball behind for a corner.
With nine minutes left of the first half Beeney made an impressive stop to keep out Robinson. The 28 year old met a Jonathan Page corner and Beeney reacted quickly with the former England Under 19 international making a fantastic reaction save to keep the ball out - and the rebound was lashed over by Kevin Lokko.
Rob Small's men had defended well in the opening period and seven minutes after the restart they were rewarded for their valiant efforts. Manor continued to cause the Farnborough backline problems, and from an Alex Hernandez corner the 31 year old rose highest to head home at the back post for his first goal in Concord colours. This strike means that Farnborough are now four home games without a clean sheet despite boasting the league's best defensive record.
15 minutes later Manor went close to doubling both his and Concord's tally with the former Bowers & Pitsea striker forcing a crucial save from Jack Turner. A deflected cross from Jack Thomas made its way through to Manor who let fly but unfortunately for Concord Turner reacted brilliantly to keep the effort out.
With 69 minutes on the clock Farnborough made their first change when former Sheffield United and Portsmouth winger Holmes replaced Selim Saied. This proved to be an inspired substitution from Spencer Day as Holmes would go onto pick up a goal and an assist.
Five minutes after his introduction Holmes set up Bloomfield for an equaliser. A pass forward from Page was flicked on by Holmes to Bloomfield and the Yellows' top scorer burst into the box before rifling the ball into the far corner for his eighth goal of the season since joining Boro from Bromley on New Year's Day.
Despite this setback Concord still looked to be on course to claiming a respectable point up until the fourth minute of stoppage time when Rangers hearts were broken as Holmes and Bloomfield reversed roles. The latter flicked on a long kick forward from Turner to the former who turned on a sixpence and fired home a shot from 20 yards out that nestled into the bottom corner.
A fourth straight defeat for Concord means they remain bottom of the table, nine points from safety with five games in hand.
Meanwhile a third win on the spin for Farnborough sees them move into the playoff places on goal difference as the Yellows become the fifth club to achieve the double over Concord.
The Beach Boys are back in action on Saturday as 9th placed Havant and Waterlooville make the trip to Canvey Island in the hope to end their ten game winless run.
ATT: 549
Farnborough: Turner, Ball (Grant 83'), Robinson, Lokko, Page, Saied (Holmes 69'), Oyenuga, Bloomfield, Norville-Williams (Fearn 83'), Lovatt
Goals: Bloomfield 74', Holmes 90+4'
Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Pollock, Beckett, Monville, Hernandez (Modeste 86'), Manor, Kyei (Bettamer 86'), Steward, Hudson
Goals: Manor 52'
By Nathan Williams
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