Tuesday, April 9 . Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South
Tiverton Town v Gosport Borough
Ian Moorcroft Stadium . 7.45pm
OUR visitors on Tuesday evening are Gosport Borough as we begin the first of four consecutive Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South games at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium: second-placed Gosport are followed by Chesham, who have already been crowned champions, on Saturday.
The stakes are high and the stage is set.
Having beaten Merthyr and Hungerford recently, but having the wind taken out of their sails by Dorchester and Totton, it is hard for supporters to know which version of Tiverton is going to turn up.
Without a doubt, though, those fans will be firmly behind their team come kick-off and willing them to get the results they need to get over the line.
What of our opponents then?
They are managed by Pat Suraci, a 25-year-old. His previous experience suggests a real student of the game. Initially on Southampton’s books as a youngster, Suraci combined playing with coaching from an early age, overseeing Bournemouth’s Under-14s and Under-15s and Gosport’s Under-18s and Under-23s whilst appearing for the likes of Weymouth and Gosport.
It was his work at Wessex League Petersfield Town that attracted Boro to his and former co-manager Joe Lea’s talent, although he now confines himself to the dugout. To have achieved what he has this season is admirable and a big future in the game seems to beckon.
He has assembled a mainly youthful looking squad, but the vast experience of Danny Hollands and Dan Wooden has also been invaluable. Thirty-eight year old midfielder Hollands appeared more than 350 times in the EFL and more than half of those appearances were for Bournemouth. Significant spells were also spent at Charlton and Bournemouth.
Wooden is a club stalwart and is as equally adept as a midfielder as he is as a forward, notching 17 goals through the campaign. Moneyfields is the other team he has played for, but, in all, he has featured over two spells in ten seasons with the Boro.
Fifteen-goal Rafa Ramos has impressed, and he and the talented Alfie Stanley, previously of Dorchester and Totton, give Gosport plenty of goal threat and variety in the final third.
It will be another tough assignment for Leigh Robinson’s men, who will be without the suspended Josh Jones and Calum Thomas, who has been recalled by Torquay United. Captain Jamie Richards and Jack Veale could come into contention after their injury lay-offs.
We have to move on from Totton and Dorchester as football at this level is played as much as it is between the ears, as it is on sheer football ability.
Nothing short of three wins from our remaining six fixtures appears to be enough as we enter the business end of the season, with retaining Southern Premier Division South status being the prize.
Comments