After a difficult week with it being confirmed that our attacking midfielder Alex Barsa would be going back to the Czech Republic following an injury at Swindon, Ryan Gosney signing for rivals Totton and suspensions/other injuries it made for a difficult situation going into the Poole game.

Typically Poole have always been a difficult side to beat, but at the start of this game our attacking unit made it all too easy to break down the Dolphins. Starting from a quick free kick, Tarbuck and Yearwood combined nicely down the left wing. Tarbuck in space took aim at goal and thanks to a deflection from a Poole defender, it blasted the ball into the top corner to break the deadlock. 0 - 1

Former BORO’ player Antonio Diaz was causing damage against his old teammates after working himself down the left, after a successful overlap from Hewlett. The wing-back swung in a cross, meeting the head of Slade who headed wide.

On the twenty-sixth minute mark, a corner ball was hit in towards the front post, picking out Charlie Wassmer. Although the defender couldn’t connect with the cross it trickled onto Stanley at the back as he fires into the side netting.

Despite Halloween being over, Brad Tarbuck was proving to be a nightmare for this Poole defence, simply picking out Agbeseyi in a floated pass. In excellent form, the midfielder delivered a bullet header past Plain to make it two and this also marks Tarbuck’s fourth goal involvement in his last two outings.

Half-Time: Poole 0-2 Gosport

Ten minutes after the break former Havant and Waterloovile man Jake McCarthy was the recipient of a cross at the back post, steering the ball towards goal. However this was blocked on the line by a yellow body.

On the note of Poole’s chances for the first time in the game, on the seventy-third minute the hosts’ had their first shot on target. McCarthy with a long range effort forced a save from Smart …comfortably dealt with by Gosport’s talented keeper.

However the young keeper was beaten four minutes later when Poole were awarded a penalty after Holmes was adjudged to have been brought down in the Gosport box. McCarthy converted from the spot giving the dolphins a lifeline.

This saviour was shattered in added time when Alfie Stanley got hold of the ball. In fantastic form the former Pompey man rifled past Plain, flying in the back of the net to cushion BORO’s lead and wrapping up the three points.

Full-Time: Poole 1-3 Gosport

Even with the challenges, it proved to be a comfortable win. Looking at the opposition they continue their lacklustre form, conceding now six in their last two league games. But for BORO’ things won’t get much harder than a home fixture against juggernauts AFC Totton next Friday, so we’ll see you then. But final words from me: UP THE BORO!!!

Gosport Starting XI
Smart, Kavanagh, Wassmer, Williams, Lee, Tarbuck, Agbeseyi, Murray, Stanley, Yearwood, Wooden

Subs: Faniyan, Searle, Cope, Jones, Tudway

Attendance: 478

Picture by Jack Aldridge