MATCH REPORT: CONCORD RANGERS 3-2 DARTFORD

Concord Rangers 3

Dartford 2

Concord Rangers took a huge step towards safety as the Beach Boys secured their third home win on the bounce as two goals from Lewis Manor either side of a Ben Steward strike secured a monumental 3-2 victory over 2nd place Dartford.

It was a bright start from the hosts who forced visiting goalkeeper Ben Dudzinski into two early saves. After seven minutes Quentin Monville stabbed the ball in behind for Nana Kyei but Dartford's keeper was quick off his line to block Kyei's effort. Within a minute of this opportunity Dudzinski again had to come to the Darts' rescue by turning behind a Manor header from a Ricky Modeste cross.

However Dudzinski was unable to keep out Concord for long and just past the quarter hour mark the deadlock was broken. Steward was able to wriggle away from Pierre Fonkeu and deliver a cross towards the near post that was nodded into the bottom corner by Manor. This was Manor's fourth goal in as many home games and the fifth consecutive Concord goal to be scored by the 31 year old.

Unfortunately the Beach Boys' lead was short-lived and six minutes later Dartford equalised. A weak backward header from Aron Pollock was pounced upon by Harvey Bradbury and the Salisbury City loanee shrugged off Concord's captain and thumped the ball off the underside of the crossbar and in for his fifth goal in eight appearances.

With eight minutes left to play of the first half things went from bad to worse for Rob Small's men as Dartford turned the game on its head with a second goal. Young defender Sam Odaudu recieved the ball 25 yards from goal and the former Margate defender drilled home a brilliant long range strike into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to Dartford.

The second period started slowly at the Aspect Arena with an off target attempt from Concord's Alex Hernandez the only real chance for either side.

However with 71 minutes on the clock Rangers got themselves back on level terms. Brilliant work from Ipswich Town Max Hudson caused panic amongst the Darts' backline and the visitors failed to clear their lines this resulted in Monville being able to poke the ball into the feet of Steward whose swivel and shot nestled into the bottom corner. This was Steward's first strike in Concord colours and the first Concord goal not to be scored by either Manor or Mo Bettamer since Nana Kyei scored against Chippenham Town 13 games ago.

This put the wind in Rangers' sails as the hosts began to stamp their authority on the contest. They got their rewards for this as with two minutes left of normal time Manor grabbed a winning goal in spectacular fashion. Monville got his second assist of the night by flicking the ball on into the path of Manor who spotted Dudzinski of his line and lobbed the ball over the Dartford goalkeeper and into the back of the net for his second strike of the game.

Despite five minutes of injury time Concord were able to hold on and pick up three points that moves them up to 22nd in the table - two places six points from safety with a game in hand. 

Defeat away to Concord for the second season running means Dartford remain just two points ahead of both Oxford City and Chelmsford City in the playoff positions. Alan Dowson's outfit have now also lost four of their last seven games.

The Beach Boys return to action on Saturday afternoon with their penultimate home game of the season against Hampton & Richmond Borough, before travelling to 20th place Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night in what will be a huge game in the fight for survival at Champion Hill.

 

ATT: 276

Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo, Thomas, Pollock, Monville, Hernandez (Munns 69'), Kyei (Ramsay 66'), Steward, Hudson, Manor, Modeste (Leech 90+5)

Goals: Manor 18', 88', Steward 71'

Dartford: Dudzinski, Essam, Bonner, Coulson, Murtagh (Allen 76'), Statham, Smith, Fonkeu (Wall 63') (Sheringham 72'), Bradbury, Odaudu, Napa

Goals: Bradbury 23', Odaudu 38'

By Nathan Williams