Concord Rangers 2-3 Kingstonian

Last season's debacle at Margate taught Ks fans that even a three goal lead is never safe, and the lesson was nearly repeated once more as Essex's Concord Rangers made a late rally in injury time to give Ks a hairy finish.

They eventually hung on, thanks to a 3-0 lead they had earned that reflected little of the run of play. It nonetheless represented seven points in three games for Alan Dowson, as his side moves up the table from their disastrous start to the term.

It was the home side who had much the better of the opening half hour though, most notably when Inih Effione and Tony Stokes came close with fine efforts. Ks had barely got into the game by the 31st minute yet suddenly found themselves ahead; an innocuous long shot from Sam Clayton somehow squirmed through Richard Hayward's hands to give the visitors the lead.

Almost immediately, Ks were two up, thanks to the Sutton United connection. Romone McCrae leapt highest and headed Alan Jenkins' free kick over Hayward to put the visitors well in chance.

Concord had two more good chances either side of half time, but the same two players once again failed to hit the target with good chances.

Kurt Robinson cleared a Clayton effort off the line, but fortune was again on Ks' side on 71 minutes, as McCrae latched onto an Ali Chaaban through ball and saw his finish cruelly deflect over Hayward to put Ks 3-0 up. Bobby Traynor missed a good chance to make it four as Ks could scarcely believe a scoreline that failed to represent the balance of play.

Yet rarely is the Kingstonian way the easy way, and from a cruise, injury time became a rather panicky affair. Stokes tapped in a cross at the far post and then a minute later Karl Beckford added his name to the huge list of ex-Ks to score against their former club, heading a cross past Tolfrey. The unthinkable did not come to pass though, and Ks held on for a vital win that moves them to within three points of the playoffs.