Seeking a Spark

Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South

Gosport Borough v Tiverton Town

Privett Park . 3pm . Saturday, September 7

WHEN the Yellows head to Hampshire on Saturday, they will do so fully aware of their predicament. I do not think fans expect a complete transformation, but, sometimes in life, you have to go to the depths before you can build again.

Collectively, the team has underperformed for a lengthy period, with the odd exception. Last weekend was an obvious low point.

With the pressure that has been simmering now very real, it is vital that players can still be expressive and not lose sight of their own individual abilities. It is so easy to play safety-first football and be devoid of creativity in just clearing danger without presenting a threat of your own. We must go in search of our spark against Gosport.

Here are some positives to take into Saturday: a first clean sheet of the season in our last league game against Plymouth Parkway; Joe Parker has three goals in five games; and Dylan Jones has been in fine form recently. There is plenty of potential in the squad of Leigh Robinson and Ben Gerring to not be too despondent, but the players will have to realise it quickly if they are not to be drawn into another battle for survival.

Joe Parker: Three goals already this season

Gosport themselves have not started with any real conviction but they will be buoyed by their 4-0 FA Cup victory against Andover New Street. A superior goal difference means it is hugely unlikely that Tiverton will overhaul their hosts on Saturday, but there is the reality of drawing level with the 17th-placed side, point’s-wise, by virtue of winning in Hampshire.

The play-off semi-finalists last season have five points from five games and Winchester are the only side they have beaten so far during the early stages of this campaign.

Young managers Pat Suraci and Joe Lea appear to have a bright future ahead of them. Seasoned striker/midfielder Dan Wooden notched his 500th appearance for the Boro in their successful FA Cup tie. Veteran Midfielder Danny Hollands, who made in excess of 200 appearances for Bournemouth, is not far away from his 39th birthday, but the former Chelsea professional remains an integral and inspirational part of the Gosport set-up.

Oxford United loanee, defender Richard Mcintyre is a hot young prospect who played his part in Salisbury’s promotion last season, and ex-Dorchester and Totton forward Alfie Stanley will provide the Tiverton backline with an examination. Who can forget his midweek hat-trick against us at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium for Dorchester a few seasons back? The gifted forward is joined in Boro’s ranks by former Weymouth favourite, midfield schemer Cameron Murray, a summer acquisition from Poole.

Dylan Jones: In fine form

Flying right winger Danny Rowe moved from Basingstoke in the close season and the talented, goalscoring wide man who began in the Academies of Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers is a shrewd recruit, having spent time playing higher up the pyramid with mBraintree Town, Oxford City, Hemel Hempstead and Hampton & Richmond.

Brad Tarbuck is a former professional with Portsmouth and the winger’s impressive non-League career has seen him become a mainstay of then National League South side Havant & Waterlooville over five seasons and in a similar vein at Privett Park with Gosport.

Perhaps the odds are stacked slightly against the Yellows recording their first competitive victory of the season in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South, but the supporters are all waiting for a turning point and each game represents an opportunity to gain that elusive first win.