Reds Drum Home Advantage
- tricky291
- Aug 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 24
Uxbridge claimed their first win at step 3, with a 2-1 victory over Gosport Borough in an entertaining encounter, with goals from both Nnams Nwachuku and a Liam Prior-Tack penalty for the second match in a row, but unlike at Wimborne the previous Saturday, this week The Reds were able to take all three points and remain unbeaten after four matches at this level.
The home side began with an attacking intent, and within two minutes, Prior-Tack had the ball in the back of the net, only for the linesman's flag to cut short the celebrations. Uxbridge didn't have to wait long for the opener, however, as in the 3rd minute, a perfectly weighted ball found Nwachuku who, with a deft touch, lobbed the onrushing keeper to give the home side a 1-0 lead against his former team. Gosport Borough responded well, with a shot going wide in the 9th minute, and another low shot from Ethan Lee Taylor being well saved by Uxbridge keeper Mark Scott in the 15th minute.
The rest of the half was a story of near misses and excellent goalkeeping. In the 17th minute a corner for Uxbridge resulted in a header from Bernie Tanner being gathered low, with Nwachuku just unable to get a touch on the loose ball. Uxbridge had started to gain control of the match, and could have doubled their lead on 29 minutes when a superb through ball from Harry Rush put Prior-Tack in on goal, but his shot was impressively parried by Hall in the Gosport goal. The drama wasn't over for the half, as Rush’s powerful low shot was saved by Hall, but Nams was again adjudged to be narrowly offside from the rebound.
HT 1-0
The second half started much like the first, with Uxbridge on the front foot. Just four minutes in, The Reds doubled their lead, when a high ball saw Kai Hobbs challenged in the box and brought down, leading to a penalty. Prior-Tack stepped up confidently and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Spurred on by a vocal away contingent, complete with the ever divisive sound of a drum - Gosport pushed for a way back into the game, but were met by a resolute Uxbridge defence, marshalled superbly as ever by Captain CJ Fearn. His partner at the back, Tanner made an excellent defensive header from a Gosport corner, while a quick break from an Uxbridge corner saw Gosport's lively Trevor Caborn - who had been proving a real handful all afternoon - fire high and wide. A crucial moment came in the 71st minute when Hobbs made a great tackle to prevent a clean shot, almost certainly preserving the two goal lead. However, the visitors found their breakthrough in the 82nd minute when a ball over the top was emphatically smashed home by Ethan Taylor, making it 2-1 and setting up a tense finish.
In the final moments, Rush had a good opportunity with a shot straight at the keeper, and Gosport piled on the pressure. In the dying seconds, they rattled the crossbar from a looping header, but it was not enough and The Reds held on to secure a vital 2-1 win.
Uxbridge now make the short trip to Chertsey Town at 3pm on Bank Holiday Monday, looking to build on this first win.
FT 2-1
Att 302
Uxbridge: Scott, Hobbs, Bocarro, Fearn, Tanner, Nandozie (Bradshaw), Lawal (Osu), Rush, Nwachuku (Rowe), Moore (Deru), Prior-Tack (Bailey)
