Colchester United 1-3 Concord Rangers

From the Weston Homes Community Stadium

Essex Senior Cup semi-final

 

CONCORD Rangers reached their third Essex Senior Cup final in succession after they overcame a youthful Colchester United side 3-1 in the last four.

The Beach Boys, who are looking to retain their titles from the last two years, had Lewis Taaffe, Steve Cawley and Jay Dowie to thank for the goals, although Colchester had leveled from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark.

Taaffe scored the opener after 26 minutes, when Cawley played him through and he finished composedly past the goalkeeper.

But five minutes later the scores were level. A trip in the penalty area allowed Louis Dunne to strike beyond goalkeeper Ollie Bowles, who had been recalled from a loan spell at Brentwood Town.

It was another penalty that put Adam Flanagan’s men back in front just after the hour mark, and Cawley who profited from a handball in the penalty area as he shot home.

Sam Collins made a welcome return in the last 20 minutes, having recovered from a double leg break on the opening day of the season, but it was Dowie that completed the scoring.

Substitute Alex Osborn went on a mazy run and, although his effort was saved, Dowie was on hand to turn home the loose ball and set up a final against Heybridge Swifts, Tilbury or Redbridge.

 

Concord Rangers: Bowles, Hammond, Stephen, Dowie, King, Lee, Taaffe, White, Greenhalgh (Collins), Cawley (Cornhill), Bantick (Osborn)