Borough frustrated in tight Sholing derby stalemate
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH extended their frustrating opening to this 2024-25 campaign as they travelled to Sholing FC on Bank Holiday Monday (August 26); eventually settling for an one-all stalemate following a ‘high intensity and enjoyable’ local encounter that was watched by a brilliant attendance of almost 900 supporters at the Mortgage Decision Stadium.
Both teams started sharply under the blue skies and it was Sholing who created the first chance after fourteen minutes; Dan Fitchett sprinting onto a loose pass and seeing his low drive blocked by a defender. Winger Bradley Targett further outpaced his marker on the left side moments later and put an inch-perfect ball across the box inches past the far post.
The visitors responded on twenty-four minutes as Bradley Tarbuck beat Marvin Mclean on the wing and played a great delivery onto the head of Alfie Stanley whose attempt drifted harmlessly over the crossbar. Rory Williams then fired his free-kick wide off target, and home keeper Charlie Searle was fast to deny Dan Wooden just before the half hour mark.
Sholing settled down these proceedings with some neat midfield passing and possession as Charlie Gunson fired high over the bar on thirty-eight minutes whilst Targett narrowly missed the diving foot of Dan Mason. Down the other end a shot from Cameron Murray was gratefully gathered by the keeper as the half time whistle blew with this score goalless.
It didn’t take long after the restart for the ‘opener’ as Asher Yearwood stole the ball and advanced towards the goal; the midfielder threading through Stanley to fire inside the bottom corner for one-nil. It should have been two when Wooden nodded wide and Sholing went closest to a leveller on the hour mark as Jake Hesketh’s shot was saved by Max Evans.
Home substitutions followed and the Boatmen looked in control with two brilliant chances; Mason having a scuffed shot cleared off the line by Finley Walsh-Smith before Lee Wort sliced an angled shot into the far side netting. The equaliser was coming and it arrived on seventy-eight minutes with Bradley Targett lashing home after an initial effort was parried.
This sparked a ‘frantic finish’ with both attacks having chances to score a winner; Max Bustamante sadly wasting a fine attempt as he could only sweep a shot at Evans and Harry Kavanagh sending a pass out of play. And there was drama in added time when Stanley converted a pass by Jake Cope into the goal, only for an offside flag to settle the tie at 1-1.
This result follows a three-all stalemate against Basingstoke on Saturday afternoon and it means that Gosport sit in the bottom half after five matches in the league; having won just one against Winchester last weekend. Their attentions will however turn to the FA Cup on August 31 as they play lower division Andover New Street in a 1st Qualifying Round Tie.
PICTURED BY M&J PHOTOGRAPHY: Eyes on the ball as Sholing defend a dangerous corner delivery at the left stick.
