Gosport clinch thunderous late Hungerford win
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH moved up to an early play-off positions and clinched their fourth straight league victory as they hosted Hungerford Town on Saturday afternoon (October 11); eventually completing a late three-two success following an entertaining and thunderous encounter that was watched by over one thousand supporters at a ‘warm’ AEI Stadium.
Both teams started with an attacking impetus and it was Hungerford who created the first chance; Brad Hooper forcing a simple save as he drove one straight at Ryan Hall. This was followed up by a neat opportunity for Borough as Trevor Caborn almost curled past the diving Luke Cairney, but in truth it was arguably a slow-burner in these early exchanges.
This deadlock was broken on twenty-five minutes when Louis Mcgrory stole the ball from a defender and floated inside the area to find Hooper; the midfielder making a later dart and converting with a volleyed finish. But Gosport did well to respond on the half hour when Charlie Wassmer cushioned a recycled attack into Rafa Ramos to place into the corner.
A feisty flashpoint followed moments later after a foul and saw two bookings across the sides with the frustration rising, which only seemed to benefit Hungerford as they saw James Ollis volley wide on 39 minutes. But the visitors were 2-1 up at the break as a curling cross hit this right post and bounced kindly to Hooper, who nodded into this unguarded net.
Ollis went close within ninety seconds of the restart as he broke at goal and fired straight at Hall who also dealt with a succession of whipped corners under pressure before the fifty-ninth minute. This saw a big flashpoint as Joe Morrison claimed his hair was pulled and its aftermath went on for at least seventy seconds, resulting in rapid multiple bookings.
Proceedings then entered a lengthy lull with Borough huffing to little avail versus their organised opponents, who were quicker to the loose balls and proved a handful on their attacks with their striker slicing over on 74 minutes. This didn’t change until this 85th minute when Matt Berry-Hargreaves fouled Ethan Taylor getting through on goal and shown red.
Borough equalised from this resulting free-kick as Ethan Jones hit the post and Dan Wooden fired home a rebound on eighty-six minutes, whilst the winner was scored moments later when Morrison converted a neat set-piece on the right. There was more drama as Taylor saw his penalty saved by Cairney, but it didn’t stop Borough from winning all 3 points.
Other results on Saturday mean that Borough sit fifth in the current league standings of ten matches which consists of five victories, two draws and three defeats thus far. They return to league action against Basingstoke on Saturday and then struggling Bracknell on October 22 but will first turn to Senior Cup action as they host an Army team this Tuesday.
PICTURED BY GOSPORT BOROUGH MEDIA: Joe Morrison celebrates with home teammates after a big late winner.
