Rangers celebrate second consecutive Essex Senior Cup triumph

[FF News]

Vanarama Conference South club Concord Rangers became the first team in ten years to retain the BBC Essex Senior Cup after a 5-0 defeat of Ryman League Premier Division side Billericay Town at Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday night.

Danny Cowley's squad capped an excellent season with county glory, defeating a spirited Billericay side who suffered a red card in each half when Richard Halle and Ricky Sappleton were dismissed.

Rangers entered half-time 3-0 to the good and pressed home their advantage with two more after the break.
The Beachboys raced into the lead with just 4 minutes on the clock. Taylor Miles' fantastic through ball sent Gardner away and he sprinted through before side-footing low into the corner past goalkeeper Ross Kitteridge. Despite going ahead so early, they continued their assault on the Billericay goal, with Gary Ogilvie going close.

Then a huge milestone followed in the 11th minute as Town skipper Halle tugged down Tony Stokes as the last defender, leaving the referee with little option but to produce the red card.

Miles' resulting free-kick sailed over, but Rangers had just 3minutes to wait before converting again. Miles atoned by feeding Stokes, who made no mistake in finding the net from an acute angle.
Town custodian Kitteridge was quickly off his line on the half-hour mark to deny Stokes at the near post, although he could do little about Gardner's second a minute later.

The troublesome front two combined for the latter to take possession of a classy ball and arrow an angled shot into the far corner with the outside of his boot.

Billericay were stunned, though they did fashion a 37th minute opening through Glenn Poole, who flashed a 25-yard free-kick over the top. Concord's James White teed-up Joe Gardner as the break approached, his half-volley bringing a fine save from Kitteridge, though they were already in a very comfortable position at half time.

A player light and three goals down, it would have been easy for Craig Edwards' Town side to feel sorry for themselves, but the re-entered the pitch with purpose, perhaps buoyed by their recovery from a similar position two days earlier in the league.

A positive start saw Rowan Liburd almost reach a Jack Edwards cross, while Afolabi Obafemi's fierce shot cannoned off the top of the crossbar.

However, Rangers killed off any potential recovery with a fourth goal seconds prior to the hour point. Ryan Melaugh's outstretched leg was enough to bring down Gardner in the penalty area and Glozier took responsibility for sending Kitteridge the wrong way and giving Billericay a mountain to climb.

Edwards' sides never lack spirit and, in the face of adversity, Billericay went close again through Liburd's fierce 61st-minute drive which agonisingly clipped the crossbar on its way over. Yet the introduction of Concord's two top scorers from the bench - Steve Cawley and Lewis Taafe - proved to be a bridge too far.

The Blues' cause wasn't helped when they were reduced to nine-men as a result of Sappleton's dismissal for a foul when deemed to have led with his elbow.

Concord took full advantage and it was the in-form Taafe who buried a loose ball from close range thanks to Steve King's angled, free header into his path.

Source: www.footballconference.co.uk

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