FORMER Sholing midfielder Mike Carter picked up his second red card in the space of eight days as last season’s Wembley finalists Gosport Borough tumbled out of the FA Trophy.
The second round tie at Privett Park was a tale of two red cards, two penalties and a costly goalkeeping error as Braintree eased into the last 16 with a comfortable 2-0 victory.
The Iron were awarded a penalty after 25 minutes when Lee Molyneaux was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Nathan Ashmore pushed away Kenny Davis’ spot kick.
Ashmore, though, could not repeat those heroics when, on the stroke of half-time, Davis stepped up to the spot again after Dan Wooden had been red-carded for a professional foul and this time scored from 12 yards Borough’s afternoon went further downhill when Ashmore’s dreadful clearance allowed Jordan Cox to double the lead against the ten men.
And they were further handicapped when Carter – sent off for two yellow cards at St Albans the previous week – saw red for a reckless challenge on Matt Payne.
Braintree, a division higher than Gosport in the Conference, could have had a third but Charlie Strutton missed an open goal five minutes from time.
Professing himself “disappointed upset and angry” after the game, Borough boss Alex Pike said: “Critical decisions at crucial times cost us.”
Borough’s bitter local rivals Havant & Waterlooville are also out of the Trophy, beaten by a late Ricky Modeste goal in Conference club Dover’s 1-0 win at Westleigh Park.
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