Match Reports
Horndean 1 - 2 Gosport Borough 16th July 2011
Both teams made plenty of changes with Horndean using an 18 man squad and Boro with around 20. Boro included former Horndean players George Way and Nathan Paxton amongst their 20 man squad much to the home crowds joy.
The Deans enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening period, never allowing the higher league opponents time to settle. Striker Torr Spicer caused problems with his runs as Milroy and Austin attempted to probe passes through to him. Skipper Fennemore dominated the centre of midfield alongside new Fareham signing Dan Hayes and Jack Warren, Fennemore hit the post early on following a trademark late run and Austin was foiled as he reacted just too late to the rebound. SPICER saw an effort from the edge go narrowly wide on the half hour mark, however shortly after managed to find space inside to hit a low shot inside the left post. The hosts looked confident and comfortable on the ball, meanwhile in contrast, other than a scrambled corner and long range effort Plomer in the Horndean goal was rarely troubled by the visitors.
HT Horndean 1-0 Gosport
The 2nd half saw several changes in both teams, Gosport managed to get a grip on the game and created several opportunities whilst enjoying a great deal more of the ball. Early in the 2nd half poor marking allowed supersub Ben Cotton to strike an inch perfect first time effort into the top left corner. Gosport stepped it up a gear as they searched for a winner and Boro manager Alex Pike who handed control of the team today to Karl Lis and Jason Mann would have been pleased to firstly see Cotton win a penalty as he was brought down by Browne with a clumsy tackle and then Lloyd O'Neil send Plomer the wrong way from the spot. Horndean fought back to create a few late chances but first Fairweather then Browne were denied certain goals by the reactions of the Gosport keeper, and the introduction of Sharpe on the left wing almost bore fruit but Gosport held firm.
