Concord Rangers 2-0 Hemel Hempstead Town

(Chiedozie 28’, 60’)

From The Aspect Arena

National League South

CONCORD Rangers sealed a 2-0 win over Hemel Hempstead Town to climb further clear of the National League South drop zone.

Jordan Chiedozie claimed a brace as Adam Flanagan’s side moved up to 15th and seven points above third from bottom Gosport Borough.

Chiedozie had the first meaningful effort of the afternoon as he drove into the Tudors’ penalty area, but his tame shot was easily dealt with by goalkeeper Jamie Butler.

Ex-Concord midfielder Ben Greenhalgh, who also counts Italian giants Inter Milan amongst his former clubs, then tested the Beach Boys’ Brighton & Hove Albion loan goalkeeper Bailey Vose with a left footed effort.

Charlie Sheringham, the son of Champions League winner Teddy, was put through one-on-one with Vose but his attempted chip was comfortable saved by the Concord number one.

Midway through the first half, Beach Boys winger Sam Collins came close to catching Butler off his line. But his effort from 40 yards went inches over the crossbar.

With 28 minutes on the clock, Chiedozie gave the home side the lead.

A Collins cross was flicked on by Concord skipper Steve Cawley and Chiedozie tapped the ball home from close range.

Adam Flanagan’s side nearly doubled their lead five minutes before half time as good build-up play led to a low cross from Chiedozie into the path of Amos Nasha. But the former West Ham United trainee was just beaten to the ball by Butler, who diverted the ball behind for a corner.

Tudors captain Jordan Parkes came within inches of getting the away side back on level terms just before half time. His free kick left Vose rooted to the spot but his effort went just the wrong side of the post.

Sheringham was then denied by Vose as Concord managed to go in at the interval ahead.

Ten minutes into the second half, Chiedozie sent a low shot just wide of the target after latching onto a Cawley flick-on.

Hemel midfielder Matt Saunders was denied by a good block and, on the counter attack, Chiedozie went on a great run and was cynically fouled by Kyle Connolly, who was booked.

Chiedozie took the resulting free kick and found the top corner to double his and Concord’s tally on the hour mark.

Nasha and Cawley saw efforts blocked after Collins’ deflected effort had just looped over the crossbar for a corner.

On 72 minutes, Sheringham headed a Hemel corner over from close range.

A long punt upfield by Vose found Cawley with just five minutes to play but Butler was equal to the captain’s attempted lob.

But two goals was enough for the Beach Boys to climb further clear of the National League South drop zone.

Concord Rangers: Vose, Girdlestone, Wyatt, Nasha, McKenzie, Laucys, Chiedozie, Miles, Sembie-Ferris (Topley 87’), Cawley, Collins

Hemel Hempstead Town: Butler, Driver, Connolly (Gordon 72’), Parkes (Highfield 87’), Diagne, Spring, Greenhalgh, Saunders, Kaloczi, Sheringham, Asafu-Adjaye