Gosport named a strong lineup and set out in an attacking 4-3-3 with Dembele, Pennery and Paterson sitting high. They looked to impose their superior football pyramid standing from the off and saw chances arrive early.

Ryan Pennery saw both of the best chances. In the eighth minute, he saw an effort superbly cleared off the line after some brilliant work from Dembele down the right wing and just a couple of minutes later the ball was nicked from his feet as he looked to be about to curl the ball into the net.

Petersfield then had the ball in the net for what they thought was a shock opener as Ben Cooper headed in from a corner but the referee had already blown for a foul in the box.

Boro tinkered with different formations throughout the remainder of the first half but bar a couple of half-chances, failed to control possession or threaten Petersfield’s goal with any immediate danger.

Billie Busari was introduced for Dembele at the break and began causing problems almost immediately. Rory Williams misplaced a cross that only narrowly went over the bar just a minute into the second-half as they looked to make amends for a poor first-half.

Pennery looked the most dangerous for Gosport throughout and just before the hour came close again to giving his side the lead. A neat feint in the box left the defender for dead and his left-footed strike looked to be heading in only to be met by the head of a Petersfield defender.

Petersfield then came close to taking advantage of Boro’s lacking performance when Brandon Jewell lobbed Ellis Grant who made a fantastic recovery to claw the ball away before it crossed the line - well, not according to the Petersfield players and ‘ultras’ behind the goal who argued the ball had crossed the line.

But, in the 65th minute, Gosport finally took the lead and it was of course through Ryan Pennery. A Gosport corner bounced around the box, falling to Boro’s dangerman who made no mistake slotting the ball under the Petersfield ‘keeper.

A number of changes for both sides killed any Gosport momentum and despite Dan Wooden almost making an instant impact with a shot straight at the ‘keeper, the game fizzled out as the visiting side began to tire.

Billie Busari hit the bar with a late effort from distance and Gosport held firm to advance to the Portsmouth Senior Cup final!