Match report: Gosport Borough 2, Bridgwater Town 1 (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Match report: Gosport Borough 2, Bridgwater Town 1

12:50pm Monday 30th January 2012 in Sport

INJURIES to Craig Mawford and Pete Monks in warm-up piled the misery on Bridgwater Town as they fell to defeat against 10-man Gosport Borough, writes Eddie Robinson.

Within a minute, Liam Sewell rattled the Bridgwater bar before Town settled down into the match with Kye Palmer threatening the home side’s defence.

A goal-line clearance by Mat Pitcher helped prevent Bridgwater falling behind and Ollie Barnes brought a smart save out of Gosport’s keeper following a free-kick.

Gosport took the lead on 19 minutes as Dan Wooden weaved into the box to lay the ball off to the dangerous Bennett to score from close range.

But Wooden received a red card following a poor challenge on Robert Clowes before Gosport doubled their lead through Bennett.

Bridgwater got back into the game thanks to a precision free-kick from Barnes on 38 minutes which rifled into the top corner as Town entered half-time 2-1 down.

Bridgwater had the better of the second-half again with Josh Turner and Pitcher no longer under the same amount of pressure as in the first.

After 71 minutes, Graham Mercieca, who had the best of his marker all game, laid off a golden chance for Palmer who smashed the ball against the bar with goalkeeper Ashmore helpless.

Bridgwater were searching for the equaliser with Dave Pearse putting a Barnes cross wide leaving Gosport thankful to hear the final whistle.

Bridgwater Town: Hutchings (Lewis 46), Peek, Pitcher, Turner, Barnes, Middleton (Peppin 55), Lyons, Mercieca, Clowes, Pearse, Palmer.