NICKY Cowley scored his second goal of the season to give Concord Rangers their fourth win in five games.

His 55th minute header was enough for the Beachboys, who were much the better side in the second half after a very tight first half.

It was a game of few clear-cut chances, but Cowley rose highest to meet a superb James White free kick that was whipped in from the right.

Thurrock were a decent match for Concord, who sat seventh in the table before the game, but they failed to maintain the urgency they played with in the first half.

The game’s best chances all fell to Concord. Tony Stokes came close on seven minutes, but he couldn’t quite connect with a ball fizzed across goal by White.

Charlie Stimson, returning to the Thurrock starting line up, missed three half-chances in the first half, all created by the lively Harry Honesty off the left wing, who faded out of the game in the second half.

His lack of involvement coincided with Thurrock’s struggle to create chances in the second period. Concord stopper Michael Jordon was rarely called into action.

Stokes came close to doubling Concord’s lead in the 80th minute when he got two stabs at a ball in from Danny Spendlove. His first header at the back post was saved by David Hughes and he then prodded the rebound onto the post.

In all, the second half was a slightly scrappier affair, but on balance of play, the right team won.

Thurrock: Hughes; Jones, Walster, Guest, Paul; Thurgood, Smith, Jefferies, Paxman; Honesty, Stimson.

Concord: Jordon; Coyne, Glozier, Cowley, Easterford; Lampe, Spendlove, White, Stokes; Walker, Elmes.

Echo MOM: Nicky Cowley (Concord Rangers).