I’m always looking to find games away from Sussex from time to time, mostly to keep this site as varied as possible and give everyone an insight into non-league football across the South.
However, there are times when games just don’t jump out at me and I’ve had that feeling often this year, maybe that’s just me at the moment, maybe it’s also one eye on the finances which aren’t as plentiful as last year.
I have my usual quota I head to each year, the column clubs as a ‘thank you’ for taking my way, friends at various clubs who it’s always lovely to catch up with every season and clubs I have a connection or affiliation with.
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If I’m not sure where I’m going to go I do narrow it down to a few options and occasionally there is somewhere I’ve not been before. I wasn’t really feeling a trip too far and managed to search out a game not too far away which on paper looked a cracker.
I don’t often venture into the Southern League despite a few clubs within an hour of me, it’s the odd dabble once or twice a season if I’m honest. But this one really stuck out, Sholing hosting Gosport Borough. Now I do look over the results within their divisions every Sunday, friends at Hadley and Farnham Town plus a column club in Brixham so I made sure I did a little research.
Fifth vs sixth, one team seemingly able to win and shut up shop, the other full of goals so in my mind it was either going to end up 0-0 or a high scoring affair.
A warm but coldish afternoon was the kick off atmosphere, a ground that had plenty of cover for a good amount of the crowd and nicely set out as well.
3G/4G surfaces do encourage teams to pass the ball around, although it doesn’t stop anyone going more direct, a pair of contrasting styles at times but intriguing to see how it would pan out.
Both sides had a goal ruled out for offside before the opening goal arrived, Sholing first and then Borough, the former definitely correct being at my end of the ground, the latter the good grace of believing the assistant referee, a glut of chances for either team to take the lead either side of these decisions but none finding the back of the net.
It was the hosts who took the lead on 33 minutes, Dan Mason with a cool finish past Ryan Hall from the edge of the box having been sweetly put clean through.
And it stayed that way until bang on 45 minutes. Gosport awarded a free kick a yard or so outside the penalty area and Ben Greenwood with a superbly left footed curled shot went around the wall and the outstretched reach of Declan McCarthy in the Sholing net, the sides going in level at the break.
The second half took on a very scrappy feel for the first 15 to 20 minutes, passes going astray, possession squandered when on the ball and it took a while to find a rhythm. The chances did begin to come again and both were indebted to their keepers for the scores staying level.
The home side were in front again on 77 minutes, a delicious cross from the right and a perfectly weighted header from Mason resulted in his and Sholing’s second of the game.
With the match set for stoppage time and the hosts looking to see out the remaining minutes, Gosport had other ideas as Greenwood volleyed home on exactly 90 minutes after a couple of loose balls weren’t cleared and the sides were level once more.
With seemingly all effort finally spent, a share of the spoils it was come full time and a very entertaining afternoon between two sides geared up for a promotion tilt over the next few months.
Good banter most of the afternoon between the two sets of fans behind the goal nearest to me, but it did turn sour when a few Borough fans seemed to step over the line and cause a line of stewards to intervene for most of the second half, something that seems to be creeping into the non-league game at the moment and quite frankly isn’t welcome at all.
A really nice set-up I found, big bar area under cover, big size overflow car park, generous food portions and not a million miles down the road, both sides I feel will be close to that top five come the end of the season, we’ll see where that prediction lands come the end of April.
