Sutton United 2–0 Concord Rangers

From the Borough Sports Ground

FA Trophy third qualifying round

 

CONCORD Rangers could not repeat their victory over Sutton United as their FA Trophy journey came to an end.

The match was a re-arranged tie, after the FA ordered the match to be played again after Concord had admitted to a charge of playing an ineligible player in the original fixture.

The Beach Boys had won that match 3-1, having lost 3-0 in the league just a week later, and the first-half was also an exciting affair.

Sutton were on the offensive in the early exchanges, with a strike that tested Ben McNamara in the away goal, although Steve Cawley was causing problems at the other end.

The striker maneuvered space and fired on target but Ross Worner produced a fine save between the Sutton posts.

Concord winger Ben Greenhalgh was denied after he got his shot away under pressure, as Lewis Taaffe also threatened, although Sutton came closest to forcing the opener.

A free-kick was clipped in and, beating McNamara, the ball hit the underside of the bar and looked as though it crossed the line, but referee Ashvin Degnarain shook his head.

But Sutton did get the goal before the interval. A fine long-range effort hammered the bar and Dan Flitchett tapped in the rebound.

Sutton started the second-half in the ascendancy too, and doubled their lead just after the hour mark.

A free-kick in a central area was curled home by Ross Stearn.

Both sides exchanged chances to get an important third goal in the tie, with the home side looking the more likely and they held on for the victory.

 

Concord Rangers: McNamara, Hammond, Lee, Dowie, Easterford (King), Bailey-Dennis, Taaffe, White (Cornhill), Greenhalgh, Cawley, Gardner