Match Report: Less ‘Total Football,’ More ‘Total Exhaustion
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
As a precursor to the Southern League match on Good Friday, the supporters clubs of both teams had arranged a match in aid of Prost8UK. There was a large contingent inside the AEI stadium for the 11am kick off and with both sets of players having undergone intensive training sessions in the previous weeks, the match would - if nothing else - be keenly contested and played in the right spirit
Uxbridge’s team was being managed by club stalwart Mark Delderfield, and he had set the team up to hit the space and pick up second ball and with ex-Red James Shipperly assuming the role of target man. From the kick off Captain Dave Mallam showed some promise with some early skill on show - only to be targeted by some enthusiastic defending to nullify his threat. Gosport though had some good players on show, and despite the Reds sitting deep and trying to play on the break, they were indebted to Uxbridge keeper Lloydy, who was forced into full-stretch save in the 7th minute, followed immediately by a brave smothering stop as the hosts looked to exploit a gap in the defence. Despite his heroics, the deadlock was broken in the 10th minute when a sharp ball into the box was flicked in at the near post. Clinical finishing saw Gosport double their lead just six minutes later, as their impressive No 17 rounded the keeper to make it two. Uxbridge nearly pulled one back in the 20th minute when a low drive cleared off the line, but disaster struck just sixty seconds later. As the No 17 again made himself a nuisance flicking the ball onto their No 3 to tap in a third, leaving the Red Army facing a daunting 0-3 deficit at the break.
HT 0-3
With a change in personnel at half time and some no doubt inspired words from the dugout the visitors refused to crumble, however. After No. 17 forced another save and a defender produced a goal-saving block in the 35th minute, the breakthrough finally came. A pin-point corner from Pete Whelan to the back post was tucked home by Jack Keary to reduce the deficit, and the comeback was definitely on In the 48th minute, as Keary produced the moment of the match, marauding down the right wing before firing a clinical strike past the Gosport keeper to make it 3-2. With the momentum swinging toward the visitors, and some legs tiring, the game turned physical, Jay Dave making sure his presence was felt at the back with some strong tackles. On one occasion Physio “Cabbage” was almost called on to show his medical prowess, but sadly his excursion onto the pitch was cut short before we could get to see his sponge in action. There was also time for an example of why Pete Whelan should stick to corners, as one of his throw-in’s went further backwards than forwards. Uxbridge came agonisingly close to an equalizer in the 58th minute when a brilliant turn and shot rattled the top of the crossbar. However, against the run of play in the 54th minute, Gosport found a decisive fourth. A pinpoint cross from the left was met with a firm header to restore their two-goal cushion at 2-4.The Red Army pushed until the final whistle, seeing a late header narrowly clear the bar, but the clock ran out on the comeback. While the result went the way of the hosts, the match provided the perfect appetiser for the first team's victory later that afternoon.
Congratulations to both teams on a great effort on and off the pitch - it will be reciprocated at Honeycroft next season I'm sure.
Final Score: Gosport Supporters 4 - 2 Uxbridge Supporters
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Match Gallery here - courtesy Emma Neumann-Russell