Concord Rangers 1
St Albans City 2
A much improved performance from Concord Rangers wasn't enough as a last gasp Shaun Jeffers header snatched a 2-1 victory for St Albans City - sentencing the Beach Boys to a seventh straight defeat.
Rob Small's side enjoyed a respectable first half which saw the hosts have numerous half chances through Nana Kyei and Alex Hernandez.
Despite this it was the visitors who struck first after quarter of an hour at the Aspect Arena. Callum Adebiyi did well to nip the ball away from Ricky Modeste and find Tafari Moore out wide. The left back then delivered a teasing cross towards the back post that was gleefully nodded home by unmarked Colchester United loanee Chay Cooper for his sixth goal for the Saints.
Six minutes later Concord goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney was called into action to prevent the away side from doubling their lead. Following some patient build-up play, Cooper slid the ball into the feet of Jeffers whose effort on the turn was too close to Beeney and the 27 year old was able to block the striker's shot.
It would be Concord that would finish the first half the stronger of the two sides with Rangers creating three chances in four minutes.
Just past the half hour mark Lewis Manor did well to a flick a header on, into the path of Kyei who in turn poked the ball across the box to Modeste. The Grenada international then drilled a daisy cutter towards the bottom corner that visiting goalkeeper Dylan Berry had to get down to in order to turn behind.
Concord threatened once again shortly after this, as from the resulting corner Jimmy Wallace was able to dig out a shot at the back post that Norwich City loanee Berry had to beat behind.
With eight minutes left of the first half the hosts forced Berry into yet another save. Poor control from Joy Mukena enabled Manor to pick the defender's pocket and race in behind before chipping the ball towards goal; forcing the back peddling Berry to tip the ball over.
Concord started the second half brightly and four minutes after the restart the Beach Boys got their reward in the form of a penalty kick. A long throw from Ben Steward was only cleared as far as Modeste whose redelivery picked out Jack Thomas; the midfielder was about to let fly but found himself tripped by Adebiyi leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
Manor stepped up and the 31 year old sent Berry the wrong way from 12 yards, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner, for his second goal in Concord colours.
The rest of the half was pretty quiet at the Aspect Arena up until the 74th minute when Beeney had to make another fine reaction save to keep out Jeffers.
However St Albans' top scorer wasn't to be denied of a 24th goal of the season as in the 90th minute the 30 year old broke Concord hearts. Moore was once again the provider with the full back whipping in a cross that was met with a towering header by Jeffers which dropped into the far corner for his first goal in six games. This was also the 17th time that Concord have conceded in the final 15 minutes of a game this season.
A defeat, that was harsh on the Beach Boys, means they remain bottom of the table; and following Dulwich Hamlet's draw at Hemel Hempstead they are now 12 points from safety with four games in hand.
A first win away at Concord since 2018 for St Albans increases their unbeaten run on the road to four games as the Saints move four points clear of 8th placed Eastbourne Borough who lost to Welling United this afternoon.
Small's men have a three day break before returning to action on Thursday night when fellow strugglers Hungerford Town make the trip to Canvey Island. A win would see the Beach Boys close the gap on a side that sit one place and five points ahead of them in the Vanarama National League South table.
Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Beckett, Hernandez (Bettamer 86'), Kyei (Monville 87'), Steward, Wallace, Hudson, Manor, Modeste
Goals: Manor 50 (p)
St Albans City: Berry, Stanley, Francis-Clarke, Wiltshire, Adebiyi (Neal 81')3, Jeffers, Banton (McConnell 73'), Mukena, Moore, Smith, Cooper (Weiss 73')
Goals: Cooper 14', Jeffers 90'
By Nathan Williams
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