Both teams sent out strong lineups for this one, Gosport making four changes from the side that drew to Dorchester at the weekend. Two changes were made up front as Trevor Caborn and Michael Fernadnes returned, Matt Buse came in at midfield, and Harry Kavanagh was swapped in at right-back.

One of the players re-called was Michael Fernandes and he proved to be the focal point within the first thirty minutes. On ten minutes he was played through on goal and looked certain to score, dinking his shot wide from infront of goal.

Basingstoke followed up with having two great opportunities of their own. George Reid poked a shot at goal from close range which forced an excellent reactionary save from Henry Blackledge. The Luton Town loanee was needed again moments later when the goalkeeper needed to palm away Joe Barough’s right-footed effort.

It was Gosport who dealt the first blow though, and it came through BORO’s talisman, Michael Fernandes. He pounced on a loose ball in the proximity of the Basingstoke penalty area, and drilled in a left-footed strike which picked out the far corner to put the visitors ahead.

BORO’ seemed to drop the intensity after taking the lead which allowed Basingstoke to get back into it. Reid rounded Charlie Wassmer which took him to the Gosport byeline and he did well to pull a pass back into Tom Blake, who was there to tap in.

Basingstoke then dealt a sucker punch by making it two seconds later. Barough from twenty-five yards out rifled a shot which beat Blackledge to give the home side the lead going into the break.

Half-Time | Basingstoke Town 2-1 Gosport Borough

Ten minutes into the second half Gosport had two great opportunities. One which saw a free-kick opportunity cannoned onto the post. And another when Charlie Wassmer lobbed a header over Clark which forced the Basingstoke Nu1 to push the ball into the danger zone. Substitute Dan Wooden was the quickest to react to the rebound but blazed his shot over from close range.

With Gosport not capitalising on chances it allowed Basingstoke to cushion their lead on eighty minutes. Reading loanee, Barough executed another fine finish , as he curled one home to double the lead.

Joe Oastler did pull one back in added time when he hammered home a left-footed belter with his first BORO’ goal since returning. However Basingstoke were keen to kill of the game when they took the ball back up the Gosport end and ultimately winning themselves a penalty when the referee witnessed a Gosport handball inside their box. James Clark converted from twelve yards which sealed the win for the home side.

Full-Time | Basingstoke Town 4-2 Gosport Borough

Basingstoke will now play National League opposition Eastleigh in the semi-finals of the Hampshire Cup, but before they do that they will face Gosport again on Saturday, this time in league action. So we’ll see you again in Basingstoke on Saturday (With hopefully a different result), but final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!