Borough seize opportunities with Taunton success
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH welcomed another crucial league victory for their first home tie of 2026 as they played Taunton Town on Saturday afternoon (January 17); eventually completing a three-one success versus their struggling opponent after a hugely ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ display in attack that was watched by over nine hundred supporters at a dry AEI Stadium.
Although Jack Rice placed over the crossbar in the early exchanges it was Gosport who opened this scoring within six minutes through Hisham Kasimu; the striker stabbing home a corner after the initial drive was well denied. In response the visitors should have levelled on 15 minutes as Henry Blackledge made a triple save to prevent Owen Brain’s shots.
It was two-nil after twenty-three minutes when Michael Fernandes seized upon a loose pass and rolled into the path of the on-rushing Kasimu, who calmly slammed past Frankie Phillips with a driven finish. There was further chances for a third through Ethan Taylor and Fernandes; this duo both hitting efforts over the crossbar in a solid period of dominance.
Taunton however switched up a gear upon the half hour mark and went very close to levelling after 34 minutes as Rice recycled a set piece; this curling effort rattling the far posts before being cleared to safety. Kalvin Kalala’s low shot was blocked and Scott Robinson headed narrowly wide with Gosport weathering this storm to maintain the lead at half time.
Kasimu saw a shot blocked on fifty-two minutes as two injury stoppages stopped play; this brief lull ending when Brain hit the far post with a flashing attempt and Robinson fired his rebound into the gloves of Blackledge. But Taunton were celebrating when they recycled this attack and worked into Alfie Moulden, who took a touch and rifled through a crowd.
Pressure was beginning to show in the hosts and they were fortunate to stay ahead when Charlie Wassmer floated an awful ball to be intercepted by Brain, who was yet again denied by the body of Blackledge on sixty-five minutes. And it was followed by substitutions for both teams, before Rice brushed this side netting for Taunton with twenty-one to play.
Anxiety did begin to creep into the home contingent and it only ramped up when Kalala saw the powerful drive palmed away by Blackledge, who further stopped Robinson’s header after 89 minutes and had a last chance go over. Borough then added gloss to the scoreline with the final notable kick as Trevor Caborn scored to earn an arguably flattering win.
These three points were further particularly welcomed with Gosport’s league rivals failing to win on Saturday; including Poole, Sholing and Gloucester City to leave them two points off second-place in the table. They now play two big away trips to Hanwell Town and Hungerford to end January; the next home fixture planned on February 4 against Gloucester.
PICTURED BY TAUNTON TOWN MEDIA: Official talks to a home defender after tackle as Taunton prepare a free kick.
