Gosport got off to the best possible start when Mason Walsh capitalised on a loose ball amongst the Portchester defence. The winger raced through on goal and expertly finished around the Portchy ‘keeper to give Boro’ an immediate boost.

Boro’s higher quality was evident from there on as they dominated proceedings but failed to create much more than a half-chance. Billie Busari and Seok-Jae Lee both had efforts on goal from outside the box but both lacked any real danger to Steven Mowthorpe’s goal.

That was until Walsh was again the lucky recipient of a lapse of concentration amongst the Portchester defence. Neatly chipping it over the challenge of a defender, he attempted to round Mowthorpe but he stood up well and denied Walsh this time.

Gosport’s failure to secure a second goal despite dominating proceedings allowed Portchester to get back into the game and had it not been for a superb block by Ryan Woodford, George Barker might have equalised after some great work in the box.

Matt Paterson almost doubled Gosport’s advantage just before half-time but his curling effort was well saved by Mowthorpe and Boro took just a slight advantage into the break.

Boro’ failed to start the second-half as well as the first; well, in the sense it took 10 minutes to score this time. Seok-Jae Lee played a brilliant ball through to set Billie Busari through and Mason Walsh was waiting at the far post for a simpler finish than his first.

Bradley Lethbridge was introduced after the hour and he had a quick impact. Jake Wright hit the post and Lethbridge was there to make sure the ball hit the back of the net to put Gosport three to the good.

And, just five minutes later, Lethbridge got his second and Gosport’s fourth. He was put through on goal and despite Mowthorpe getting down well and making some contact, the ball rolled into the net.

In the 80th minute, Gosport thought they had a fifth and Lethbridge thought he had a hat-trick but the linesman had his flag up for an earlier offside to deny such hopes.

Jake Wright deserved to score Gosport’s fifth in the 86th minute. He turned well and unleashed a brilliant curling shot with his left-foot but he was denied by the crossbar.