Concord Rangers 0–1 Mansfield Town

FA Cup First Round replay

From Aspect Arena

 

CONCORD Rangers FA Cup adventure was brought to an end by Mansfield Town on a dark and damp night at the Aspect Arena.

The Beachboys were looking to write another chapter in their extraordinary history, which has seen them rise from Essex Senior League football to the Conference South in the last decade.

The only goal came an hour into the contest, with the lively Ollie Palmer tapping in from close range but Concord’s resolve never weakened, and they came within inches of forcing injury time late on.

It was the hosts that made the early running in the driving rain. Good work from Lewis Taaffe, who had replaced club captain Tony Stokes in the starting line-up, saw defender Matt Fry have time to turn and shoot in the area.

However, Sascha Studer, who was named man-of-the-match in last Tuesday’s 1-1 draw, was able to push the ball to safety.

Stags, under the guidance of new caretaker manager Adam Murray, came back and were close to breaking the deadlock when Chris Clements sent a free-kick narrowly off target.

But, spurred on by more than 1,200 Beachboys fans, the first clear-cut chance of the match came to the hosts. The tenacious Taaffe broke through, reaching the loose ball ahead of Studer but his goalbound effort was blocked by Marsden on the goal line.

Ollie Palmer was driving the Stags forward, his effort blocked away when he could perhaps have done better but the League Two team were unable to contend with their non-league opponents.

Jordan Chiedozie, who scored the equaliser that forced the replay, shot just over while, at the other end Matt Fry and Jack Lampe were playing superbly to keep Mansfield’s attacking threat quiet.

Mansfield’s best opening of the first-half came as the clock ticket into added time but ex-Beachboys defender Ryan Tafazolli could only direct his header wide of the far post.

Fergus Bell, one of Stags’ best players a week ago, was introduced at the break and his effect was immediate.

A through-ball found the run of Palmer and he forced the Beachboys on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Josh Vickers into his first save with his legs.

Moments later and Bell crashed a shot off Vickers’ bear-hand post as Murray’s men cranked up the pressure.

Heslop shot wide before Bell and Palmer linked up, with the latter firing inches over.

Concord came into life as the clock ticked over the hour mark, with Sam Collins’ low cross just missing the onrushing home strikers.

But then Mansfield struck, Palmer hitting the target from close range after excellent wing play from Rob Taylor.

Chiedozie went down in the box under pressure from away skipper Martin Riley but the referee waved away the calls and, on the counter, Palmer should have put the game beyond doubt.

Breaking through he had only Vickers to beat but the 18-year-old stood tall and blocked with his legs, to keep the game in the balance.

Concord’s chance to force extra time came with five minutes remaining. Substitute Tony Stokes did brilliantly to force the ball to Chiedozie and, in the penalty area, he flicked the ball just over Studer’s crossbar when the slightest touch would have seen the equaliser.

But it was the visitors who held out to book a second round tie at Cambridge United.

Concord Rangers: Vickers, Walker, Glozier (Miles), Woodyard, Lampe, Fry, White, Chiedozie, Taaffe (Gardner), Collins, Cawley (Stokes)

Mansfield Town: Studer, Riley, Tafazolli, Palmer (Rhead), Heslop, Thompson-Lambe, Beevers, Marsden, Taylor (Bingham), Clements, Sendles-White (Bell)