CONCORD Rangers, who were without a game, were the biggest winners on the day as Rocks, who had looked their keenest rivals for runners-up spot, suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Redbridge.

It means that Canvey-based Concord are still nine points clear of John Coventry’s men, who they meet twice in the next week, starting at Rookery Hill tomorrow night.

The Thames Road side could afford to lose these two matches and still pip East Thurrock for second place, so vital for home advantage in the end-of-season play-offs.

But Concord will want to maintain their winning form as their closest challengers are now a Wingate and Finchley side who moved to within six points of them from a game more, following Saturday’s 2-1 win at Thamesmead Town.

The vital goal in the East Thurrock encounter came 17 minutes into the second-half when ex-Billericay Town man Jack West shot home after good work by Mark Nougher.

Just as important was the way the hard-working home defence kept Rocks’ strike force, which included top divisional scorer Sam Higgins, quiet for the majority of the afternoon.