Coming into this game it was seventh placed (BORO’) vs eighth (Berkhamsted), with the two sides level on points but Berkhamsted having played a single game more. The Comrades came into the game in some good recent form, winning four of their last five and in those four wins they kept clean sheets in all of them.

Despite looking defensively solid from the stat prior Gosport ensured there would not be another clean sheet, when they broke the deadlock on twelve minutes. A long throw-in taking on the near side was met by Joe Oastler who beat his marker to the ball to nod back onto Tayo Singerr. On the turn the Pompey loanee blasted in for his first Gosport goal of the season.

The home side levelled on twenty six minutes through JJ Lacey’s corner which found Luke Andrews unmarked infront of goal. The defender glanced it past Thomas to make it all square.

Berkhamsted should have taken the lead before the break when a chance was created via goalkeeper Charlie Horlock belting it down field which dropped to just the Gosport box. A mistimed kick from Oastler allowed for Jose Sani to head down and play through Michael Harding. Luke Thomas came off his line to deny the striker’s shot from close range but the rebound dropped to Sani who hit a tame shot at goal which was blocked by Ben Greenwood before ultimately being cleared.

Half-Time | Berkhamsted 1-1 Gosport Borough

Gosport did have the first opportunity of the second half when Ben Greenwood from inside his own half picked out Michael Fernandes twenty yards outside the hosts’ goal from a free-kick. Fernandes, who got a hat-trick against AFC Portchester in midweek, came close to scoring again when he chopped inside of his man before driving a right-footed effort wide.

Berkhamsted did come close to finding the lead when Mitchell found the back of the net, only to be ruled out for offside.

Jordan Ngalo came close from distance after good football played outside the Berkhamsted box led to the midfield being fed a pass and after taking two touches launched a shot which flew just over.

It was the home side who did take the lead for the first time in the game on the 78th minute. Cameron Hyde’s set-piece from right of the area, found an onrushing Pierce Mitchell who delivered a bullet header into the back of the net.

Gosport failed to react to going down which resulted with it finishing:

Full-Time | Berkhamsted 2-1 Gosport Borough.

Another twist in the playoffs race which allows for Berkhamsted to leapfrog us, albeit playing an extra game. Now two big games await over the Easter period, a home game against Uxbridge and an away day to local rivals Havant & Waterlooville, so we’ll see you then. But final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Not for the first time….a Big Thank You to all the BORO’ fans who travelled and supported the boys so impressively.

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