BORO’ back to winning ways, following a 3-0 win over Basingstoke. Just four days after being knocked out of the Hampshire Senior Cup to the same side, at the same place.

Coming into this one BORO’ made a number of changes from the side that lost in midweek. Lucas Thomas made his debut in goal having signed from Luton on loan after fellow Luton loanee keeper Henry Blackledge broke his finger. Infront of him Benny Read started at right-back, and Joe Morrison returned from injury. A revamped attack as Dan Wooden and Hisham Kasimu were bought in to lead the forward line.

It was almost Deja-vu from our cup outing against Basingstoke, with neither side creating any opportunities early on. We didn’t see a shot on target until the thirty-four minute mark when Lucas Thomas made an instinctive save using his body to deny George Reid at the front post.

As the half time approached…seven minutes were added, following a number of lengthy stoppages, and this is where all the action happened. The visitors engineered an attack which resulted with Ben Greenwood pulling a pass back into Dan Wooden from the Stoke’ byeline. The expiernced striker tapped home for his eleventh goal of the season.

While fans were celebrating the opener, Gosport were carving out a way to double their advantage. A corner taken by Gosport two minutes after the first goal, was poorly defended by Basingstoke which allowed for Joe Oastler to hook a ball towards the back stick which found Joe Morrison. The defender smashed home his volley which meant Gosport finished the first half two goals to the good.

Half-Time | Basingstoke Town 0-2 Gosport Borough

Quarter of an hour into the second half Gosport extended their lead. Harry Kavanagh intercepted a ball midway inside the BORO’ half before threading it through to Hisham Kasimu in the centre of the field. Kasimu ran at goal, gliding past players in yellow & blue, nonchalantly evading challenges, and rounded off the attack by rifling home.

Gosport managed to nullify any chance of Basingstoke getting back into the game, by relentlessly killing off any opportunity the hosts’ had in the remainder of the game. A cohesive display from the players at the back. It could have been nervy for the final few minutes of the ninety when Ethan Taylor was sent off on 87 minutes after he saw his second yellow. Gosport continued with their high work rate, with it finishing:

Full-Time | Basingstoke Town 0-3 Gosport Borough.

A game of few big chances, but a game in which Gosport took their chances, something we haven’t said about Gosport often this season. We now look ahead to a huge game next Saturday when we host playoff chasing Sholing, so we’ll see you then. But final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Pictures by Jack Appleby