Borough conclude tough week with Bath success
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH FC concluded a very tough week with a league victory as they travelled to play Bath City in their latest fixture on Saturday afternoon (October 10); eventually getting a two-one success versus their high-flying opponents following a ‘determined’ performance during this match in front of over 1,250 supporters at Twerton Park.
The hosts began rapidly and saw a first opportunity within five minutes as Harry Parsons curled narrowly over via a tight angle, which was followed up by Reuben Reid’s shot that was denied by James Holden for a corner. Bath kept pushing and they won a free kick in a dangerous position which was lashed past the right sticks by Enzio Boldewijn.
Borough absorbed the early pressure and responded brilliantly with George Penn firing inside the corner for one-nil, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a discussion between officials. Things worsened for the visitors as Matt Dowman headed in via a set-piece on 22 minutes for Bath, before Michael Agoola was forced off in the 29th minute.
Callum Wood nearly doubled the home team’s advantage before Gosport had another goal disallowed for an offside through Billy Bodin; a moment that should have boosted their momentum going into the half time interval. Instead it was Bath being threatening as they saw another chance in added time when Pedro Elawar run inside and fired over.
A tactical tweak awaited Gosport upon the second half restart and their fans were delighted when they equalised on fifty-two minutes; Bodin puttng his header into the open net after Mauro Vilhete’s shot was saved by the keeper. But the visitors were fortunate not to be trailing again just moments later as Reuben Raid hit the post with a fine attempt.
Penn and Bodin were further denied via Bath’s keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards for a superb double save on this hour mark, before Bath hit back with Scott Wilson flashing wide on sixty-six minutes after a great run. But the ‘end-to-end’ approach fell into a lull with substitutes breaking up any flow as the sides continued to push for a winner to little avail.
This was until the eighty-first minute as Vilhete created a pocket of space and floated a perfect cross into the path of Kris Campbell who made no errors in slamming past Wiles-Richard with a classy finish. Bath then tried to respond in the final moments with Reid being denied by a fine Holden stop and Wilson’s shot being cleared but Gosport held on.
Other results mean that Borough have gone up to eleventh in this current standings, but these three points will mean more following a week in which Jermaine McGlashan left as role as manager and the side’s three-one defeat against Poole. They will be hoping to continue the recovery as they play Basingstoke Town next Saturday at the AEI Stadium.
PICTURED BY GOSPORT BOROUGH SUPPORTERS CLUB: Players from both sides wait for a corner to be played.
