LATE GOAL ENDS TROPHY HOPES

Rugby’s wretched start to the season continued on Saturday with another first round exit to extend their poor record in the FA Trophy.

By Craig Webb.

Photo: Martin Pulley

Midfielder Sam Youngs claimed the Star Man award but Rugby could not overcome their lower league opponents

The game was heading for a replay in Hampshire until the visitors got the winner in the third minute of injury time to frustrate the home fans.

Manager Tony Dobson had to make an enforced change from the victory over Stratford with David Staff failing to recover from the knock he picked up with Allondo Davis taking his place. Ashley Pringle returned with Sean Castleton on the bench.

Rugby were hoping to build on their midweek success in the Birmingham Senior Cup with another win which would breed confidence for the league campaign.

The away side who play in the Zameretto Divison One Midland/South league had the first chance in the game with Justin Bennett who was to be the eventual match winner shot narrowly wide of Andrew Stevens goal.

Rugby’s first effort came via a Karl Fellows free kick, with Matt Gearing getting a touch to find Shawn Richards who blasted over when he had time to control the ball.

David Kolodynski starting to rediscover to his goalscoring form from last season had a great chance to put the home side ahead but his shot went straight into Mark Brown’s hands, when better options were available.

Midway through the first half Town were playing the better football having good possession but wasting it too cheaply.

Rugby by this stage were having plenty of corners and free kicks but the very tall visiting goalkeeper was always going to be the likely winner from long a balls into the area.

Kolodynski had two chances before half time first his header from a Liam Nicell corner looped narrowly over the bar, then he scuffed a shot which Brown easily saved.

Despite end to end football and good chances for Rugby it was still all to play in the second half.

Gosport had the brighter start to the second half, Rory Williams trying a speculative shot which produced a good save from Stevens, and Bennett trying his luck from distance only for Stevens to thwart him.

Rugby finally started playing with Davis making a decent turn and shot only for Brown to make a routine save.

It was becoming increasingly clear that Rugby’s best chance for a goal would come from one of Karl Fellows’ free kicks and it nearly proved the case but Ashley Pringle could only glance his header wide of the post.

Just as a replay was on everybody’s mind, Gosport got the winner in the 93rd minute.

A scramble in the penalty area with Rugby failing to get hold of the ball and clear, Bennett pounced on the loose ball to poke home from 6 yards to send the small band of visiting fans delirious and the home fans disappointed to lose another game when they had several chances to win.

Valley Line-up: Stevens; Nicell, Simpson, Pringle, Gordon; Gearing (Ramsay), Davis, Fellows, Youngs; Kolodynski, Richards. Subs not used: Bell, Castleton, Huddlestone, Chiseche. Booked: None. Sent off: None.

Gosport Borough: Brown, Puckett, Williams, Thomas, Jones, Ford, Ward, C Davis, Kirby, Bennett, Turvey.