Skrill Conference South club Concord Rangers ended their best ever season on a high, lifting the Essex Senior Cup in front of jubilant Beachboys fans at Dagenham & Redbridge FC as goals from Sam Collins and James White saw them record a notable victory over Conference Premier side Braintree Town.
Rangers defied a one-step disadvantage to their opponents as they aimed to lift the impressive silverware for the first time and a strike in each half enabled Danny Cowley's men to prevail despite a late consolation from Braintree's James Mulley. The Concord boss was naturally overjoyed at full time, having drawn a curtain on a magnificent campaign.
Following up last season's promotion from the Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division via the play-offs and League Cup win, he reacted: "We did what we've been doing all season. To beat a team of Braintree's quality is testimony to us. What we've achieved this season is great and this is a superb way to end it. We had great support, too."
Both sides entered the game in high spirits having just achieved the highest league placings in their histories, with Braintree finishing in sixth place and Concord achieving ninth in their first campaign in the Conference South. Rangers had already advanced past Colchester United in the Semi-Finals, while the Iron knocked out holders AFC Hornchurch in the last four.
All the ingredients were in place for a tight, competitive encounter as the finalists had conceded just three goals between them on their roads to the final. A team from Braintree were involved in the first ever final in 1884 - albeit a very different club - and Alan Devonshire's men quickly set about trying to win their second Senior Cup in their current guise.
In just the 3rd minute there was an early chance for Town as top scorer Dan Holman found Mulley, who rolled a low shot against the foot of the far post. Shortly afterwards they added further to what was a bright start with a half chance for striker Sean Marks. He flicked the ball onto Holman, but Concord goalkeeper Jamie Butler was equal to his header.
Concord burst into life after negotiating a tricky early spell and grabbed a sensational lead in the 17th minute. Gary Ogilvie had been the only scorer in their semi-final victory but this time he was the provider, sending an accurate ball over to Collins who made no mistake in rifling the ball powerfully into the far corner.
Mid-way through the half another flurry of opportunities arrived, firstly when Holman's angled half-volley dropped wide of the Concord goal from 20 yards then, at the other end, Collins centred for skipper Tony Stokes who couldn't quite direct his header on target. Another chance for Town saw Daniel Sparkes' left-flank, far post cross nodded wide by a diving Mulley.
If Braintree could have levelled before half time it would have changed the complexion of the match and they went mightily close two minutes into stoppage time. However, they found custodian Butler in fine form and he made a superb double save to keep his side ahead at the interval, much to the frustration of Holman.
As the hour mark approached, Devonshire began to shuffle his pack with the introduction of substitute forward Jordan Cox. He was quickly involved in the action with a chipped centre towards the back post where Mulley again headed just over the top. That impact was limited, and Concord doubled their lead on 69 minutes.
Once again Collins was involved, watching his free kick being parried by goalkeeper Nik Hamann but only into the path of White, who was able to bundle the ball over the line. Rangers were already full of belief, though now they could justifiably consider themselves Senior Cup winners if they were able to hold on for the remaining minutes.
Braintree threw on more replacements in a desperate bid to regain some momentum, going close once more through Cox's 73rd-minute header which was cleared off the goal line from fellow substitute Bradley Quinton's cross. They did get on the score sheet six minutes into added time at the end, Mulley knocking Quinton's corner home, but it was to no avail.
Captain Stokes was responsible for lifting the trophy during the presentations at full time and the Beachboys' celebrations displayed how much the success meant to them. Their recent elevation through the leagues is particularly impressive given that their only previous County Cup triumph was as winners of the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy as recently as 1979. On this evidence, there is no reason why their epic rise cannot continue.
