It means that Gosport stay second place in the Southern League Premier, continuing their recent winning streak before games against Swindon Supermarine and Yate Town in the FA Cup this week.

Although Boro’ saw an effort by Joe Lea fly harmlessly over the crossbar, Yate Town were looking dangerous in attack as Andy Lewis shot wide from the edge of the box. But the visitors weren’t to rue this mixed opportunity as they took the lead on six minutes as a long ball was only partially cleared. It fell to winger Oliver Mehew who collected and calmly slotted into the corner from 18 yards.

Frustration for Gosport threatened to boil over as Dan Wooden was booked for jumping onto the back of a Yate defender, but thankfully Boro’ settled down and created their first real chance after nineteen minutes. Lea’s cross was headed into the path of Pat Suraci whose header was clawed away by away keeper Andrew Hannah’s fingertips. From this set-piece the ball was worked out to Harvey Rew whose effort was going wide until Matt Briggs toe-poked home to equalise the scores on 20 minutes for his first Gosport goal.

This open encounter continued as David Sims-Burgess headed wide from a corner and captain Samuel Kamara fired harmlessly over from range for the visitors, whilst James Harding nearly beat Albert White to a long ball on 28 minutes. Down the other end Gosport saw Theo Lewis fire over the crossbar from a tight angle, whilst Suraci had an effort blocked just after the half hour mark. But the last chance of the first half was the closest; White flying to his right to save a floated free kick by Yate’s Joseph Temelty on 44 minutes.

The second half started quietly with Yate seeing multiple corners down the left; which led to William Tunnicliff’s effort blocked at source. Moments later Harding’s header was stopped on the line before Lewis’ shot was cleared by Luke Hallett after a break-away down the left. On the hour mark Gosport had their first chance in a while as they won a free-kick twenty yards out, which was blocked twice as Suraci could only fire straight into the wall.

Yate were continuing to look dominant as Sims-Burgess beat three defenders as he ran round the outside; his shot from an angle going wide with the bottom corner calling. The visitors were regretting these missed opportunities as Borough took a surprise lead on 75 minutes with arguably their only foray forward. Suraci found space down the right and advanced into space, before playing a low ball into the corridor of uncertainty, finding Nicky Dembele at the back post to score inside the open goalmouth.

Yate looked stunned at falling behind with the game settling into a sedate tone, with Gosport trying to hold on for another three points at Privett Park. This was a task that was completed in relative ease by the home side, despite late efforts of Joshua Allen and Mehew down the left. But after three minutes of stoppage time, there was no late drama as Gosport held on for all three points and their fourth straight league victory.