YOUNG Eastleigh defender Harvey Read has gone off to get game time at Gosport Borough.

The 19-year-old former Saints and Stoke City centre-back signed for the Spitfires last summer after being released by The Potters.

Also new in at Privett Park is striker Ryan Pennery, who had spent the first half of this season with Moneyfields after bagging 48 goals for Baffins Milton Rovers in Wessex One last term.

Buoyed by their latest additions, bottom-of-the-table Gosport boosted their hopes of Evo-Stik South Premier survival with a 1-1 home draw against Merthyr Town.

Trailing to a first-half Corey Jenkins strike that slipped through the keeper Pat O’Flaherty’s hands, Borough hit back with a late leveller.

Amid a barrage of shots, player/coach Craig McAllister’s effort struck goalkeeper Oliver Davies and landed at the feet of fellow striker Stephane Bombelenga, who gleefully slotted the ball into an empty net.