Beachboys sink Trawlerboys

The Beachboys from Canvey Island stunned the majority of a 2,490 crowd with a 2-1 victory in the Ryman Premier play-off final at Lowestoft Town.

The Trawlerboys were appearing in the final for the third successive year but it was the first time they had enjoyed home advantage and they went into the game as firm favourites.

Concord, though, have a never-say-die spirit about them and, after surviving some early pressure, they took a tenth-minute lead when redoubtable defender Steve King headed home a cross from Ben Greenhalgh.

Lowestoft squared matters 11 minutes later through Scott Mitchell, who met Dan Gleeson’s centre with an excellent glancing header.

After that it was, for the most part, a Concord rearguard action, though they gave an outstanding defensive display and were rarely seriously troubled.

Manager Danny Cowley said that he began to feel it was his side’s day when it was still all square after 70 minutes, and he was to be proved right.

In the 85th minute it was Greenhalgh who again provided a superb cross and this time it was Leon Gordon who met it with his head at the far post (pictured by Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo) to give the Beachboys the edge.

There had been a number of delays because of injuries and Concord had to defend their lines through seven agonising added minutes before the celebrations could begin.

The Beachboys were 16th in the table at the end of October but climbed into the top five over the next month and were there or thereabouts for the rest of the season.

A fourth-place finish gave them a semi-final at Wealdstone, where they forced extra time with a last-minute goal and went on to win 2-1.

They become the sixth former Essex Senior League club to have achieved Conference status, following in the steps of their neighbours Canvey Island, Redbridge, Thurrock, Billericay Town and Hornchurch. Another, East Thurrock United, lost narrowly to Lowestoft in their play-off semi-final last week.

The Trawlerboys have actually spent less time in the Ryman League than their conquerors. This was only their fourth season: they won the North division title at the first attempt while Concord, in their second season, finished runners-up and won the play-offs.