Heading into this derby game, it genuinely looked to be shaping up as one of the game’s of the day. Both sides have picked up twenty points this season, with Gosport sitting in fifth and Sholing in sixth. So on paper, perhaps suggesting it could be a tight game.

The ‘Boatmen’ made a promising start to the game when Jake McCarthy came close to scoring twice within the first 15 minutes. The former Havant & Waterlooville man’s first attempt saw him line up a shot, which ultimately skimmed the crossbar. The second effort (ten minutes onwards) from the forward, needed intervention from Ryan Hall to keep the shot out, as the Gosport keeper tipped the shot over.

Having scored twice in his last game against Bracknell, you probably would have betted for Ethan Taylor to add to that tally. He had a great opportunity when he was given enough space to rifle a shot towards goal. Sholing’s new Nu1, Declan McCarthy reacted well and made a good stop to deny Taylor.

Ten minutes before the break, the deadlock was broken after the hosts’ took the lead. The experienced striker, Dan Mason, was fed a ball, slicing the Gosport defence open and sending the forward one-on-one against Hall. Mason took one glance at goal before unleashing a low-hard shot past the Gosport keeper to give his side the lead.

However Gosport were gifted a late shot of finding their equaliser when they were given a set-piece just outside the 18-yard box. On the right-hand side, Ben Greenwood and Michael Fernandes hovered over. The position favoured Greenwood, as the defender went for goal, curling a left-footed shot towards the keeper’s side. In the end beating McCarthy and squeezing into the top corner, to level the scores just before the break.

Half-Time | Sholing 1-1 Gosport Borough

At the start of second half, Ryan Hall was forced into making some more stops. One requiring him to parry away Tume’s powerful effort; and another seeing the keeper needing to gather McCarthy’s volley which was beamed right at him.

BORO’ largely defended well, but they were unable to deny Dan Mason getting his second. The goalscorer managed to climb his way onto the end of a deep cross, guiding the ball past Hall to restore Sholing’s lead.

Similar to the first half, Gosport left it late, but they managed to find one last chance. Quick flowing football down the right channel, saw Ethan Taylor tee up Benny Read which allowed the wing-back to drill in a cross into the six yard box. Evading the head of Fernandes, it instead fell to Dan Wooden who brought the ball down nicely before chipping a shot towards goal. A Sholing defender did well to clear the shot off the line, but unfortunately for the home side the clearance fell kindly to Greenwood, who cannoned a shot in from close range to secure a late comeback. With the full time whistle sounding moments later:

Full-Time | Sholing 2-2 Gosport Borough.

Another game in which Gosport showed great fight to grab a late point. Up next is another tough test when we take on Poole Town, so we’ll see you then. But final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Gosport’s Starting XI
Hall, Read, Morrison, Wassmer, Tabuck, Ramos, Tshaka, Cook, Fernandes, Greenwood, Taylor

Subs: Walsh-Smith, Wooden, Solley, Jones, Bagnall

Picture by Jack Appleby