Concord Rangers 1-4 East Thurrock United

(Akinwande 72: Cornhill 9, Scott 24, Smith 50, Higgins 57)

From the Aspect Arena

National League South

EAST Thurrock United all but secured their position in the National League South for next season with a crushing win at Concord Rangers.

Rocks were 4-1 winners against their near rivals, who struggled to get near a dominant away side all night.

Goals from Max Cornhill, Ryan Scott, Lewis Smith and Sam Higgins handed Rocks three points, with the home side left licking their wounds from a humbling evening.

Rocks welcomed Scott back into the fold after he returned from a stint abroad and he slotted alongside Higgins in an unfamiliar front pairing.

And the game burst into life inside two minutes. Smith forced Concord goalkeeper Louis Wells into action only for the hosts to break and Khale Da Costa to blaze over when well placed.

And it was unsurprising when the game brought an early goal. A Reece Harris corner was met by former Beach Boys midfielder Cornhill and although Wells got a strong hand on the ball he couldn’t keep it out.

Rocks were on top. Cornhill, Smith and Higgins all saw shots blocked from a corner as the away fans behind the goal appealed without success for a penalty.

But Rocks’ dominance was to be rewarded by a second goal. Another corner was not dealt with and Scott was on hand to find the top corner from five yards.

The threat down the left from Harris and Smith was one Concord were struggling to deal with, as Rocks continued to dominate the half.

Concord needed a response but five minutes into the half it appeared to be game over.

After Wells had expertly denied Higgins, the ball was recycled and Smith guided the ball home from eight yards.

Five minutes later Higgins added his name to the scoresheet with a powerful finish high into the net.

The Beach Boys introduced Femi Akinwande with 20 minutes remaining and the striker made an immediate impact. Da Costa won a penalty and Akinwande found the net with ease.

But the damage had been done.

Concord Rangers: Wells, Girdlestone, Brown, Topley, Roast, Knight, Da Costa (Ighorae 76), Freeman, Taaffe (Sims 88), Cawley (Akinwande 67), Greenhalgh

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Scott (Honesty 70’), Harris, Peddie, Clark, White, Sammons, Burns (Darling 47), Higgins, Cornhill, Smith (Christou 82)