Having been knocked out by Moneyfields in the Portsmouth Senior Cup last Wednesday, and after picking up just four points from a possible 15 in recent games, BORO’ were looking to make amends against an in form Basingstoke Town.

It was a game which could have massive repercussions for the relegation battle. Gosport on 44 points, Basingstoke on 41, mean’t Basingstoke could have gone level with Gosport with a win, really putting Gosport into that scrap at the bottom of the league.

The hosts’ came close on the eighth minute mark, when Josh Green whipped in a ball that fizzled across the six yard box. Jack Ball worked his way onto the end of the pass firing a shot the wrong side of the post.

Ten minutes before the break there were large appeals for a Stoke’ penalty when George Reid claimed he was grabbed inside the Gosport box, but the referee overlooked these appeals.

The story of this half was mostly just Basingstoke possession but not capitalising from it, being mostly toothless upfront. With it finishing at the break:

Half-Time: Basingstoke 0-0 Gosport

Despite being a pretty mediocre first half, it took just a minute after the restart for the deadlock to be broken. Nwachuku raced down the wing before pulling the ball back into Dan Wooden. The experienced forward headed home for his 19th league goal of the season.

Unfortunately for Dan not too long after his goal he sustained an injury which saw him substituted for Jake Cope.

Midway inside the second half Cope had a great chance to make his impact when Nnamdi Nwachuku won possession deep inside the hosts’ half. Turning his man and playing a defence-splitting pass into Cope, leaving the substitute one-on-one against Grant. The ex-Bracknell keeper did well to come off his line and make a good save, Asher Yearwood got onto the rebound but couldn’t get a good connection with the ball.

Just before the full-time whistle, Basingstoke had a great chance to find the equaliser. Reid rifled a low-driven shot that swivelled towards the bottom corner at pace. Great reactions from Parkes, meant he could get down low to push it wide.

Fortunately for BORO’ this was the last chance they needed to defend against with it finishing:

Full-Time: Basingstoke 0-1 Gosport

With this victory and results going our way, it means a win next Saturday against Hanwell would likely go a long way to securing our safety in the Southern Premier League. As for Basingstoke this leaves them a point away from the drop. Hopefully with this win, Gosport can now build get over the line, but we’ll see you next week! Final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Picture by M & J Photography

Gosport’s Starting XI