Gosport earn FA Cup replay (From Daily Echo)

Gosport earn FA Cup replay

4:56pm Sunday 21st October 2012 in Saints News

Conference side Mansfield Town will have to wait until Tuesday night to find out who they will host in the first round of the FA Cup as prospective opponents Gosport Borough and Slough Town slugged out a 0-0 draw at Holloways Park.

Boro boss Alex Pike pronounced himself pleased with the result and the clean sheet after today's match at Slough’s current residence at Beaconsfield which took an hour to come to life.

“It was pleasing to keep a clean sheet away from home and I was also pleased for Slough that they showed they could play after the Trophy game the other week,” said Pike, adding “it was a battle and we had to grind out a result; this was a cup final for Slough and they handled it very well.”

In truth there was never the remotest chance of a repeat of the 4-0 whitewash Boro inflicted at the same ground three weeks earlier in the FA Trophy as it took an hour for the first shot on target, when Justin Bennett brought a stunning save from home keeper James Warrington. Before that the first half was chiefly about a nap hand of bookings and a midfield battle royal involving James Brown and Slough’s Dominic Rhone.

Sammy Igoe and Dan Wooden had shots go high and wide, while Ed Smith had a chance blocked for the Rebels and ironically Slough went closest when a clearance from Nathan Ashmore rebounded off Smith and rolled just past the post right on half-time.

Gosport were forced deep as Slough sensed a win but once Bennett’s chance came and went, Boro got stronger and the 532 crowd – double Slough’s best of the season – were silenced.

Luke King, Bennett and Brett Poate all tested Warrington then Lee Molyneaux shinned one wide after a free-kick had caused chaos but in the end two clean sheets meant they do it all again at Privett Park tomorrow night at 7.45pm.

Talking about the replay Pike said: “We can play better than that and I may change the dynamics for Tuesday and bring in a couple into the squad, but we have no injuries and for us to be in the first round is a great incentive.

“With respect to Mansfield, they are a professional club playing at home against a Southern League side so we have nothing to lose and all to play for.”