Last gasp goal sends City to Concord defeat

A stoppage time goal condemned City to a 3-2 defeat against Concord Rangers this evening. It was hard on the Romans who had looked the better side for most of the evening, only to end up empty-handed and back at the foot of the Vanarama National League South. The game kicked off 50 minutes late after City got held up on the M25 but they made light of this disruption to go ahead on 10 minutes, Tom Smith driving home from Ryan Harley’s well-worked corner. However, two goals in three minutes saw Concord turn the game in their favour. On 14 minutes, Wall got in behind the City defence to lift a shot over Ryan Clarke, then moments later the ball broke to Pollock to smash it into the net from 10 yards out. Wall was denied by Clarke four minutes later before City began to get on top. Donovan Wilson lifted a great chance over the bar seconds after Clarke’s save then Will Dean was desperately unlucky to see his header cleared off the line by Simper. The home side rallied late in the first half, Wall and Simper both wasting chances, but City could feel unfortunate to reach half-time behind. An early Tommy Conway shot straight at Przybek set the tone for the second half and just before the hour mark City levelled from the penalty spot, when Conway was bundled over by Shaw near the touchline. He got up to beat Przybek from 12 yards despite the keeper almost keeping out his effort. Wilson fashioned two shooting chances after this but both times they lacked the power to beat Przybek before Pollock shot over for the Beachboys when well-placed. With three minutes left Conway was inches from putting City in front, his low shot hitting the post, and in the final minutes of stoppage time Concord made the most of this escape. Clarke had initially produced a great save to keep out Wall’s free-kick but from the resultant corner Charles bundled the ball home from close range to grab the three points for his side.