Borough produce soaking Tiverton comeback win
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH produced yet another comeback victory in this Southern Division as they played Tiverton Town in their latest encounter on Saturday afternoon (November 22); eventually completing a three-two success versus their struggling opponents following a topsy-turfy ninety minutes played in ‘constantly atrocious’ weather at the AEI Stadium.
The home team started brightly under a back-drop of heavy rain and saw Trevor Caborn fire home a free-flowing move within three minutes; their celebrations quickly and correctly halted by the offside flag. Rafa Ramos further saw his toe-poked flick deflected wide before Ethan Taylor’s skidding effort was comfortably gathered via Marko Radovanović’s leg.
To their credit Tiverton had brilliantly resisted the fast start and netted from their opening attack on sixteen minutes; Tor Swann running down the right and finding Daniel Koita to convert tightly into the top corner. Borough did try to respond quickly as Bradley Tarbuck drove harmlessly wide and Caborn was guilty of ‘unselfishness’ when it was easier to shoot.
Caborn redeemed himself on the half hour by scoring the equaliser as he collected a simple pass and blasted an effort past this grasp of Radovanović for another ‘goal-of-the-season’ contender, making it one-all. This was how it stayed for the interval despite Tiverton going close through Gabriel Billington and two bookings to home players due to a late foul.
Tiverton made two changes at half time and this seemed to provide impetus for the restart as a long cross reached the path of Finn Rooke who moved towards his target and saw a low shot brilliantly saved by Ryan Hall between the posts. But the home keeper couldn’t do anything on 55 minutes as a fine corner was bundled into the goal by Asa Hall for 2-1.
This hour mark passed without further notable incident with Gosport having a big majority of possession, but they were arguably too pedestrian and allowed Tiverton to re-group defensively; thus denying all real threats. This lasted until the 76th minute, when Harry Kavanagh’s brilliant delivery was expertly nodded into the corner via Ben Greenwood to level.
It was three-two mere seconds later as Kavanagh broke down the right side and whipped his delicious cross inside the area that was dropped by Marko Radovanović; the ball bouncing perfectly to Taylor who tapped home. The striker also nearly made it 4-2 late on as he rounded the Tiverton goalkeeper, but was denied by a superb block from adding gloss.
Victory means that Borough return into the play-off places with the halfway point approaching of the campaign; the 9th win meaning they sit fourth with thirty points. They have a hectic week of upcoming action as they host Weymouth this Wednesday evening at the AEI Stadium before they travel to play Dorchester Town to end a huge month of November.
PICTURED BY JACK APPLEBY: The rain-soaked home players celebrate their ‘winner’ from Ethan Taylor on Saturday.
