Eastleigh 0-1 Gosport Borough
EASTLEIGH V GOSPORT BOROUGH
20TH APRIL 2006
RUSSELL COTES CUP FINAL
20TH APRIL 2006
RUSSELL COTES CUP FINAL
A hard working, motivated Gosport side were more than a match for their supposedly superior opposition in an Eastleigh team that contained a number of second string players.
The home side were probably clear favourites going into the tie and were it not for squandering half a dozen chances in a good spell of play after half time then they would not have lost their chance to get their hands on the silverware they picked up last season.
The warning signs were out for Eastleigh after Gosport struck a post inside the first minute of the game with Alan Walker-Harris beaten in what was a lively start to the game from the visitors.
Probably Eastleigh’s best player on the night, Adam Roberts, had some good runs early on as his great dribbling skills and pace helped him to a couple of early strikes on Gosport’s goal, which were both saved comfortably.
In the 11th minute, Gosport had their first of three corners in quick succession as they looked to put pressure on the Conference South side. On each occasion Eastleigh didn’t look at ease when getting rid of the danger.
Eastleigh then had a couple of chances from free kicks from Ryan Ashford but despite these being in good positions no advantage was gained from them.
Up until this point in the game it was a fairly open game, however Gosport looked more likely to score when they put together a number of useful attacks on the home side’s goal. One of these nearly resulted in the opening goal as a well-worked move resulted in a right wing cross being whipped in across goal and all it needed was touch but no one could get on the end of it and the chance was gone as it went out for a goal kick.
It was then Eastleigh’s turn to put together a good move. It started with a good ball down the wing from Ryan Woodford, which picked out Andy Forbes who laid the ball off to Ashford, but much like the other Eastleigh attempts on goal it was wayward and ineffective.
The young Eastleigh side finished the half much the better team. A quick corner from Richard Hodgson was played short for Ashford who struck the ball well and was deflected for another corner ball. This time the ball came out to Jack Smith who beat one player before bringing the ball forward and letting fly with his left foot but the effort was off-target.
Another golden opportunity came Eastleigh’s way into first half stoppage time when Hodgson was played clean through behind the defence. The Geordie only had to pick his spot to beat the keeper, however the 6 foot 7 inch frame of Mark Brown did well to rush out and beat the ball wide.
HALF TIME – Eastleigh 0-0 Gosport
Andy Forbes was replaced by Dave Town at half time, perhaps because Doswell felt something had to be done to change the game. It was Town who came close to scoring only six minutes into the half when Zach Glasspool flicked the ball on nicely for his strike partner and Town hit the ball with the outside of his right boot and watched on as the ball came back off the cross bar before falling to safety.
This chance was only the beginning of a flurry of attempts and sustained pressure from Eastleigh for the next 20 minutes or so. The substitute Town again had an opportunity to break the deadlock. This time a good sliding challenge from the captain Ryan Ashford won possession for his side as Town bore down on goal, but as Hodgson found on the stroke of half time beating the huge Brown in the Gosport goal was no easy task and the visitors frantically cleared the ball.
The 62nd minute saw a third Dave Town chance squandered. After good build up play from Hodgson and Glasspool the ball was across the goal area to find Town who was only 3 yards out but somewhat miraculously Gosport kept the effort out as Eastleigh continued to pressure.
Only one minute later, Ryan Ashford hit a sweet volley from the edge of the area that looked destined for the back of the net. It had the power, the accuracy and the swerve and fully deserved more as the ball smashed against the post and flew out for a goal kick.
Yet another chance came the holders way as two of the Eastleigh youngsters combined. Good wing play from the tricky ‘Taz’ Roberts saw his cross headered inches wide by Zach Glasspool.
This was to be Glasspool’s last involvement in the game as he brought off shortly after with Chris Hall being the replacement.
After all of the many chances that Eastleigh had since the half time whistle, Gosport made them pay dearly in what was the first attack of the half. The ball was put into the box and cleared for a corner by Sam Stannard. From it, one good delivery was met by one powerful header that beat one static goalkeeper as Gosport took the lead. It has to be said simply for the way they played in the first half it was a goal that was deserved. Neil Scammell was the scorer and it made sure that Eastleigh were severely punished for not making more out of the number of chances they had preceding the goal.
Towards the end of the game it was apparent that Eastleigh were beginning to lose their patience, as a couple of bookings were picked up, and that they were running out of ideas.
Deep into the fourth minute of injury time, the last roll of the dice came for Eastleigh. Taz played the ball to Hodgson who knocked the ball down for Dave Town who flashed a volley across the face of goal but once again Gosport survived the attack and held on to pick up the Russell Cotes trophy for the first time since 1970.
FULL TIME - Eastleigh 0-1 Gosport
JAMIE MONTIGUE
The home side were probably clear favourites going into the tie and were it not for squandering half a dozen chances in a good spell of play after half time then they would not have lost their chance to get their hands on the silverware they picked up last season.
The warning signs were out for Eastleigh after Gosport struck a post inside the first minute of the game with Alan Walker-Harris beaten in what was a lively start to the game from the visitors.
Probably Eastleigh’s best player on the night, Adam Roberts, had some good runs early on as his great dribbling skills and pace helped him to a couple of early strikes on Gosport’s goal, which were both saved comfortably.
In the 11th minute, Gosport had their first of three corners in quick succession as they looked to put pressure on the Conference South side. On each occasion Eastleigh didn’t look at ease when getting rid of the danger.
Eastleigh then had a couple of chances from free kicks from Ryan Ashford but despite these being in good positions no advantage was gained from them.
Up until this point in the game it was a fairly open game, however Gosport looked more likely to score when they put together a number of useful attacks on the home side’s goal. One of these nearly resulted in the opening goal as a well-worked move resulted in a right wing cross being whipped in across goal and all it needed was touch but no one could get on the end of it and the chance was gone as it went out for a goal kick.
It was then Eastleigh’s turn to put together a good move. It started with a good ball down the wing from Ryan Woodford, which picked out Andy Forbes who laid the ball off to Ashford, but much like the other Eastleigh attempts on goal it was wayward and ineffective.
The young Eastleigh side finished the half much the better team. A quick corner from Richard Hodgson was played short for Ashford who struck the ball well and was deflected for another corner ball. This time the ball came out to Jack Smith who beat one player before bringing the ball forward and letting fly with his left foot but the effort was off-target.
Another golden opportunity came Eastleigh’s way into first half stoppage time when Hodgson was played clean through behind the defence. The Geordie only had to pick his spot to beat the keeper, however the 6 foot 7 inch frame of Mark Brown did well to rush out and beat the ball wide.
HALF TIME – Eastleigh 0-0 Gosport
Andy Forbes was replaced by Dave Town at half time, perhaps because Doswell felt something had to be done to change the game. It was Town who came close to scoring only six minutes into the half when Zach Glasspool flicked the ball on nicely for his strike partner and Town hit the ball with the outside of his right boot and watched on as the ball came back off the cross bar before falling to safety.
This chance was only the beginning of a flurry of attempts and sustained pressure from Eastleigh for the next 20 minutes or so. The substitute Town again had an opportunity to break the deadlock. This time a good sliding challenge from the captain Ryan Ashford won possession for his side as Town bore down on goal, but as Hodgson found on the stroke of half time beating the huge Brown in the Gosport goal was no easy task and the visitors frantically cleared the ball.
The 62nd minute saw a third Dave Town chance squandered. After good build up play from Hodgson and Glasspool the ball was across the goal area to find Town who was only 3 yards out but somewhat miraculously Gosport kept the effort out as Eastleigh continued to pressure.
Only one minute later, Ryan Ashford hit a sweet volley from the edge of the area that looked destined for the back of the net. It had the power, the accuracy and the swerve and fully deserved more as the ball smashed against the post and flew out for a goal kick.
Yet another chance came the holders way as two of the Eastleigh youngsters combined. Good wing play from the tricky ‘Taz’ Roberts saw his cross headered inches wide by Zach Glasspool.
This was to be Glasspool’s last involvement in the game as he brought off shortly after with Chris Hall being the replacement.
After all of the many chances that Eastleigh had since the half time whistle, Gosport made them pay dearly in what was the first attack of the half. The ball was put into the box and cleared for a corner by Sam Stannard. From it, one good delivery was met by one powerful header that beat one static goalkeeper as Gosport took the lead. It has to be said simply for the way they played in the first half it was a goal that was deserved. Neil Scammell was the scorer and it made sure that Eastleigh were severely punished for not making more out of the number of chances they had preceding the goal.
Towards the end of the game it was apparent that Eastleigh were beginning to lose their patience, as a couple of bookings were picked up, and that they were running out of ideas.
Deep into the fourth minute of injury time, the last roll of the dice came for Eastleigh. Taz played the ball to Hodgson who knocked the ball down for Dave Town who flashed a volley across the face of goal but once again Gosport survived the attack and held on to pick up the Russell Cotes trophy for the first time since 1970.
FULL TIME - Eastleigh 0-1 Gosport
JAMIE MONTIGUE
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