Gosport open account with battling Uxbridge draw
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH FC secured their first point of this season as they hosted Uxbridge FC in the latest Southern League Premier fixture this Saturday afternoon (August 15); eventually clinching an one-all stalemate versus their in form opponents after a hard working display watched by almost seven hundred supporters at the warm AEI Stadium.
The away side started brightly in scorching temperatures and created this first chance after seven minutes as Ciaran Martin’s low drive was deflected for a corner, which was a first of many for Uxbridge in the opening stages. Down the other end Borough saw Kris Campbell get in down the side but the driven cross was gathered by keeper Dino Kaiser.
The opportunity pushed the hosts forward as George Penn showed his quality until his effort was deflected tamely to Kaiser’s hands, whilst loud penalty calls were rejected for Borough after a superb-looking defensive tackle. Uxbridge did see some neat possession and found themselves in good positions, but could not convert this into clear chances.
Borough continued the control past the half hour mark with Campbell again going close as he collected a fine switch-pass by Jordan Ngalo, but could only blast it just wide. The visitors soon had a chance on forty minutes when a shot was saved by Borough keeper Kie Plumley and a rebound was flicked off the bar by Toby Nnadoszie to end this half.
Borough came out well upon this restart and took the lead on forty-seven minutes as they won a fifth corner taken by Campbell, which was tucked into the net by Jerry Wiltshire at their left post following a clever routine. The home side could have made it two when Ngalo’s shot was tipped away by Kaiser before he caught a recycled cross on the hour.
But sadly the little mistakes allowed Uxbridge to regain confidence and Plumley had to save a fine drive from Francis Amartey moments later whilst a second effort was blocked by Rory Williams. The visitors did get this leveller on sixty-six minutes when Ngalo was booked for a foul and this worsened as Oliver McCoy fired the free-kick into the far right.
This equaliser prompted both benches to make substitutions throughout this final twenty minutes with little goalmouth action due to a tight midfield battle of no mistakes. That was until a lovely ball was played into the path of Frank Keita on eighty-nine minutes and the attacker drilled a half-volley attempt the wrong side of the posts in the last opportunity.
A single point will be welcomed by Gosport after two defeats and the exit of Simon Lane as club manager in a difficult week; whilst the performance was much better than their loss to Hamworth Villa on Wednesday evening. They will be looking to end this winless start next Saturday as they travel to Frome Town whilst Uxbridge are to play Taunton Town.
PICTURED BY MJ PHOTOGRAPHY: Home strikers look frustrated as another huge chance moves away in first half.
