Ryman Football League DIVISION ONE NORTH Northwood 0 Concord Rangers 3
A FIRST home league defeat since October dented Northwood's play-off chances.
Concord Rangers left Chestnut Avenue with a 3-0 win and they now trail the Woods by just one point in the race for a top five finish.
Rangers were already leading 1-0 when Northwood goalkeeper Mitch Swain was dismissed for protesting the award of a penalty, which the visitors converted and later added a third goal to heap more misery on their hosts.
Both sides began brightly in the spring sunshine as Hugo Figueiredo was denied by a last ditch tackle following a slick Northwood move and Concord's Yohance Lewis saw his shot deflected wide.
John Christian was the next to try his luck for the Woods as his half-volley found the arms of goalkeeper Dale Brightley but Northwood's rhythm was interrupted when Lee Holland suffered a nasty cut above the eye which required stitches. He was replaced by Danny Power yet as Woods reorganised Concord capitalised, Danny Heale catching Swain out from long range to give the visitors a 21st minute lead.
Buoyed by the goal Concord continued to threaten and former Woods striker Elliott Buchanan, on loan from Stevenage, went close before substitute Joe Gardener sent a speculative effort narrowly over the crossbar.
A low shot from Anthony Page flew the wrong side of the upright as North-wood gradually regained their composure and at the other end Swain deflected a Liam Hopkins free kick on to the bar, before the game swung decisively towards the visitors.
Ryan Tackley was adjudged to have impeded Heale and Swain was shown two yellow cards as he protested to both linesman and referee, before Heale stepped up to convert the 45th minute penalty past replacement goalkeeper Rob Pearce. Power was the unfortunate player sacrificed.
The 10 men emerged from the break in determined fashion and Eugene Ofori set up Dwain Williams whose shot cannoned off Brightley's legs, while Ofori latched on to Figueiredo's corner but his powerful header flew over.
However, the Woods were hit with a sucker punch as Concord broke quickly to add a third goal, Lewis stroking home to put the final nail in the coffin on 57 minutes.
The hosts refused to throw in the towel and they created a number of chances with Page, Ofori and Williams all having a bite at the cherry in one goalmouth melee, but Brightley mopped up.
