Perhaps with the recent management change at Tiverton it was not a good time to visit the Ian Moorcroft Stadium. They certainly enjoyed the new manager bounce as they followed up a 3-3 draw with Sholing by sending us to our fourth defeat of the season with a 3-1 win.

We will need to bounce back strongly as we return to the Black Gold on Saturday to face Gosport Borough, who put us out of the FA Trophy on penalties at the beginning of October. We did well against them last season, we won 2-0 at home in September and followed this up with a 2-1 win away towards the end of the season.

We are currently in 9th place in the table (P13 W5 D4 L4 19 points) and we will be looking for our home fourth win from seven home matches. It’s been well documented that the lack of goals is costing us dearly, so it was encouraging to see new signing De Luca score on his debut, although it was nothing more than a consolation.

Gosport have not had the start to the new season that they would have hoped for after finishing last season in the top four and missing out on promotion at the play-off semi-final stage to Salisbury. They are currently in 17^th place in the Southern League Premier South (P11 W3 D4 L4 13 points) and have recorded just the one win on the road, against Winchester, so far this season. They are sitting in 10^th place in the form table with 2 wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six games.

They come into the match on the back of the action-packed FA Trophy Round One win over Taunton Town. Borough went into the break a goal down (0-1) which prompted a change of personnel and effort, which brought great rewards as they enjoyed a second half goal feast and ran out 5-1 winners. They will face Tonbridge Angels at home in Round Two.  Since that game it has been announced that on loan keeper Ryan Gosney is to return to his parent club, Salisbury.

They are managed by head coach Pat Suraci and Joseph Lea who both have a wealth of experience in football in the Hampshire area.

Gosport are captained by legend Dan Wooden who first joined the club all the way back in 2010 after impressing coach Tony Stares during his time at Moneyfields. Operating as a left winger or striker, Wooden helped the Boro to back-to-back promotions from the Southern League Division One South & West to the Conference South – both via the playoffs. The success kept on coming as well, with Dan featuring in the 2014 FA Trophy final at Wembley and in an FA Cup First Round tie against Colchester United. Wooden finally returned to Privett Park in 2023, much to the delight of their fans.

The Dolphins have announced this week that defender Jamar Smith is available for immediate transfer. However, Ben Taylor has returned after his loan spell with Hythe & Dibden and Harry Thomas will be available for selection after serving his one match ban.

Come early to pay your respects as the club have arranged a period of remembrance from 2.45pm.

Enjoy the game

Neil Wellington.