Going into this one Gosport made three changes from the side that lost to Hanwell. Charlie Wassmer came back in to partner with Fin Walsh-Smith in defence. Matt Buse made his debut in the midfield, and Dan Wooden replaced Ethan Taylor up front.

The first 45’ was very much the case of a lot of Hungerford possession, but being reduced mostly to half chances. On thirty three minutes the Crusaders did come close through a corner taken by Cam Squires. The inswinger evaded onrushing Jordan Rose and Jerry Gyebi in the six yard box.

Matt Buse was announced as a new signing from Dorchester on a month’s loan on Friday, and nearly opened his Gosport goal account a day later. A free-kick in the right-hand area, five yards away from the half-way line was floated into the Hungerford box. Gyebi got onto the cross but headed straight into Buse. The loanee chested it down well but ended up dragging his shot well wide.

Veteran striker, Kyle Tooze, had a late opportunity within the first half when he had the ball left of the Gosport penalty box. Looking to come inside, he chopped his way past Fin Walsh-Smith before firing at goal. A large deflection blasted the effort over the Gosport crossbar.

Admittedly not the most action-packed start to the game, with it finishing at the break:

Half-Time | Hungerford Town 0-0 Gosport Borough

The hosts’ managed to make a quick start to the second half, with it taking just five minutes to break the deadlock. All starting when Luke Cairney drop-kicked the ball deep into the Gosport half from his own box. The recipient of the pass was Kyle Tooze who shielded the ball well from Charlie Wassmer before Tooze made the pass to squires. The midfielder took a matter of touches before feeding a pass back into Tooze who ended up blasting one home. 1 - 0

BORO’ nearly levelled shortly after the goal when Charlie Wassmer managed to overturn possession on the edge of the Hungerford box. Wassmer squared back into Buse who used the side of his right boot to guide a shot at goal. Cairney was quick to react, getting down low to make the save.

BORO’ were made to pay for this, as Hungerford doubled their lead on sixty minutes. Kyle Tooze once again at the heart of the attack, galloping down the centre of the Gosport half. The goalscorer passed left into Abdrio Brandoa, as he went for a shot which was blocked by Walsh-Smith. The deflection was picked up by Carter Bowdery, who hammered home for Hungerford’s second. 2 - 0

In reaction to the goals, Michael Fernandes, Trevor Caborn and Ethan Taylor were bought on. It did allow for Gosport to take more control in the final quarter of an hour. After just entering the pitch, a ball fell nicely to Taylor from a corner on the edge of the penalty area. The substitute just got too much behind the shot, firing over.

Gosport also had the final chance of the game when Walsh-Smith twenty yards out and he shifted a pass right into Caborn. He was quick to cross the ball in which found Jordan Ngalo who bought it down but couldn’t make contact with the ball when lining up his shot. Simply allowing for Cairney to grab and steal the ball.

With it finishing:

Full-Time | Hungerford Town 2-0 Gosport Borough.

Bulpit Lane, always a tough place to come, but now Gosport will be looking ahead to a massive midweek showdown. When Gosport host fellow playoff-chasing, Gloucester City. We look forward to seeing you Wednesday, but final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Gosport Starting XI
Blackledge, Read, Williams, Wassmer, Walsh-Smith, Tomasso, Tshaka, Wooden, Ngalo, Kasimu, Buse

Subs: Cook, Caborn, Fernandes, Taylor, Kavanagh

Thank you to every BORO’ fan who travelled to support the boys - Simply The Best