Gosport created the opening chance after sixty seconds as Kyle Williams broke forward and fed Dan Wooden, whose low curling shot from inside the box smashed the far post and bounced to safety. A second opportunity for the hosts came on five minutes when Harry Kavanagh set up Bradley Tarbuck to drive over the bar, whilst Paulton saw their first chance on eight minutes as Ed Butcher’s cross caused some pinball within the area. However the attack was ended by an illegal challenge by Kyle Tooze, who saw yellow alongside his manager following a heated scuffle involving players of both sides.

Paulton used home frustration to their advantage as a turn and pass into space found Tooze through on goal in the fourteenth minute, whose effort was brilliantly saved by White with his legs. In response Harvey Bradbury headed wide an inch-perfect delivery from Tarbuck before Wooden hit his half volley harmlessly over the bar on 22 minutes. And following a quieter spell including some steady home possession Rory Williams almost gave the hosts the lead on the half hour, his free kick floating into the box and missing everybody despite the efforts of two Gosport attackers at the back post.

Ed Butcher saw his shot on thirty-three minutes drift just wide of the post with White scrambling at his near post, Daniel Dempsey firing over from twenty yards as the ball fell kindly to his foot moments later. A fifty-fifty challenge between Harvey Rew and Chris Peck saw treatment given to both players during a small stoppage as the Gosport player was booked, Paulton seeing the final two notable chances before the break. The first came from Will Harvey as he saw his effort deflected for a corner on forty-two minutes before Martin Lenihan cut inside the left and sent a low effort into the side netting in stoppage time of a goalless first half.

Proceedings restarted in the second period with Andreas Robinson dragging wide a shot from long range and Wooden narrowly missing an inswinging delivery from Williams down the left wing. Down the other end Paulton saw Tooze fire a cross into the side netting from an angle and they won a series of corners on either side; all of which were brilliantly cleared by home defenders as Bradbury tried to capitalise on extra space as he set up Wooden who sliced wide under pressure from James Byrne who threw his body in the way in a successful bid to distract the home striker.

Substitutions followed for both sides as Abdulai Bell-Baggie replaced Kyle Williams just after the hour mark, nearly making an immediate impact as he curled a shot onto the roof of the net from just outside the box. Sixty-six minutes saw the best chance for Gosport as a corner found Brendan Wilson seven yards out and the defender let loose with his half volley that looked destined for the net, only for an audacious stop from away keeper Aaron Sainsbury to superbly tip the ball over the bar; a save that drew both gasps and loud applause from all corners of the ground.

Another round of applause came on seventy minutes in tribute to the Queen before another quieter spell interrupted by further changes for both sides going into the final ten minutes. And the opener was scored on 82 minutes as Bell-Baggie broke forward and played his low cross into the box to find the lurking Wooden who tapped home from six yards out; sparking loud cheers as Gosport attempted to hold on for the win. But in the final minute of stoppage time Paulton equalised through a corner by Harvey with their goalkeeper now playing an attacking role, the ball falling to Leo Eglin to head home a last gasp equaliser as the sides were forced to settle for an one-all draw.