Match day

Team logo
Tilehurst Panthers LFC (H)
Thu Mar 28
19:45

Match day

Team logo
Tilehurst Panthers LFC (H)
Thu Mar 28 19:45
Thames Valley Counties Women's Football League
1st
45pts

Stalemate for Slough and Gosport

Slough Town

Slough Town

0
Gosport Borough

Gosport Borough

0
FA Cup Attendance: 523 David Woozley
Slough Town and Gosport Borough will replay their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie on Tuesday evening after a 0-0 draw at Holloways Park.

Rebels went into the game knowing victory would earn them a trip to Mansfield Town of the Conference Premier. However, neither Slough or their Hampshire-based opponents could find a route to goal in a match short on goalmouth action.

In truth, this match developed into a dull affair with few clear-cut chances for either side. A draw was a fair result, though both sides could look back and wonder if they could have avoided a second bite of the cherry.

Neither side was able to build any significant momentum in a first half which saw the ball pumped from end to end, with both sides putting their opponents under pressure on the ball and not allowing time to settle into a rhythm.

Gosport started the brighter, with strikers Dan Wooden and Justin Bennett looking lively. Veteran midfielder Sammy Igoe lashed the first shot well wide from just inside the box.

Referee Ashvin Degnarain took exception to a number of challenges from both sides, with Gosport midfielder James Brown booked for a late tackle on Dominic Rhone. Brown was later fortunate to escape a second yellow for a careless challenge on Dave Deeney.

More harsh yellow cards followed, with Ed Smith then Alex Brown cautioned for an innocuous challenge on Gosport keeper Nathan Ashmore, and Gosport's Daniel Woodward also booked.

Slough conceded a number of free kicks which allowed Gosport to deliver high balls into the box. James Warrington dealt with most comfortably, but a half chance came for Wooden as Warrington punched Igoe's free kick to the edge of the box but, leaning back, the striker fired well over.

With both sides looking rather uncomfortable in possession, Deeney put in a superb tackle on Bennett as he bore down on goal. Slough survived a Gosport penalty appeal when Bennett hit the turf under pressure from Dave Woozley, but the officials were unconvinced.

Both defences were well on top and it seemed as if either a moment of brilliance or a mistake would open the scoring - and it was almost the latter as Gosport keeper Ashmore slammed a clearance into the body of Ed Smith. The ball rolled towards goal but just wide of the keeper's near post.

Neither side made changes for the second half, and the pattern of play also remained unchanged. Seven minutes in, Bennett must have thought his fierce goal bound effort would open the scoring, but Warrington produced the best save of the game to turn it behind.

Gosport again threatened as a short corner was played to the edge of the box, where captain Brett Poate half-volleyed just over the bar.

Slough's clearest chance of the game was carved out by the superb Woozley, in unfamiliar territory on the left wing. He worked his way into the box and laid the ball to Smith, whose side footed effort was headed away by Ellis Martin with Ashmore scrambling.

Luke King fired into the side netting for Gosport, and then Bennett slid in to connect with a brilliant whipped cross, but he put his shot over.

Dominic Rhone, finding himself in a more advanced position, was fed by Smith after good work from Dan Burnell, who had just received treatment for a blow to the face, but the full-back fired high and wide of the angle as it looked as if the game would open up a bit.

A goalless draw seemed inevitable, but Slough had a golden chance to win the tie when Rhone escaped his marker and played a low ball across the face of goal - but just too far in front of the on rushing Burnell, sliding in desperately to try and get a toe to the ball.

Both sets of supporters acknowledged the efforts of their teams upon the final whistle, and attention now turns to Privett Park on Tuesday evening with a trip to Mansfield as the prize for success.

Gosport Borough Lineup

Nathan Ashmore, Daniel Woodward, Ellis Martin, Brett Poate (c), Lee Molyneaux, James Brown, Sammy Igoe, Daniel Smith, Daniel Wooden, Justin Bennett, Luke King. Subs not used: Aaron Cook, Adam Wilde, Bradley Norton, Dean Stow, Steffan Gaisie, Stephen May.

Rebels

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