MATCH REPORT: CONCORD RANGERS 1-0 HUNGERFORD TOWN

Concord Rangers 1

Hungerford Town 0

Concord Rangers picked up a vital three points as a second half Lewis Manor strike secured a 1-0 win over Hungerford Town - thus ending the Beach Boys' seven game losing run.

It was a cagey first half at the Aspect Arena and although Concord were the dominant side both teams found themselves limited to half chances.

For Rob Small's men it was Ricky Modeste and Manor who both went close and for the visitors Callum Gunner and Curtis Angell both went within a whisker of giving the Crusaders the lead.

The best chance of the half went the way of the visitors after 11 minutes. Concord goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney failed to claim a Rhys Tyler cross and the ball found the head of Angell at the back post, but the 31 year old nodded wide with the goal at his mercy.

Concord came out to the second half with a similar control to that of the first and 11 minutes after the restart the Beach Boys got their reward. Just like he did on Easter Monday, Manor forced a mistake from a visiting defender and Matthew Berry-Hargreaves' sloppy defending allowed the Concord striker to break through on goal. Manor kept his cool slotting the ball past Max Evans and into the bottom corner for his second goal in as many games.

Following this Danny Robinson's outfit appeared to lose their heads with both Dan Roberts and Jake Evans booked as a result of poor challenges. 

However, Hungerford remained a threat and with 12 minutes left on the clock Beeney had to make a crucial save to keep Concord's lead intact. Former Beach Boy Joe Boachie slid the ball in behind for fellow substitute Great Evans and the former Cheshunt striker drilled an effort goalwards that Beeney had to get down to in order to turn behind.

Five minutes later it was Max Evans' turn to make a big save to prevent the hosts from doubling their lead. A Quentin Monville corner broke into the path of Aron Pollock and his volley forced Evans into an incredible one handed save.

As the game ticked into injury time Hungerford had attempts from Great Evans and Angell that both failed to beat Beeney and the Concord defence held on to secure a first home clean sheet since November.

A first home three points of 2023 for Concord moves them to within two points of Hungerford and nine points from safety. A 1-0 win also secures the double over Hungerford for the first time in Concord's history as the Beach Boys beat the Crusaders by a 1-0 scoreline for the second time this season.

Defeat for Hungerford means they're now seven points from safety. Furthermore a first defeat at the Aspect Arena for the men from Bulpit Lane since 2018 means they are now winless in four games.

Small's side have a one day break before returning to action on Saturday with a trip to the West Country to take on a Bath City outfit that have lost four games on the bounce.

 

Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Beckett, Hernandez (Monville 72'), Kyei, Steward (Pollock 81'), Wallace, Hudson, Manor (Bettamer 80'), Modeste

Goals: Manor 56'

Hungerford Town: M. Evans, McGrory, Angell, Gunner (Boachie 70'), J. Evans, Roberts (Lopes 62'), Berry-Hargreaves, Tyler, Gyebi, Bailey (G. Evans 62'), Jones

By Nathan Williams