Borough slip to narrow Wimborne defeat in league
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH succumbed to their first loss from eight matches as they made this ‘short journey’ to Wimborne Town on Tuesday evening; eventually falling one-nil against their mid-table rivals after a cagey but watchable Southern League encounter that was watched by a large crowd of five hundred supporters at an overcast Wyatt Homes Stadium.
The visitors started well on a wet surface and had this game’s first chance after ten minutes through Alfie Stanley; who ran inside on a counter attack before firing narrowly wide of the far post. Within sixty seconds this was punished by the home side as they scored the opener when Lewis Beale’s drive was parried out to Matty Burrows, who made no errors.
Will Fletcher went close to doubling this advantage after fifteen minutes as he headed wide from a set-piece, whilst the Gosport goalkeeper did brilliantly as he denied both Cam Munn and Beale with his varying stops. Harry Morgan further saw a curling effort harmlessly over the bar as Wimborne dominated; this momentum halted by an injury to Alex Barsa.
Will Fletcher went close to doubling this advantage after fifteen minutes as he headed wide from a set-piece, whilst the Gosport goalkeeper did brilliantly as he denied both Cam Munn and Beale with his varying stops. Harry Morgan further saw a curling effort harmlessly over the bar as Wimborne dominated; this momentum halted by an injury to Alex Barsa.
The enforced stoppage allowed Borough to re-group and they suddenly appeared more confidence in their possession; Cameron Murray feeding Harry Kavanagh down the right and a shot eventually going wide for Stanley. Defender Adam Biss was quick to hook a pass over the top preventing the visitor’s last opening before half time with no shots on target.
A quiet start to the second period awaited with both teams having great spells of possession against brilliant defending; an attempt on target coming on 54 minutes as Dan Wooden sliced straight at the home keeper Ross Flitney. Kavanagh further flashed a cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ that Biss cleared, whilst Asher Yearwood went close on the hour.
Substitutions for both teams signalled a slight lull in play and it took until past the sixty-ninth minute for the next notable chance, which saw Harvey Wright brush the side netting with his good skidding effort. In response Flitney was quick to save a curling free kick at pace and the defence dealt with a resulting set piece that seemed to knock away confidence.
From this point Wimborne dominated the last eleven minutes with several chances; Fletcher placing one effort over the bar after a brilliant touch and Munn forcing another smart stop from Gosney on 86 minutes. Their final opening was the best for the hosts as they smashed the left post with a header, but they held out for this win after seven added minutes.
Other results from Tuesday mean that Wimborne have risen to ninth in the table, whilst Gosport are now 15th after the inconsistent start to the league so far with only two wins from eight matches. Joe Lea and Pat Suraci will however turn their attention to knockout action as they travel to Oxford City in the FA Cup on Saturday, before visiting Poole (05/10).
PICTURED BY MICHAEL FELSTEAD: Goalscorer Matty Burrows celebrates early finish that proves to be their winner.
