Gosport look to repeat winning formula against Eastbourne

Borough kick-started their season with an excellent 3-1 home win over Truro City in midweek.

It was the perfect response after Borough’s disappointing 3-0 opening day defeat at Maidenhead United.

Two Warren Bentley goals and one from Chris Flood provided Borough with just the tonic they needed.

Pike was delighted that a change he made to the side paid dividends and is likely to stick with the same winning formula against the visitors from Sussex.

The manager dropped striker Ben Wright to the bench and brought in central-defender Sam Pearce.

‘We realised after Maidenhead we needed to have someone in a defensive midfield role,’ said Pike.

‘Joe Oastler moved up into that position and did a superb job.

‘He got his tackles in and covered well all game.

‘It gave more freedom for Mike Carter and Aaron Dawson to get forward and support Ben Harding just behind the front two.

‘This enabled us to get at them and we started to run them ragged.

‘The movement and energy of Flood and Bentley up front was outstanding and Truro couldn’t live with them in the second half.

‘It was only Warren’s second game at this level and he looked a real threat.

‘In the end he could easily have had three or four goals.

‘He has scored goals all through his career in the Southern and Wessex Leagues.

‘It looks like he can continue doing the same for us.’

Pike will insist, however, that Borough will need to start games better.

Against Truro they produced a sloppy opening 10 minutes.

Twice Truro were gifted clear opportunities which fortunately for the home side they wasted.

‘We could easily have put ourselves into a lot of trouble,’ said Pike.

‘It is something you can’t afford to do at this level and we have to make sure we have learned the lesson.’

Borough will probably still be without Josh Carmichael, who is on a two-week trial at League One Millwall, and Dan Wooden, who is away.

For Pike it is important his team maintain their standard of performance from the last game.

‘I am looking for us to put a string of results together and pick up some momentum,’ said Pike.

‘Our last performance was very encouraging, we must look at it as a foundation though it is just one game.

‘In this league consistency is the key and the ability to put a run of results together.’

Gosport Borough: Rice, Cuthbertson, Bird, Carter, Poate, Pearce, Dawson, Harding, Flood, Bentley, Oastler, Wright, Wilde, Bailey, Lanahan, Bufton