Derby delight for Pike as Borough complete Hawks double

Borough completed their first league double over their rivals with a maiden win at Westleigh Park.

And it was a result made all the more impressive by the fact the visitors were forced to come from behind.

Relegation-threatened Hawks, who remain in the bottom two after defeat, led after 21 minutes when Ben Swallow drilled them ahead.

But Gosport were level instantly, following Warren Cummings’ own goal.

And fourth-placed Borough secured a priceless three-point haul in their fight for promotion thanks to second-half goals from Justin Bennett and Dan Wooden.

Victory completed a league double for Pike’s side, who beat the Hawks 2-1 on home soil on Boxing Day.

He said: ‘I am very proud of my team.

‘I said to them before the game last night they had a chance to leave their mark – that’s exactly what they did.

‘I think Havant’s position is a false one, they lie down at the bottom of the league but in a local derby the form book goes out of the window.

‘Last night my players showed they want to put a Gosport Borough shirt on, they want to play for the club, they want to play for one another and they want to play for me.

‘When you have that, they are great ingredients to go on and be successful.’

Hawks boss Lee Bradbury admitted it was a difficult defeat to take.

‘Gosport had three shots on target and scored with every one.’ he said.

‘We probably created the better chances but failed to take them.

‘That was the difference between the two teams.

‘The players are devastated by the defeat because it matters to them.

‘I have said to the players they have to be brave and stand up to be counted.’

A mistake by Jack Whatmough presented Borough with the first chance after 10 minutes.

Lee Wort outmuscled the Pompey loanee defender, before sliding his shot narrowly past the far post.

But it was the Hawks who made the 21st-minute breakthrough when Ben Swallow skipped past a defender in the area and drilled his low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Borough equalised straight from the restart, though, when Rory Williams crossed from the right and Cummings chested the ball into his own net.

Visiting goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore produced two good saves to deny Shamir Mullings and Swallow as the interval approached.

Mike Carter then came to Borough’s rescue on the line to keep out Josh Hill’s header from a corner.

Ashmore produced a sprawling save to keep out a Mullings snapshot at the start of the second half.

Borough took the lead in the 54th minute, when Wort laid the ball into the path of Wooden who hammered home from the edge of the area.

And the visitors tightened their grip in the 61st minute with Wort crossing and Bennett getting ahead of Whatmough to slide the ball into the net.

Borough were proving far quicker and more determined to the loose ball.

The Hawks applied late pressure but lacked the quality to make it pay.

Hawks: Young, Strugnell, Cummings, Stock, Whatmough, Hill, Swallow, Donnelly, Mullings, Paterson, Lewis

GospOrt Borough: Ashmore, Cuthbertson, Williams, Carter, Poate, Woodford, Barker, Robinson, Wort, Bennett, Wooden