Published: Monday May 07, 2012
Never write off The Boro'

Gosport Borough won their way to the Premier Division in the most dramatic of ways after super-sub Steve Claridge gave them a lifeline.

Boro' were looking at starting next season in the South & West Division after Marvin Brookes had ghosted in on the far side of Gosport's area in the 35th minute and cracked a side-foot effort past Nathan Ashmore.

But the never-say-die attitude that had seen Gosport pick up so many late points this season saved them in injury time. 

Manager Alex Pike had used the last of his three substitutes with 15 minutes left introducing Claridge in a last gasp roll of the dice and the evergreen striker was immediately in the game.  But with time fast running out there were very few who would have believed that a Hollywood script would be played out before their eyes.

With the ground announcer having announced four minutes of injury time, Gosport threw themselves forward.  Goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore had already had a foray up front before Claridge pounced on a loose ball and slotted it past Hutchings with moments left to send the tie to extra-time.

With The Dolphins looking drained by the last, gasp equaliser, it was Gosport who came out for extra-time looking the more in control and when Boro's man-of-the-match Dan Woodward intercepted pass and set Justin Bennett on his way to add a second the home side looked beaten.

Poole tried to lift themselves but Gosport's defence was well on top of all the home side could throw at them and when ex-Boro' 'keeper Hutchings was again beaten - this time by a weak Claridge shot that trickled under the Dolphin's number one, it was as good as over.

Poole tried again but there always seemed to be a yellow shirt ready to deny them any space.  When the final whistle came saw the extremes of football with the Town players scattered around the pitch in the gloom of defeat as their opponents danced in-front of Boro's travelling support.

Final score: Poole Town 1-3 Gosport Borough (aet)

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