Gosport return to winning ways in Dorchester match
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH returned to winning ways in the Southern League Division as they travelled across the coast to visit high-flying Dorchester Town on Saturday afternoon (March 8); calmly beating their play-off chasing opponents two-nil after a ‘hard-working’ display that was watched by nearly seven hundred supporters within a sunny Avenue Stadium.
The hosts threatened in the early moments and created their first opportunity after 10 minutes; Marcus Daws floating a perfect pass across the area to reach Shaquille Gwengwe who was crowded out by the Borough keeper. Luke Roberts was then passed through on goal on the quarter hour but he was denied by Parkes again, who pushed this effort away.
Borough survived this pressure and worked themselves into attacking areas as Asher Yearwood forced a great stop by home keeper Harry Lee whilst Dan Wooden’s header was hooked off the line after twenty-one minutes. But the visitors were ahead seconds later when Cameron Murray let rip from an angle; the attempt flying into the left corner for one-nil.
A slight injury forced Wooden off the pitch and his replacement almost had the immediate impact on thirty-four minutes; Alfie Stanley going close with an angled effort past the sticks. Down the other end Dorchester saw a very patient attack fall kindly to Luke Pardoe and the attacker saw his fiercely-hit shot fly harmlessly over the bar to conclude this first half.
It was end-to-end upon the restart as Wesley Fogden and Nnamdi Nwachuku traded shots for the sides before the fifty-third minute of proceedings; which saw Gosport double their lead by netting a second goal. This came after a brilliantly threaded pass found Stanley in space behind the defence and he made little mistake in placing underneath the keeper.
Substitutions also followed for Dorchester and it did take a while for these changes to take full effect; such was the well organised approach by Gosport despite a yellow for both Rory Williams and Harry Lee in quick succession. But all their defenders had to be alert to deny several crosses into the box from the hosts; one being headed over by Jordan Ngalo.
Wayne Robinson was further proving a handful for the ‘away team’ as fresh legs allowed him to lash inches wide under pressure, whilst the striker was denied a penalty on 84 minutes despite huge appeals. Stoppage time saw two chances as Gwengwe chipped the post and Robinson went close with a diving header; the visitors withstanding the final danger.
Other results from Saturday mean that Borough move nine points clear of relegation with eight matches left to play this campaign, but more importantly they scored their first goals since winning against Marlow in mid-February. This should build confidence for a difficult home match as they host ‘league leaders’ Merthyr Town at the AEI Stadium on March 15.
PICTURED BY PHILLIP STANDFORD: Luke Roberts prepares for a shot with three Borough defenders shutting angle.
