Concord Rangers 1–0 Hampton & Richmond Borough

(Cawley 60)

From the Aspect Arena

National League South

A SOLITARY goal from Steve Cawley was enough to hand Concord Rangers a crucial three points in their survival bid against Hampton & Richmond Borough.

The Beach Boys captain nodded home on the hour mark to move Concord eight points clear of the drop zone, with the clean sheet their first in the league since August.

Up against a side chasing promotion, Concord needed a positive start and they should have taken the lead after just six minutes.

Lewis Knight’s long pass out of defence was picked up by a marauding Rob Girdlestone. The right-back’s square pass dropped to Cawley but the usually clinical forward was only about to shoot straight at goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

Lewis Taaffe shot wide as the pressure intensified but Louis Wells was required to keep it level up the other end.

Bradley Hudson-Odoi was well denied by the Beach Boys stopper but Concord looked the brighter when on the front foot.

Nothing could separate the two with half-time looming but the frame of the goal was required to preserve Wells’ clean sheet – Charlie Wassmer rattling the near post.

The first clear-cut chance of the second half brought the first goal and it was a big one for the hosts. Ben Greenhalgh reached the left byline and crossed for Cawley to head home unmarked from five yards.

Hampton’s response was initially muted but they were the width of the post away from getting the leveller with 12 minutes remaining.

Shaun Jeffers’ long range effort beat Wells but not the crossbar. And that was that.

Concord Rangers: Wells, Girdlestone, Brown, Topley, Roast, Knight, Taaffe (Ighorae 82), Freeman, Akinwande, Cawley, Greenhalgh