After the excitement and exuberance of the previous six games, Wimborne received a reality check on Gosport’s sodden 3G surface. A game which had 0-0 written all over it was decided on 75 minutes when Rafa Ramos converted Trevor Caborn’s low cross. With nearly three times as many infringements as goal attempts, it was a game of perspiration rather than inspiration which won’t linger long in the memory.

Manager Tim Sills made two changes to his starting line-up. With Max Bustamante away, he brought in Joe Ryan and Owen Roundell-Prince. Sam Roberts making a welcome return on the bench. Gosport’s starting XI included former Magpies Charlie Gunson and Kaya Tshaka.

After a day of rain, the first thing you noticed about the Privett Park pitch was the spray of water instead of rubber granules whenever the ball bounced or travelled across the pristine 3G surface, and players were soon drenched as they slid across the plastic. Gosport’s main tactic, including keeper Hall’s prodigious clearances, was the long ball and seizing knock-downs as players slipped and slid as they challenged for anything loose.

With the ball zipping across the surface, it was surprising that, between them, the teams mustered a mere four goal attempts in the first-half. The first was on 16 minutes when Borough’s Greenwood ballooned a free-kick inside the “D” over the wall, over the bar, and nearly over the fence. Caborn did better on 35 minutes when his rasping 25-yarder drew a diving save from Cam Plain; and the elegant Krasniqi made space for a low shot just before the interval. Wimborne’s one attempt of the opening 45 came from the battling Josh Carmichael whose low shot from distance was an easy save for Hall.

The visitors’ defence was solid with Drew Eccott-Young and Billy Walker using their strength to shepherd through balls out of play; on one occasion Walker and Tshaka elegantly slid off the pitch together in what looked like a choreographed dance move. Ben Scorey gave another master-class in central defence, making a remarkable headed clearance from a teasing Tshaka cross, and skipper Sam Jackson was in the right place to clear many a cross.

Fortunately for spectators, there was more goalmouth action and incident after the interval. Carmichael headed clear a Gosport corner; Joe Ryan’s twinkling feet made room for a cross into the danger area; Carmichael’s free-kick was well caught by Hall under pressure; another lofted Borough corner into the crowded goal area was caught by the leaping Plain; Will Fletcher flicked on Plain’s clearance for Lewis Williams whose speed won a corner; and Scorey made a well-timed sliding tackle to stop a rapid Gosport counter-attack. Then both teams came close to grabbing an opening goal: Krasniqi’s header from a corner came back off the cross-bar; Wassmer’s volley was held by the well-positioned shot-stopper; and Carmichael’s 35-yard low grubber free-kick whistled inches wide of Hall’s post.

After another Carmichael free-kick, from just outside the “D” was blocked by the defensive wall, and Jackson’s hanging cross from the left was cleared, Gosport took the lead. Caborn was sent racing down the right wing; his low cross was thumped high into the net at the far post by substitute Ramos. Wimborne responded, but the nearest they came to grabbing an equaliser was when Williams’ close-range shot from an acute angle was saved by Hall. In the closing moments Joe Smith was roughly man-handled to the ground in the penalty area but referee Kerten waved play on.

And so Wimborne’s unbeaten run came to a disappointing end with a disappointing performance. You couldn’t fault either team for the effort they exerted, but both will need to find more quality in their big FA Cup ties on Saturday – Wimborne at home to National South Bath City, and Gosport at home to Poole Town.

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young (Roberts 46), Walker, Scorey, Jackson, Roundell-Prince (Borges 85), Carmichael (McQuoid 72), Ryan (Borges 85), Munn (Seuny 64), Williams, Fletcher (Smith 79)

Attendance: 704

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