Match Report: Gosport Borough 3 – 3 Basingstoke Town – Saturday 24th August 2024

Southern League Premier South Division – Saturday 24th August 2024
Gosport Borough 3 v 3 Basingstoke Town Attendance 732
Where: Privett Park, Privett Road, Gosport, PO12 3SX
Dan Brownlie went with a starting line-up of: 1. Simon Grant, 2. Markus Johnson-Schuster, 3. Curtis Angell, 4. Rudy Allen, 5. James Clark, 6. William Upton, 7. Robbie Gallagher, 8. Simon Dunn (Capt), 9. Nnamdi Nwachuku, 10. Max Smith, 11. George Reid
On the bench: Alfie Bridgman, Ben Cook, Liam Ferdinand, Paul Hodges, Jack Ball & Paul Hodges
Referee – Adrian Harris

The game got underway with Stoke attacking the clubhouse end, and we create our first attempt on goal in the fourth minute, as from a cross on the right, George Reid back-flicks a shot that forces a diving save out of the keeper.

It’s still Stoke pushing forward and a through ball allows Reid to get a touch on the ball before the keeper ‘s dive brings him down, and the referee points to the penalty spot. It’s Nnamdi who steps up and makes no mistake and finds the back of the net GOAL! Gosport Borough 0-1 Basingstoke Town (Nwachuku 10 mins Pen).

Gosport have the next attack, but it’s Billy Upton whose strong in the tackle.
We reach the twenty-minute mark, and the game is a little more even, as Gosport push forward, but again our defence is strong and comfortably deal with it.

Then on the stroke of the half-hour, we are awarded a free-kick near midfield and after the referee chooses to book Simon Grant for apparent time-wasting, he sends the kick deep into the heart of the Gosport penalty-area, where their keeper mis-punches the ball straight to Reid who bicycle kicks the ball into the open net. GOAL!! Gosport Borough 0-2 Basingstoke Town (Reid 30 mins)

After a couple of minutes of Gosport pressure, it’s Stoke who push forward again and a shot from Nwachuku deflects out for a clear corner, only for the referee to blow for a goal-kick. From that kick, Gosport break, and after a deflection from a tackle a Gosport one-two between two forwards, allows the second forward to slot the ball past Grant in goal. Gosport 1-2 Basingstoke

Stoke are forced into their first change after Simon Dunn who has already received treatment a couple of times, is replaced by Paul Hodges (39 mins)
It’s Reid again who creates the next attempt, as from a Stoke free-kick twenty-five yards, the kick hits the wall and rebounds to him and he smashes a right-foot volley just wide of the right-hand post with the keeper rooted to the ground.

We are in the last minute of normal time, and Gosport appear to have scored, forcing the ball over the line from close range, only for the referee to disallow it.
In added-time a neat move involving four Stoke players allows Hodges to weave his way through three players, but his shot is blocked out for a corner. Gosport clear from the corner-kick, but we are on it a minute-later, and Reid has the ball and as he closes in on the Gosport penalty-area, he curls a shot that hits the far right-hand post and bounces away.
The referee then a few seconds later blows the halftime whistle.

Halftime Score: Gosport Borough 1 v 2 Basingstoke Town
The game gets back underway with Stoke attacking the open end, and whilst fans are returning from the clubhouse, Stoke attack, and there’s a foul on Reid in the penalty area, and the referee once again points to the spot. Nwachuku again plants the ball into the back of the net to increase Stoke’s lead. GOAL!!! Gosport Borough 1-3 Basingstoke Town (Nwachuku 47 mins Pen).

It seems George Reid has picked up a knock and is replaced by Alfie Bridgman (50 mins)
Stoke have a chance to make it four, as Nwachuku is put through but his shot is blocked away by the keeper.
A minute later (57), Grant goes down with an injury and receives treatment.
Just past the hour from our free-kick on the left, the Gosport keeper makes a stunning double-save from Nwachuku, but the linesman had flagged for offside.

Stoke make their third change as Max Smith is replaced by Ben Cook (66 mins).
Stoke then win a free-kick about twenty-five yards out, which Bridgman dummies, only for James Clark to smash the kick over the bar.
A neat move by Robbie Gallagher down the right, then sends a ball across the face of the goal, but no Stoke forward can get a touch on it.

Billy Upton then wins the ball three times in the space of a minute, as Gosport push forward over the next minutes.
Nnamdi Nwachuku will be our fourth change as he is replaced by Liam Ferdinand (72 mins).

Gosport could have made it two, but Grant has time to get across the goal to make the save.

Stoke make their fifth and final change with Jack Ball replacing James Clark (76 mins)
Another neat move on the left sets-up Bridgman from just outside the box, but his shot blasts over the bar.
Ferdinand is then put through on the right, but takes too long and Gosport are able to get back and block the ball out for a corner.

Gosport then pull a goal back, as a player curls a cross that flies past everyone and into the far corner of the net (79 mins). Gosport 2-3 Basingstoke
Gosport then hit the bar and are given a corner, so assume Grant got a fingertip to it.

Stoke are now struggling to keep hold of the ball as Gosport push forward, but strong tackles keep them out.

Gosport then find the equaliser with five minutes to go. Gosport 3-3 Basingstoke.
We are now in the third of seven added-minutes, as we have some play in their penalty box, but are unable to put a shot on target.
Gallagher then breaks free from his defender, but his shot has no real power, and the keeper makes the save.
The referee has seen enough and blows the full-time whistle, and Stoke will leave Privett Park with a point.

Full-time Score: Gosport Borough 3 v 3 Basingstoke Town
Stanley 37 & 85 mins, Wooden 79 mins, Nwachuku 10 & 47 mins (2 Pens) Reid 30 mins

Match Thought’s
Stoke remain unbeaten after four games, but many will feel that was two points dropped yesterday. Dominated the first-half, and George Reid was on fire, but we failed to take second-half chances to kill the game off.
It will be interesting to see what changes we make for Monday’s game against Bracknell.
Up Next:
We have a quick turnaround, as we host rivals Bracknell Town this Bank Holiday Monday afternoon (KO 3pm)

Match Report by Martin French..