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Rob Russell hunts down the ball during Basildon's 1-0 win. |
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Basildon United |
1-0 |
Concord Rangers |
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Menga |
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The Stadium |
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3.00pm, Saturday 5 February 05 |
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Essex Senior League |
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Attendance: |
Basildon made it five without defeat as they overcame a one-man deficit for much of the second-half to record a hard-fought victory against Concord Rangers at Gardiners Close.
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Opting for a similar formation that earned a draw at Romford seven days earlier, John Doyle had to make personnel changes for the suspended Alan Wood and injury-victim Frank McArdle. In came Terry Merchant at right-back, which pushed Michael Risely into right-midfield, while Jamie Bradbury joined Rob Russell and Adrian Smith in midfield after three weeks out.
And the well-organised Basildon side controlled the opening exchanges and they soon found themselves a goal up. Risely's deep cross from the right towards the edge of the box was turned goalwards past the advancing Concord 'keeper by his own defender. A galloping Laverne Menga made chase after the loose ball before seeing it over the line and into the empty net.
Soon though, Menga would become guilty of a series of offside decisions which made it difficult for the home side to break their opponents down. Smith perhaps enjoying the best chance to extend the lead when his header flicked over the 'keeper's reach went just wide of the upright.
After the break, Basildon came out intent on preserving their advantage, but when Menga saw red for a second bookable offence after just five minutes, the task was made all the more testing.
A re-shuffle was needed and Merchant made way for Chris Clarke who slotted into the hole left by Menga, leaving the Bees with three at the back.
All ideas of pretty football were discarded and the job of claiming all three points became the focus. The defensive trio of Lee Forbes, Nick Dickson and Jamie Lewis held firm as Concord were restricted to only two real chances, one striking the upright from an in-swinging free-kick; and a corner, which was helped on just past the post.
At the other end, Bradbury had a chance with a diving header from another Risely delivery, but the save was easy for the stopper.
As the final whistle sounded, it was delight for Basildon who stretch their recent run of form and with it, move up one place in the table to eighth.
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Team
Dean Neil,
Terry Merchant (Chris Clarke),
Jamie Lewis,
Lee Forbes,
Nick Dickson,
Michael Risely,
Adrian Smith,
Jamie Bradbury,
Laverne Menga,
Rob Russell (c),
Billy Thompson.
Subs not used:
Ian Tucker, Tim Cordell.
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