Concord Rangers 5-0 Basingstoke Town
From the Aspect Arena
National League South
IT was a five star showing for Concord Rangers as a storming second-half crushed bottom-of-the-table Basingstoke Town to climb clear of the drop zone.
A Steve Cawley hat-trick, including two penalties, helped the Beach Boys to their first home win over the Hampshire team since they were promoted to the second-tier of non-league football in 2013.
Ben Greenhalgh and Max Cornhill completed the scoring for the hosts, with all the goals coming after the interval.
In a goalless first-half, Cawley and Lewis Taaffe came closest but were unable to force the breakthrough, but it was all change after the interval.
The first goal came two minutes into the half, after Joe Gardner was brought down by former Reading and Premier League midfielder James Harper, with Cawley finding the net with ease.
His second wasn’t long in coming, as he finished off a flowing attack with a delicate chip over the backpedalling Aaron Howe.
Not happy with getting his name on the score-sheet, Cawley assisted the third, as he played in Greenhalgh and he struck a low finish into the corner to continue his good recent form.
Taaffe almost made it four, but it was a new face who helped bring about the fourth goal.
Tom Ranger, newly signed from Great Wakering Rovers, won a penalty as he was brought down and Cawley chose the same side to complete his treble.
But Concord saved their best until last, when Cornhill unleashed a powerful drive which soared into the top left hand corner.
Concord Rangers: McNamara, Hammond, Stephen, Cornhill, Lee, Bailey-Dennis, Taaffe (Bantick), White, Greenhalgh (Ranger), Cawley, Gardner
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