After a long cup run it was time for Gosport to return back to league action. They travelled to the club owned by the youngest chairmen Walton & Hersham, who have started the season well sitting on 17 points before the match.

The hosts’ showed what they were capable of on the fifth minute. Bolton with a free-kick 25 yards out, floated a ball into skipper Jones, flicking it onto the crossbar in a near scare.

Ten minutes later the Swans’ opened the scoring. Field inside the BORO’ box cut inside of his defender before putting it on the plate for Esprit, driving a ball into the left corner to grab his first goal for the club.

Like in our last game we would be playing most of our match with just ten men. Hollands with a an adjudged high challenge, meant the midfielder saw a straight red and Gosport went down to ten men.

Having hit the bar once that night already, Jones came close to scoring a screamer. Outside the box, the skipper teed up a rocket, knuckleballing it towards the top right corner with the bar rescuing Gosport.

Gosport did have one opportunity before the break with Brad Tarbuck being fouled just outside Walton’s box following a tug of his shirt from Jones. Skipper Rory Williams stepped up and there was good curl on the set-piece but just too hard hit.

HT: Walton & Hersham 1-0 Gosport Borough

Despite being a player down we started the second 45’ brightly. Seconds after the re-start Faniyan was brought down in the penalty box. Which looked like a clear penalty the referee instead sanctioned the Gosport attacker after having words with the first official.

Pressure from Esprit in the 50th minute allowed the goalscorer to win possession, passing through to Rogalski. Taking a heavy first touch left the Nu9 in an awkward position blasting into the side netting.

But it was our Nu10 to put us back onto level terms. Having been lively all night and working himself into a good position off the ball, saw Faniyan get on the end of Stanley’s header to tap one home to finish off a great attack.

It was shaping out to be a Faniyan MASTERCLASS!!! Striding down the left channel before releasing a ball across the face of goal, the pass managed to find Murray. With cool composure the midfielder slid one under the keeper’s legs to give us the lead.

Like our horror start, Walton replicated similar fate. Bolger saw his’ second yellow after bringing down Yearwood and was the next player to leave the field, meaning we would play the last twenty minutes in a 10v10 scenario.

Unfortunately Gosport couldn’t hold onto the lead. Bouncing around from a corner, Jones had the best reactions and stabbed home a header to give the home side a late goal.

Full-Time: Walton & Hersham 2-2 Gosport

Despite being a goal and player down at half time, we were ruthless in the second interval. Pat and Joe will definitely be happy with that result and now we look ahead to Saturday, when we FINALLY return home as we take on Swindon Supermarine, so we’ll see you then. But final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Gosport’s Starting XI
Gosney, Kavanagh, Walsh-Smith, Morrison, Williams, Tarbuck, Murray, Hollands, Faniyan, Yearwood

Subs: Wassmer, Lee, Agbeseyi, Barsa, Cope

Picture by Jack Aldridge