Concord Rangers 1-2 Whitehawk

From the Aspect Arena

National League South

 

By Dan Thurogood

 

A MISERABLE week for Concord Rangers was completed as Whitehawk scored a later winner to condemn the Beach Boys to a third consecutive defeat.

The result came a day after assistant manager Jody Brown stepped down from his position, citing ‘circumstances’ on his Twitter account.

The match itself saw two Whitehawk substitutes combine for the winner. Danny Mills scored after good work down the right-hand side, with Arnaud Mendy providing a low cross for the other substitute to turn home at Thames Road.

Concord made a flying start to the match and found themselves a goal ahead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Striker Steve Cawley latched onto a lofted through ball before cutting inside, with Whitehawk defender Jordan Rose deemed to have handled by referee Robert Mackay as he slid in.

Rose was yellow carded despite being the last man, and Cawley powerfully converted from 12 yards via the hand of goalkeeper Craig Ross.

After the half hour mark the Hawks started to build sustained pressure. Shamir Fenlon had a one-on-one which Ben McNamara, but the Concord keeper saved with his legs.

Soon after David Martin, once of Crystal Palace, whipped in a free-kick but Rose’s header was collected by the goal keeper at the second attempt.

But the equaliser wasn’t long in coming. Jake Robinson rose highest to head low into the left-hand corner after a floated cross by former Peterborough man Sergio Torres.

In first-half stoppage time, Concord had a golden chance as a low cross by Bertie Brayley deflected off Rose before falling to Cawley, but his half volley was incredibly turned onto the crossbar by Ross from six yards.

But Whitehawk netted the decisive goal with 15 minutes to play, with Concord struggling to create a chance to force a draw.

 

Concord Rangers: McNamara, Hammond, Stephen, Cornhill (Doyle), King, Bailey-Dennis, White, Brayley (Greenhalgh), Cawley, Taaffe (Stokes), Gardner