Borough overcome Weymouth in seven goal thriller

By Connor Steel

GOSPORT BOROUGH extended their push into the Southern League play-off positions as they hosted Weymouth FC in their latest encounter this Wednesday evening (November 26); eventually clinching a ‘vital’ four-three home success against their in-form opponents after an entertaining ninety minutes played under very drizzly skies at this AEI Stadium.

But it was Weymouth who started the brighter and opened the scoring within four minutes via their first attack; Andreas Robinson making a ‘forward’ run and striking a thunderbolt inside the net for one-nil. This was followed by a dangerous attack on eleven minutes that saw Reuben Reid flash across the goal before going down injured and being substituted.

The visitors continued to dominate and won a penalty on twenty-two minutes when Matthew Burrows was fouled in the box by Rafa Ramos; their resulting penalty from Brandon Goodship being saved brilliantly via the diving Ryan Hall. But seemingly in a big blow the Borough keeper hurt himself during the stop and left back Rory Williams took over this role.

To their credit Gosport responded superbly to the setback and levelled this score on thirty-five minutes through Michael Fernandes; the midfielder collecting a cross by Ethan Taylor and blasting it home. They went ahead minutes later when Trever Caborn converted a neat corner and also extended it through Fernandes before the interval making it three-one.

Proceedings restarted into this second period with Borough seeing most of the possession and created 2 half chances; Taylor firing wide from an angle and Ramos seeing a header denied comfortably by Ben Clark between the post. But a fourth goal did arrive on fifty-four minutes when Taylor broke through the middle and easily slotted home inside the net.

Substitutions followed across both teams and it didn’t feel like the match was over with Weymouth still having openings to reduce the deficit; Callum Watts being denied by Rory Williams who tipped his drive onto the bar and then firing over on sixty-two minutes. Barney Stone soon dinked into their right corner from range to cause some anxiety, making it 4-2.

These arrears were reduced further when Goodship advanced forward on the right and flicked a brilliant delivery to this back post that was simply bundled inside the net to offer Weymouth late glimmers for hope after seventy-six minutes at four-three. But sadly for the visitors, Borough survived this final spell of pressure with great defensive spirit to get a win.

Glenn Howes’ side have now completed fine doubles after beating Weymouth in this reverse game back in September; these huge points leaving Gosport in third place after all other results with Farnham just behind them. Borough will end the month away against Dorchester, before a hectic week of hosting Evesham Town and Hanwell before December 10.

PICTURED BY IAN MIDDLEBROOK: Gosport’s Michael Fernandes scores one of his two goals in final part of first half.