Hungerford clinch five star display against Gosport
By Connor Steel
GOSPORT BOROUGH continued their bad start to the 2024/25 league campaign as they travelled away to Hungerford Town on Tuesday evening; the hosts gaining a comprehensive five-two success from a very ‘attacking and entertaining’ encounter at Bulpit Lane that followed disappointing defeats for both sides in their opening games on Saturday (10/08).
The visitors were backed by a vocal travelling support and started brighter under dry conditions as they created the first chance within seven minutes; Dan Wooden driving wide after a great cross by Jake Cope. In response Hungerford saw James Dobson drag over the crossbar and Bradley Hooper fired straight at Max Evans during the even opening period.
Hungerford were gaining success through their high pressing intensity and this led to the opening goal after twenty-four minutes of action; Elis Watts forcing the error and feeding Louis McGrory who unleashed a shot into the net. And it was two-nil just before the break as a brilliant corner fell kindly to Watts who made little error in converting inside the far left.
Borough responded quickly and scored within moments through Asher Yearwood as he looped a great effort over Ryan Clarke after a great cross-field pass; Cope and Wooden further seeing their missed chances off target. And Hungerford restored their 2-goal lead as they made it 3-1 before the break as another corner fell to Matt Berry-Hargreaves to finish.
This home momentum continued upon the second period and it didn’t take long for another goal to come in the fifty-fifth minute; Watts threading through Dobson and this midfielder ran through before placing past Evans into the corner. This was followed by a succession of away substitutions with Archie Stanley heading over a Gosport shot on the hour mark.
But Hungerford proceeded to push for more goals as they saw Dobson and Watts blaze narrowly off target within a four minute spell; whilst the latter was brilliantly denied by the diving Evans on 71 minutes. Down the other end a number of set pieces and corners were further cleared away from danger, before Charlie Wassmer volleyed his effort over the bar.
A fifth goal arrived for the hosts after eighty-one minutes when substitute Zidan Akers collected an incisive ball and ran towards goal before placing home into the empty net; thus killing any slimming hopes of the away comeback. But Boro’ did make it 5-2 before full time as Yearwood finished off a rapid counter-attack; this goal proving to be too little, too late.
Defeat means that Gosport are 21st in the Southern League after their weekend loss versus Frome and stay point-less after two matches so far; their next game being away to Winchester City on Sunday afternoon. They will then play local side Basingstoke Town on August 24, before an opening FA Cup tie seven days later in the First Qualifying Stage (tbc).
PICTURED BY M&J PHOTOGRAPHY: Gosport player jumps above Hungerford counter-part to clear corner in the box.
