Match Preview - Gosport Borough

Tiverton Town v Gosport Borough 

Saturday 19th April, 3pm Kick off 

The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium 

It isn't quite Russian Roulette, but the Yellows know that there is little margin for error in their three remaining matches. As I stated in the match report for the Totton game, this fixture has always been viewed as must-win and even more so after Poole's slightly surprising victory at Merthyr. 

Survival has always been a tall order this term and it will be hanging by a thread if Asa Hall's men aren't able to pull off a win. Steve Orchard will return to the side-lines for Saturday’s visit by Gosport, after a prior engagement meant he was unavailable last weekend. 

There has been good consistency in selection for a while now and a pool of sixteen players have made up the matchday squad with a few exceptions for the last five or six games, which has built up good understandings through the team and our focus has been spot on. 

This continuity has seen the emergence of players like Charlie Cummins and Dan Koita, and the somewhat previously overlooked Jeff Forkuo has put in some excellent shifts at right back. He started out as a defender in Plymouth Argyle’s academy sides. 

Cummins has looked the part, since slotting into a centre back role, alongside Toby Down, whose accomplished performances have made a big impression with Yellows’ supporters.  

Dan Koita backed up his goal against Bracknell with another on Saturday and is starting to show the ability he possesses. The focal point of Koita and Joe Parker has presented a real threat recently. 

The visitors come to Ladysmead in good form and are unbeaten in their previous three matches. They ensured safety at the weekend with a 3-0 home success against Hanwell and currently reside in eleventh place in the table, with 50 points. 

The Boro were comfortable 3-0 winners, when the sides met back in September. A change in the dugout for Gosport since that game, has seen the management team back then; Joe Lea and Pat Suraci take charge at our relegation rivals Poole. 

Much like Asa Hall, a player-manager was installed at that point. Vastly experienced 39-year-old former EFL midfielder Danny Hollands, who made 219 senior appearances for Bournemouth and played nearly 370 EFL games.  

Other clubs he has appeared for include; Charlton Athletic who he played for in The Championship and League one, Portsmouth, Torquay, Swindon, and Crewe Alexandra. The clever manipulator of the ball also has 157 National League appearances with Eastleigh to his name. 

He has been joined since March by former Birmingham, Coventry, Cambridge and Republic of Ireland Centre Back Liam Daish, who coaches from the technical area, much like Steve Orchard. Seven months ago, he departed his role as Birmingham City’s Academy Manager. 

Continuing with the experienced theme, a constant for the Boro over the last five seasons has been Dan Wooden. Wooden is in his eleventh campaign at the club overall and first appeared for the Privett Park team in the 2011/12 season. 

He was a player for Gosport when they were plying their trade in the level above. The versatile and inspirational Wooden can operate to equal effect as a midfielder or as a striker and is now 34. 

Frontman Alfie Stanley scored a hattrick at Ladysmead for Dorchester 3/4 season’s back and can be a real livewire. Although he hasn’t been a starter for The Boro recently, he is their joint top scorer with 12 goals and the ex-Portsmouth pro was signed from Totton. 

29 yr old winger Brad Tarbuck also was a professional at Pompey and is a strong performer at this level. Playing 116 league games in the step above for Havant & Waterlooville, the gifted wide man has good pedigree and also spent a few campaigns with Dorchester, earlier in his senior career. 

Attacking midfielder Asher Yearwood has an eye for a goal and has provided 12 of them for his team, this term. He was a shrewd acquisition from relegated Beaconsfield and is very much an integral part of Danny Holland’s side. 

Fellow midfielder Cameron Murray is another with vast experience and pedigree. He had a youth career with Leeds United, Bradford City and York City, making his only professional appearance for York when they were an EFL club. 

His career though blossomed as a semi-pro with Weymouth where he made 124 appearances for them. A loan spell whilst with the Dorset side at Poole, saw him sign permanently for the Dolphins in 23/24. Gosport acquired his services for this campaign. 

Nnamdi Nwuchuku is another goalscoring midfielder, who began the season with Basingstoke before moving on to his current team. The talented former Colchester United academy player has spent time higher up the pyramid with Welling and Braintree. 

Rory Williams operates as a left Back these days but was initially a forward when he first pulled on a Gosport shirt in the 2012/13 campaign. He had played for Boro’s youth sides, before breaking into the senior ranks. 

The 35-yr old veteran defender is in his tenth season with the Hampshire based team. Those ten seasons’ separated by a successful Three years at Havant & Waterlooville. 

Completing a trio of ex young professionals with Portsmouth is right back Harry Kavanagh. Kavanagh has been with The Boro, since the 20/21 season. Another member of the backline is Harry Lee who is on loan from Brighton. 

Centre back Charlie Wassmer has EFL experience with Crawley and Dagenham & Redbridge. The 34-yr old has an impressive non-league CV too. Representing Crawley, Cambridge United, Fleetwood, Hayes & Yeading and Maidstone in the National League. 

The much-travelled defender was on loan from Hayes & Yeading in the 22/23 season and Gosport signed him permanently for the following campaign. 

Defender Joe Morrison has played in this standard of football, for a fair amount of time. Formerly of Walton Casuals, Hartley Wintney and Beaconsfield, he became a Boro player midway through the previous season. 

Goalkeeper Adam Parkes had plenty of offers in the close season and was a target for Tivvy. His performances for Plymouth Parkway caught the attention of many clubs and in the end, he chose Taunton. The high-quality keeper, moved to Gosport a part of the way through this term. 

Our day of reckoning is almost here and it’s important to remember that we have match winners of our own. The stakes are incredibly high on Saturday and it’s imperative that as supporter’s we come out in force and get behind The Yellows.