Concord Rangers 3-1 Eastbourne Borough

(Stokes 7’, Della-Verde 30’, King 80’: Romain 36’)

From The Aspect Arena

National League South

By Dan Thurogood

CONCORD Rangers made it back-to-back home wins as they took their chances to secure a 3-1 victory against Eastbourne Borough.

Tony Stokes grabbed the first before a stunning goal from Lyle Della-Verde put the hosts 2-0 up.

Elliot Romain pulled one back for the visitors before Steve King’s finish with 10 minutes remaining rounded off a good afternoon’s work.

And Concord boss Adam Flanagan said he was pleased his side were now putting in consistent good performances.

“The group are really starting to produce good performances based on a high work rate and it’s pleasing to see,” he said. “Eastbourne had a fair amount of chances but we took our chances.

“It was important for us after losing last week (at Ebbsfleet).

“I feel we needed that third goal as they really put us under pressure in the second-half.”

The home side started the better of the two and deservedly went in front.

Good work through the middle sent the returning Taylor Miles through and his reverse pass through found Stokes whose first effort was blocked but he made no mistake with his second.

Eastbourne responded well and nearly equalised within two minutes of falling behind - Ryan Case smashing a 30 yard drive off the post.

Moments later home goalkeeper Bailey Vose was called into action as he parried Romain’s header away from danger.

Stokes nearly added his second as his drive from 30 yards was well tipped over by Jordan Holmes although Nathaniel Pinney came closer for the visitors.

His header smacked the underside of the bar before falling to Romain whose effort was then cleared off the line by Rob Girdlestone.

However, it was Concord that struck next - Lyle Della-Verde hitting a superb effort from 30 yards which hit the bar and the post before going across the line to increase the hosts lead.

Romain finally took a chance and pulled the away side back into the match, tapping in from close range.

Ian Simpemba hit the bar for a third time for Eastbourne before substitute King reacted quickest to a rebound after Miles’ free-kick hit the bar to slot home.

Concord Rangers: Vose, Girdlestone, Wyatt, Nasha (Collins 78’), McKenzie, Norman (King 57’), Sembie-Ferris, White, Della-Verde, Miles, Stokes (Cawley 65’)