CONCORD Rangers have all but secured their National League South play-off place after registering a 2-1 win over St Albans City.
First half goals from Sam Ashford and Alex Wall put the Beach Boys on course for all three points at the Aspect Arena.
Although James Kaloczi gave the Saints hope of staging a comeback, Sammy Moore’s side held on for victory.
Ashford forced St Albans goalkeeper Dean Snedker into an early save after good hold-up play from Sam Blackman.
However, Ashford would not be denied with 13 minutes on the clock as he grabbed the opener. Jack Midson’s cross looped up and the former East Thurrock United man was on hand to flick the ball home from close range.
And the Beach Boys doubled their advantage five minutes later as Ashford’s neat pullback was fired home by Wall.
However, the visitors halved the deficit four minutes before the break as Kaloczi nodded home.
Concord thought they had made the perfect start to the second half as Wall converted from close range after Snedker had kept out Midson, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Wall then nodded Blackman’s wayward effort just over the crossbar as the hosts looked to restore their two-goal advantage.
Snedker got down well to make a smart save to deny Ashford a second goal of the afternoon as the clash ticked into the final 10 minutes.
But Concord had done enough to triumph and will go into the final day of the campaign knowing that a major goal-swing would be needed to deny them a place in the play-offs.
Concord Rangers: Beasant, Popo, Smith, Maloney (Abdulla 88), Essam, Sterling, Luque (Minshull 46), Blackman, Wall (Gardner 72), Midson, Ashford
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