Salisbury maintained the best home record in the league this season and Gosport had the record for best away form and you could tell this was the case as there was practically no efforts in the first twenty with both sides cancelling one another out.

The ‘Whites’ had the first big opportunity of the half coming on the 40th minute. Gunson sent through on goal released a shot into BORO’s side netting. It looked as though a diving Steward would have made the save providing the effort was on target.

Five minutes later Salisbury caused another threat, this time from a corner. Captain Jombati went diving in to reach the ball. With the former Wycombe defender, heading wide of Steward’s left post.

No shots followed this and despite the atmosphere warming up (Unlike the weather), there was nothing to tear the two teams apart as it finished goalless at the break.

HT: Salisbury 0-0 Gosport

After seeing little opportunities in the first interval, we were greeted to an immediate chance in the second half. Latching onto a loose ball, resulted with Dan Wooden scooping a ball just high in Gosport’s first proper effort of the night.

Wooden played in Gosport last playoffs campaign, just over a decade ago and he was starting to show his experience in this contest. Testing Gosney from 20 yards. It looked as though the Salisbury keeper saw the effort late but still got down low and made a comfortable save.

But on the 65th minute, Gosport were centre-meters away from finding the lead! A corner created carnage inside the Salisbury box before Wooden stabbed a shot at goal, hitting the crossbar and flirting with the goal line. Unsure whether the ball went over the line, the referee decided to not give it in a controversial decision.

This didn’t matter though, as BORO’ broke the deadlock minutes later! Kavanagh’s iconic corner created another goal scramble before Wassmer poked a shot past Gosney to give us the lead in this semi-final.

The lead lasted up until the 88th minute when Salisbury found their desperately needed equaliser. Hodges working himself past the Gosport defence, finished the attack off by slotting one in at the near post to send the 2000 Salisbury fans wild!

Unfortunately this was not the end of the drama as in stoppage time, Charlie Wassmer was adjudged to have brought down Fitchett………. Not only giving a penalty, but the referee sent the defender off in the dying moments of the game. Former Gosport man - Noah Coppin stood up to the spot-kick and drilled one past Steward to send Salisbury to the play-off final.

Full-time: Salisbury 2-1 Gosport

A massive thank you and congratulations to the hundreds of BORO’ fans who braved the rain and gave their amazing support to the Club…Let’s go again next season….

Gosport Starting XI
Steward, Kavanagh, Wassmer, Williams, Campbell, Walsh-Smith, Tarbuck, Barsa, Hollands, Wooden, Ramos