Concord Rangers 1-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

(Cawley 40’ (p): Bunting 6’, Lorraine 15’, Ashton 19’)

From the Aspect Arena

FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round

CONCORD Rangers’ couldn’t overcome their recent league struggles in the FA Cup as they went down 3-1 to lower-league AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

The Beach Boys were blitzed by three early goals and failed to recover, albeit the away goalkeeper had to make some impressive second-half saves to ensure the Northern League Division One South side went through.

Manager Adam Flanagan had only played one FA Cup match as Concord boss before this tie, going down to Wingate & Finchley at this stage last season.

And it looked very much as though this game was going to go the same way, as a terrific start from AFC Rushden & Diamonds saw them storm into a 3-0 lead inside 20 minutes.

Tom Lorraine and Nabil Shariff were proving too hot to handle and the latter was involved in the first goal.

Shariff fed the ball through to Richard Bunting and he slid composedly under the body of Ben McNamara.

Two more chances came and went before the second goal came. Following a corner routine, Ross Outlon volleyed a cross into the danger zone and Lorraine made no mistake from close range.

Joao Carlos forced the first save from the visitors’ goalkeeper as they attempted to respond quickly but it was to go from bad to worse.

Shariff had just come within inches of getting a third before Jack Ashton did, heading home from an Oulton corner.

Concord’s Mark Onyemah headed into the goalkeeper’s arms, with Steve Cawley’s strike blocked shortly before half-time.

But they did get a life-line when Carlos was felled in the penalty area and Cawley tucked away the resultant kick.

The Beach Boys needed to start the second-half well and they so nearly did, Cawley drilling into the side-netting.

But Shariff hit the post up the other end, with Onyemah and substitute Steve King threatening in the opposition’s penalty area.

Jay Dowie was kept out as Concord continued to probe but it was Rushden, two divisions below the hosts, that were in control.

Bunting and Carlos were given their marching orders for separate incidents in the dying embers, but the result wasn't in doubt at that stage.

Concord Rangers: McNamara, Girdlestone, Onyemah, Dowie (Morgan), Lampe (King), Ekpiteta, Hodd, Laucys, Carlos, Cawley, Collins