I came on a warm autumn afternoon, with a friend and his grandson, to watch Concord Rangers, newly relegated in 2023 from the National League South to the Isthmian Premier League. Their opponents today, were Folkestone Invicta.

The Aspect Stadium is found on the water’s edge in Canvey Island, Essex. It has three covered seated grand stands along one side and one bigger grandstand on the opposite side. There is also a clubhouse, refreshment stand and covered standing behind one goal and an open terrace at the other end.

The ground sits adjacent to a caravan park and there was a smell which was either drains, local manure treatment or possible emanating from the gas works on the other side of the ground. I remained unsure!

The league table at kick off revealed a tale of two starts. Folkestone Invicta sat in tenth place with twelve points from eight games. Concord Rangers were firmly rooted to the bottom of the table with no points to show from their opening seven matches.

Folkestone’s goals this season have largely come from Ira Jackson (6) and Ibrahim Olutade (6). Manager Roland Edge would have come into today’s fixture expecting the victory that would elevate his side and reaffirm their drive for at least a play off place.

Concord Rangers, named after a local beach, which has led to their nickname (The Beachboys”), are managed by Sammy Collins and have struggled for goals this season, with only four goals coming thus far in seven games.

The first half started with Concord Rangers having much of the pressure. They attacked with more resilience and confidence than their goal scoring record suggested. Kinali and Skarni caused problems for the Folkestone Invicta defence, which their Captain, Gayle, usually found solutions to.

The last third of the opening 45 minutes saw Folkestone push forward, driven by good inter passing play between Smith, Cole and Olutade. However at the break the sides were still tied, with the game goalless.

The game continued after the break with both teams locked together battling for the advantage. The deadlock was broken on 58 minutes, when substitute Jordan Ababio used his extra pace to break free of the Concord defence and fire Folkestone Invicta 0-1 ahead.

Two minutes later, in the 60th minute, the equilibrium was restored when Concord Rangers levelled after a headed goal from a corner by Harrison Day.

Both sides returned to cautiously trying to break holes in the other’s defence to secure what would be a winning goal. In the 83rd minute it was the home team who forged ahead, when substitute Tahjae Anderson bundled the ball across the Folkestone Invicta goal line.

There was still time for Folkestone to hit the post and have a chance cleared off the line, before the referee blew time on the game and Concord Rangers celebrated wildly with their first points of the season and to end a run of seven straight league defeats.