MATCH REPORT: CONCORD RANGERS 3-4 HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE

Concord Rangers 3

Havant and Waterlooville 4

Concord Rangers' decade long stay in the Vanarama National League South came to an end in heart-breaking fashion as an injury time Havant and Waterlooville winner sentenced the Beach Boys to a 4-3 defeat and step three football.

The opening stages at the Aspect Arena were dominated by the Hawks who were also desperate for three points in their bid for the playoffs. After ten minutes the crossbar had to come to Concord's rescue and prevent them from falling behind early on. James Roberts pinged in a cross that Danny Wright diverted goalwards with a flicked header that came crashing off the upright. 

Two minutes later Wright looked to have gone one better and scored but the offside flag came to the hosts' rescue. Another cross from Roberts was met by the head of Wright, this time the 38 year old was able to convert past Mitchell Beeney but he was adjudged to be offside.

Wright continued to be a thorn in the side for Concord and two minutes later he had the ball in the back of Beeney's goal again - and this time it would count. The former Cheltenham Town striker rose highest from a Jack Jebb free kick, beat Beeney to the ball, and nodded home for his eighth goal of the campaign.

It took a while for Concord to get going in the first half and they didn't register a shot on target until the 36th minute, but when it came it led directly to a goal. A long throw from Ben Steward was cleared as far as Ricky Modeste who unleashed a rasping first time volley that had to be pushed onto the post by Teddy Sharman-Lowe, and the loose ball fell to Jack Thomas who was able to convert the rebound from close range for his second goal in as many home games.

This changed the game completely and within five minutes Concord had turned the game on its head with Thomas once again on the scoresheet. An Alex Hernandez freekick caused confusion amongst the Havant defence and the visitors could only clear as far as Thomas who scrambled the ball past Sharman-Lowe for his second strike of the evening.

This meant Rangers went in at the break 2-1 up but within six minutes of the second half resuming the scores were levelled once more. Jimmy Wallace blocked an effort from Jake McCarthy and the loose ball broke for Dorking Wanderers loanee Jack Jebb who curled the ball home into the bottom corner. 

This was followed by a quiet period as both sides looked to stamp some authority on the game. Then with 22 minutes left to play Rob Small's men retook the lead through Quentin Monville. Thomas found Monville out  on the right hand side and the 28 year old cut inside before lashing the ball into the far corner, out of the reach of Sharman-Lowe, for his first Concord goal since joining the club from Potters Bar Town in March.

Three points would've moved Concord to within a point of safety heading into the final day but unfortunately the Beach Boys were unable to hold on, and with 83 minutes on the clock Havant made it 3-3. The ball broke to Callum Kealy in the box and the substitute's scuffed volley sneaked past Beeney and into the bottom corner of the net. This being the Australian's second Havant goal since making the move to Hampshire in early February.

Five minutes later Havant went close to taking the lead but Beeney produced a top class save to keep out a Charlie Ruff overhead kick and keep Concord level.

However in the fourth minute of injury time Jamie Collins' outfit would snatch a last gasp winner. A Mo Bettamer free kick hit the wall allowing the Hawks to swarm forward in a 5v1 counter-attack. Roberts found Ruff who squared the ball back across to Roberts, his effort was kept out brilliantly by Beeney but Jebb was on hand to tuck home the rebound for his second goal of the game. This was the 20th goal that the Beach Boys have conceded in the final 15 minutes of games this season and this was the one that confirmed their relegation.

A spirited performance wasn't enough as Rangers' four game winning run at home to an end. However the Beach Boys can go down with their heads held high following a valiant end to the campaign. 

Three points for Havant ends their 14 game winless run and keeps their faint playoff hopes alive.

Small's men will conclude their season on Saturday with a trip to playoff chasing Eastbourne Borough who beat Concord 4-2 earlier in the campaign.

ATT: 210

 

Concord Rangers: Beeney, Popo (Wallace 30'), Ramsay, Thomas, Monville, Hernandez, Kyei (Bettamer 75'), Steward, Hudson, Manor, Modeste (Munns 71')

Goals: Thomas 36', 42', Monville 68'

Havant and Waterlooville: Sharman-Lowe, Passley, Newton, Oastler (Ruff 74'), Magri, McCarthy, Rooney, Jebb, Wright, Roberts, Faal (Kealy 74')

Goals: Wright 14', Jebb 51', 90+4', Kealy 84'

By Nathan Williams