Heybridge Swifts 0–1 Concord Rangers

From Victoria Road

Essex Senior Cup final

CONCORD Rangers created history once again as they won the Essex Senior Cup for a third time against an extremely plucky Heybridge Swifts.

A scruffy goal from Ben Greenhalgh in the first 15 minutes settled the match, although Ryman One North Heybridge were more than a match for the team from the National League South.

History was at stake for both sides, with Concord looking to make it three wins, and all in the last three seasons, while it was Swifts’ first appearance in the showpiece.

Concord were the overwhelming favourites for the final, with Swifts fighting relegation two division’s below the Beach Boys, but it was an even start to the encounter.

Swifts were looking to utilise the pace of Jack Barham and Lamar Reynolds, while Concord looked most likely through Lewis Taaffe and Greenhalgh.

It was clear Heybridge would need some luck on their side but it was the Beach Boys that made the breakthrough in fortuitous circumstances after 15 minutes.

Bantick’s drive from the left was parried by Danny Sambridge and as the attempted clearance was made by the defender the ball cannoned off Greenhalgh and into the corner.

Swifts had not threatened in the Concord penalty area up to that point although they had a golden chance to draw level minutes after falling behind when Phil Anderson swivelled in the box, but could only shoot into Ben McNamara’s midriff.

Swifts were growing into the game, but it was Concord that almost doubled their lead after 25 minutes when Greenhalgh and Bantick broke from a Heybridge corner, with the former playing in the latter but Bantick could only strike the near post.

Greenhalgh’s free-kick was tipped over at one end while McNamara stopped John Easterford’s block flying into his own net.

Just one goal in it at the break, it should have been 2-0 five minutes after the break when Steve Cawley held off his man and saw his shot parried by the goalkeeper with Bantick unable to turn home the rebound.

But Swifts continued to press, buoyed on by their terrific support, with a long range free-kick testing McNamara.

A fracas between Bantick and Lewis Dark saw a yellow card apiece as the match entered the final 15 minutes.

Reynolds came close to forcing a leveller late on when his strike across McNamara forced the Australian into a smart stop, while the keeper made another save to deny the excellent Barham what should have been the equaliser.

Reynolds reached the byline and, after the ball was flicked into his path, Barham could only divert straight at the keeper.

Lewis Taaffe shot straight at Sambridge at the other end and, despite a valiant effort from Swifts, it was Concord that went on to lift the trophy and join the record books.

Heybridge Swifts: Sambridge, Doyle, Emsden, Dark, Thomas, Anderson, Pooley, Godbold, Barham, Alleyne (Duyile), Reynolds

Concord Rangers: McNamara, Dowie, Stephen, Cornhill, King, Easterford, Taaffe, White, Greenhalgh, Cawley, Bantick (Collins)