MATCH PREVIEW: LET THERE BE LIGHT AS STAGS RETURN TO GOSPORT

GOSPORT BOROUGH vs AFC TOTTON_SLPDS-27_Wed05Feb2025.jpg

The Venue:
AEI Stadium, Privett Park, Privett Road, Gosport, Hampshire PO12 3SX
Wednesday 05 February 2025 | Kick-Off at 7:45pm

Gosport Borough are offering FREE Entry to all supporters on Wednesday. They will have collection buckets at the turnstiles, in case anyone wants to make a donation.

THE STAGS MAKE A BEE-LINE for Gosport in their next Southern League Premier Division South encounter as Jimmy Ball's men attempt to chase down Merthyr Town at the top of the table.

Last time out, AFC Totton made the journey to Gloucester City and in a hard-fought game, came away with a point and a clean sheet, drawing 0-0.

GOSPORT BOROUGH – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

Gosport have overcome a tough start to this season and now sit 13^th in the Southern League Premier Division South table with 33 points from 26 games. Boro' started off the season with two losses, one at home to Frome (0-1) and the other away at Hungerford Town, where they were thrashed 2-5.

Their next eight games came without a loss, including league wins against Winchester City and Tiverton Town, two FA Cup victories against Andover New Street and Gloucester City, as well as draws against Gloucester in the FA Cup which forced a replay, Sholing, Basingstoke Town and Merthyr. This streak came to an end at Wimborne Town when they lost by a single goal in the league.

The FA Cup run continued after they knocked out Oxford City, winning 3-2 away from home. In the Third Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy, they needed penalties to get past Poole Town but in Fourth Round Qualifying for the FA Cup, Gosport were halted by a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Wealdstone.

Gosport's league form improved over the next five games, with wins against Swindon Supermarine, Taunton and Poole, as well as a draw with Walton & Hersham. Sandwiched in between those five games, however, was a tricky home loss to Marlow, which, in fact, was the bottom-of-the-table dwelling Blues' first victory of the campaign.

After that loss to Marlow, Gosport went their next nine games unbeaten, winning twice in the FA Trophy against National League South opposition in Tonbridge and Worthing. They continued to climb the league table with four wins and three draws. Over Christmas they lost twice to Havant & Waterlooville and Winchester City, but the turn of the New Year saw better results with a comfortable win over Sholing and a 4-3 win over Bracknell Town, before a draw and a defeat in their league double-header with Taunton Town.

The side from Portsmouth then lost to promotion-chasing AFC Totton and Walton & Hersham, and in their last game they drew 0-0 at Swindon Supermarine.

NUTMEG: Luke Bennett takes on Gosport's loanee midfielder Harry Lee during the Southern League Premier Division South match between AFC Totton and Gosport Borough in January.

IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE:
It was a tale of two halves at the Snows Stadium in a match that started slowly before concluding at breakneck speed. Against the run of play, Alfie Stanley scored five minutes into the second half, the ex-AFC Totton player coming back to haunt his former side. Charlie Wassmer won a header inside the box before a scramble led to a poacher’s finish to open the scoring from close range. Then Gosport received two red cards, both for second yellow offences to Danny Hollands and Charlie Wassmer. Tony Lee and Scott Rendell scored to complete the turnaround for The Stags!

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD:
There have been seven matches dating back to 2012 between Totton and Gosport Borough. Totton currently having won four times, Gosport have managed two wins, and the other game ended in a draw. The last time the two teams played at the AEI Stadium was on the 27 September 2023 when Gosport beat Totton 2-0.

STAGS RADIO:
If you are not able to make the short trip to Gosport, Josh Cole and Max Parsons-Williams have got you covered as they will provide LIVE commentary on StagsRadio via X (Twitter) - tune in from 7:30pm to not miss a kick of the action.

By Joshua Cole

Image courtesy of Harvey Gerring

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