Saturday 5th November 2022

Pitching In Southern League Premier division South Beaconsfield Town 3 Gosport Borough 2

Holloways Park - Attendance - 86

 

Ram of the Match - Nathan Minhas 

Beaconsfield Town kicked off bonfire night early with added time fireworks at Holloways Park on Saturday as late goals from Callum Webb and Nathan Minhas lifted them past Gosport Borough to secure a vital and much needed three points. 

When Minhas latched on to Olly McCoy’s header, held off Harry Kavanagh and hooked a dinked lob over Patrick O' Flaherty in the 97th minute it completed a comeback that you would have been hard pushed to confidently predict at half-time. 

Having completed Tuesdays cup win over Aylesbury Vale Dynamos with wing backs, Gary Meakin persisted with the formation here and it wasnt entirely successfull. Going forward the system provided plenty of scope for attacking width and The Rams created chances from wide but without the ball it provided the visitors with an overload in midfield and the back three were too often exposed and had the visitors been more clinical the result here could have been very different. That said at half time it couldnt have looked a lot worse. 

The visitors opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after referee Charlie Bullock saw an infringement in a seemingly innocuos challenge and awarded a penalty. Billie Busari, probably Gosports outstanding individual on the day, stepped up to send Constable the wrong way and give the visitors the lead. 

The visitors started to game manage to such an extent in the next 20 minutes that there were four minutes added time. Having game managed their way to so much injury time in a single half, Gosport took full advantage in the 49th minute as Busari slid in to turn in a Harry Jewitt-White cross from close range. 

Beaconsfield were a little out of sorts and misfiring despite being lively in attack. Olly McCoy continued the encouraging return he started from the bench at Aylesbury and was unlucky not to come away with something to show for his first half efforts. The Rams created opportunities but for the most part O' Flaherty, when he wasn’t receiving treatment, was equal to them, saving well to turn away a Nathan Minhas shot from the edge of the area and Toby Little may feel he could have done better shooting into the side netting when well placed.

Half time 0-2

The post half time formation had a more familiar look about it and The Rams comeback began almost immediately after the break. Minhas found space in the box and fired in a low angled right footed drive from 15 yards.

Meakin introduced Callum Webb and Eitel Goueth from the bench and The Rams were completely in the ascendancy but as they pressed Gosport still provided sporadic resistance on the break. Midway through the half The Rams were indebted to Ravan Constable who denied Busari a hat trick plunging to his right to turn out a sharp low shot.

The second half started to develop a familiar pattern for anyone who watched the Rams at home this season. The home team completely dominated possession, created numerous chances and saw their visitors block deflect, save, receive treatment and time waste their way towards the points. 

Gosports 'game management' here culminated in a bizarre incident. Whilst O'Flaherty was receiving yet more treatment, one of Shaun Gale's assistants wandered on unnanounced to deliver new footwear to skipper Ryan Woodward. Mr Bullock was having none of it and booked him, taking no action against Woodward who then unnacountably completed the game with odd boots.

Credit to Mr Bullock who was all over the time wasting, adding eight minutes to the scheduled 45.

This time it was The Rams who took full advantage. 

Callum Webb brought the Rams level with a calm finish. Collecting a Nathan Minhas lay off, the full back advanced into the box before placing his low shot past O'Flaherty. His second goal of the week of his 100th Rams appearance. 

The Gosport bench were even more apoplectic at the officials who in fairness, soft penalty aside, they had berated all afternoon. Minhas sealed their misery and the points with the sort of cool finish under duress that are becoming a trademark.  

The Rams now have a week off before heading to North Leigh next Saturday   

Beaconsfield Town

Ravan Constable, Dan Bradshaw, Toby Little ©, [Sub Callum Webb 60], Liam McDevitt Keano Robinson, Olly Sprague [Sub: Eitel Goueth 60], Sam Granville, Sam Togwell [Sub Elliott Buchanan 71], Nathan Minhas, Olly McCoy, Kyel Reid, 

Subs not used; Charlie Smith, Myles Anderson  

 

Gosport Borough

Patrick O’Flaherty, Harry Kavanagh, Rory Williams, Issiaga Kaba [Sub: Finley Walsh-Smith 71], Ryan Woodford ©, Matthew Briggs, Bradley Tarbuck, Harry Jewitt-White, Daniel Wooden [Sub: Tommy Higgs 75], Billie Busari, Abdulai Baggie [Sub: Kyal Williams 81] 

Sub Not used - Oliver O’Mahony, Dylan Holgate, 

 

Officials - Referee: Charlie Bullock

Assistants: Shawn Barclay and Gifford Manyange.