HAMPSHIRE SENIOR CUP

GOSPORT BOROUGH v CHRISTCHURCH

MATCH RESULT: 1 - 0


1. STEWART KEARN
2. JON GRACE
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. COLIN DAND
6. ADAM COSTELLO
7. CALLUM BURT
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. PAUL ROBERTS
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

JOE KITTLE
JACK SWANN


Church exited their second cup in three days but can be proud of their performance against higher level opponents and also the fact that they played 78 minutes with 10 men.

There was a slow opening and the first real action which was to have a significant effect on the result came on 12 minutes with the dismissal of Jon Grace for an off the ball incident which was spotted by the referees assistant. This resulted in Adam Costello being removed from his midfield role to full back but the first 45 minutes action was mostly confined to midfield and due to the hard work of all the Church players Stewart Kearn in goal had a relatively quiet opening half.

The team talk given to the hosts at the interval obviously had the desired affect as Kearn was in early action making fine saves on 53 and 57 minutes but mainly the hosts despite having the majority of possession were woeful in their shooting and Church came close to opening the scoring on 65 minutes when Marc Fairbrother tricked his way into the penalty area and was denied by the Gosport custodian tipping his shot round the post. Kearn was again at his best after 74 making an outstanding save and the home side should have taken the lead on 78 when their centre forward shot wide when through on goal. However it was only desperate defending that denied Church on 80 minutes when Sam Griffin set up substitute Joe Kittle whose goal bound effort was charged down and Callum Burt shot just wide from the rebound. The only goal when it came was heartbreaking for two reasons as firstly it came after 89 minutes and secondly it was scored by an ex Christchurch player Tom Price but he must be commended on his left foot shot from 18 yards as Kearn had no chance in saving it.

Manager Graham Kemp can be very pleased with the performance and if the same pitch could have been used at Bitton on Saturday we could well have been expecting a visit from West Auckland. One final point and Gosport must be complimented on their ground and facilities as vast improvements have been carried out in the 3/ 4 years that they departed the Wessex League and it just goes to show you what can be achieved with the help of the local council.

Donners