FIRST VISIT TO GOSPORT ENDS IN A DRAW

GOSPORT BOROUGH 1 BIGGLESWADE TOWN 1

Report by David Whiteman

The Waders first ever visit to Gosport Borough ended in a draw on Saturday. Considering the amount of rain that has fallen in recent weeks, the pitch was in a good condition and it turned out to be a dry and pleasant afternoon on the Hampshire coast.

With goalkeeper Liam Gooch being injured in the Senior Cup final and Gavin Hoyte unavailable, the Waders had to make a couple of changes, one of which saw captain Craig Daniel replacing Gooch in goal. During his career with the Waders, Craig has often been the No.1 player but I doubt that he ever envisaged having to wear the No.1 shirt.

However, these changes were nothing compared to Gosport, who only have three players at the club from when they lost 2-0 at Langford Road in September and a number of additions were signed before deadline day on the 29th March.

Gosport started the match the livelier of the two sides but failed to test Daniel until the 44th minute when Ben Wright’s shot was turned away for a corner with a diving save. In between, the Waders had got on top and shots from George Bailey, Jack Bowen and Reece Fielding were either saved or blocked. The closest the Waders came to a goal was in the 21st minute when a powerful header by Bowen was brilliantly saved by Patrick O’Flaherty in the Gosport goal.

The second half continued in much the same vein although Gosport carried more of a goal threat than they had done in the first half. Wright had a penalty appeal turned down and then headed wide with the goal at his mercy. The penalty appeal was Gosport’s second of the match and the Waders had their own shout for one when Bailey was brought down. All three could easily have been given. Robbie Parker had a good chance to open the scoring for the Waders but he shot wide when well placed.

Gosport did open the scoring on 77 minutes when former Luton Town and QPR forward Rowan Vine fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Three minutes later Connor Hall headed the Waders level when he glanced in a free kick given for another foul on Bailey. Gosport had one final chance to take all 3 points but Daniel was equal to Wright’s effort.

Man of the Match: Craig Daniel