Damage in the Box!: CONCORD RANGERS (Thames Road Stadium)

The final game of a weeks groundhopping found me below sea level on the Island of Canvey, or more specifically Thames Road, the home of Concord Rangers.

The Beach Boys' rise up the pyramid has been quite rapid and they now find themselves in the top division of the Isthmian league just three seasons after gaining promotion from the Essex Senior League. Indeed, in football terms, they are a relatively "new" club having been formed as recently as 1967.

Concord are having a tremendous first season in the Premier League and although they were in 9th position at the start of play, they are just 4 points off the play off places. Their more famous opponents today were just three points ahead of them at the start of play in 6th position, so a close game was on the cards.

The game was goalless at the interval, however Concord had the better of the attacking play but let themselves down in the final third. The closest them came was an effort that was pushed onto the post by the K's goalkeeper. They eventually took the lead in the 49th minute Tony Stokes fired home. The advantage was doubled in the 68th minute when a hesitant defence allowed the ball to run through to Ashley Miller whose low shot beat the 'keeper.

Stokes was causing all kinds of problems to the Kingstonian defence and he should've wrapped up the game for the homesters, but his effort crashed back off the bar. In the final minute Paul Vines scored an overhead kick (is it me or is everyone now trying it since that Judas shithouse scored against Citeh?) to half the deficit but it was too late. Overall though it was a thoroughly deserved home win.

All that was left was to try and negotiate my way off the Island...Welcome to Canvey...you'll never leave!