Page 4 - Yate Town FC v Gosport Borough FA Cup 180921

Good afternoon and a very warm welcome to everyone, including the
players, management, directors, and supporters of Gosport Borough, who
today make the journey north from Hampshire. We hope you enjoy your
visit here and wish you a safe trip home.

Both teams will be familiar with each other, having not long ago faced off
in league competition. A close encounter on the South Coast ended with
Boro taking all three points thanks to a winner from Nicky Dembele. Yate
will be desperate for revenge in the cup, and will also be looking to bounce
back from a disappointing defeat at home on Tuesday, when they lost 2-0
to Truro City.
The visitors dominated from the start and on the number of chances
created should have won the game far more comfortably.
The home side did have the better of the early exchanges. Ricardo Rees
had an effort blocked after David Sims-Burgess had held the ball up and
then Rees shot narrowly wide of the far post when well placed.

From then on City were to boss the first half. Andrew Neal, a problem for
the Yate defence throughout the game, had a drive tipped over by Andy
Hannah and then the same player failed to hit the target when he broke
clear down the right channel.
When it finally came, the visitors' first half lead was fully deserved. A foul
was committed on the edge of the box and Will Dean flighted his free kick
into the top corner and well out of Hannah's reach.
Some diving saves from Hannah and last-ditch tackles from Sam Turl
managed to prevent City from extending their lead throughout much of the
second half while at the other end it was a quiet night for James Hamon
who was rarely tested.
Truro needed a second goal to seal the game, and this came fifteen minutes
from the end when Hannah and his fellow defenders failed to deal with a
corner on the near post and Dean forced the ball over the line.
Hannah then made amends with a brave save at the feet of Neal late on as
the visitors looked to make their three-point haul even more convincing.

Today’s opponents will come into the match full of confidence, currently
sitting second in the Southern League Premier South thanks to five wins in
their first seven games. After beating the Bluebells last weekend, Shaun
Gale’s side were held to a goalless draw by Swindon Supermarine on
Tuesday, to leave them five points adrift of Hayes & Yeading at the top of
the league.