Football: Reynolds penalty miss proves crucial in Yate defeat (From Gazette Series)

Zamaretto League Division One South & West: Yate Town 2 Gosport Borough 3

6:48pm Saturday 10th October 2009 in Sport

A GUTSY second half performance wasn’t enough for Yate as they were beaten at home by high-flying Gosport Borough this afternoon.

Joe White gave Yate the lead after just four minutes but Gosport levelled almost immediately and were unlucky to be only 2-1 ahead at the interval after dominating the first half.

A Yate comeback looked possible for a brief period in the second half but Mark Reynolds’ penalty miss on the hour proved crucial and Gosport went 3-1 ahead six minutes later.

Callum Stewart headed in a consolation goal in the last minute of normal time but Yate may feel slightly aggrieved that only another five more minutes were added on after lengthy stoppages in the second half.

Yate made the best possible start as White chased down Lee Matthews’ long kick and his deft chip over goalkeeper David Hook from the edge of the box went just inside the net despite the efforts of Paul Jones to clear off the line.

Gosport levelled within two minutes though as Yate defenders stood still waiting for an offside flag from Michael Turvey’s through ball which never arrived and Justin Bennett was allowed two bites of the cherry, heading home from close range after Matthews did well to save his first effort.

The visitors continued to carve out chances and went ahead on 24 minutes. The outstanding Turvey found space on the edge of the box and after his first shot was saved by Matthews’ legs, he pounced to score on the rebound.

They should have increased their lead on 31 minutes when Bennett shrugged off John McAlindon to get onto the end of James Ford’s ball over the top, but the striker dragged his shot wide from eight yards.

Within six minutes of the second half Yate boss Dave Mogg made a double change with Jason Burt and Aron Robbins replaced by Sam Duggan and Zayne Simpson and both substitutes made an impact, even if the former’s was only brief.

Duggan did well to win the ball off Rory Williams on the right byline and was tripped by Joshua Thomas to win a penalty as he burst in the box, but an awkward fall forced him to go off with a dislocated shoulder.

The four minute-delay while Duggan received treatment on the pitch may not have helped Reynolds as Hook only had to go slightly to his right and low to save the striker’s spot kick.

Gosport took advantage on 66 minutes when Yate were caught out by another Ford ball over the top and Bennett slid past Matthews from just inside the box.

Two minutes later Simpson sent in a dangerous low cross from the left but White was unable to keep the ball down as he shot over from ten yards.

It was from Simpson’s dangerous inswinging corner in the 90th minute that Stewart rose highest to head home.

Yate visit Bridgwater Town on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Yate Town: Matthews, Warren, Stewart, Hughes, Thomas, McAlindon, Burt (Duggan, 51 (Shallcross, 60)), Vahid ©, Reynolds, J White, Robbins (Simpson, 51). Subs not used: A White, Bath.

Att: 185 Ref: Mr M Derrien.

Gazette star man: Edd Vahid