Match Report
Gosport Borough 0 Yate Town 2
Bennett (47), Sady (90+4)
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 11th April 2026
On a sunny and windy spring afternoon, Yate Town enhanced their survival bid with an excellent win on the south coast, with another solid and professional team performance, for a deserved three points.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, was forced to reshuffle his defence from the side that beat Evesham United on Easter Monday, with Dan Ball unavailable, bringing Swindon Town loanee Dani Gonazalez-Birchall into the starting eleven.
Both sides forced the opposing goalkeepers into action in the opening minutes with Yate Town’s Rex Mannings on target and Jordan Ngalo for Gosport. But it was the visitors who started to take control and Marlon Jackson had a shot blocked whilst Alex Monks was just off target from the edge of the penalty area. With just under half an hour of the game played there was a delay when Gosport’s Jordan Ngalo received treatment and he was eventually replaced by Ethan Taylor.
Chances were few and far between before the interval with the wind a feature. Oli Jenkins saw his free kick from just outside the penalty area sail over the bar, Marlon Jackson got into a good position but there was no one in the six-yard box to gobble up his fine cross, whilst Dani Gonzalez-Birchall went on a mazy run but the ball was eventually cleared by the Gosport defence. With half time approaching Hisham Kasimu saw his fierce shot for the hosts just clear the crossbar by inches.
First half action as Marlon Jackson puts pressure on the Gosport defence as goalkeeper Lucas Thomas collects the ball.
The second half was only 90 seconds old when James Taylor and Marlon Jackson combined to deliver a cross into the Gosport penalty area. Gosport goalkeeper Lucas Thomas manged to divert the ball to Josh Bennett, who from 20 yards managed to steady himself and cooly pick his spot to put the Bluebells in front, to score his third goal of the season.
Josh Bennett fires the Bluebells in front from the edge of the penalty area.
With 50 minutes on the clock, as Rex Mannings raced forward to cross the ball, Harvey Rew and Rex Mannings came together and Mannings clattered into the advertising hoardings. After lengthy treatment Rex Mannings was able to continue but Harvey Rew was shown a straight red in what appeared to be a harsh decision by referee James Kerten.
Yate managed to carve out a number of opportunities to increase their lead with Marlon Jackson again delivering a delightful cross into the box but to no avail whilst Marlon Jackson, James Taylor and substitute Olly Mehew forced Lucas Thomas to make saves at his near post
Both sides made a number of substitutions and Yate Town finally got the second goal in stoppage time, that they deserved, when James Taylor’s cross was clinically put away by substitute Henry Sady for his first goal for the club.
Above: James Taylor crosses the ball for, below, Henry Sady to score.
This win moved the Bluebells up to 16th place in the table but with both Taunton Town and Evesham United winning, next Saturday’s home game against second placed Gloucester City will be pivotal before they travel to Havant & Waterlooville for the final game of the season, looking to maintain their Step 3 status.
Gosport Borough: Thomas, Morrison, Wassmer, Tomasso, Wooden (Bagnall 76), Rew, Ngalo (Taylor E. 32), Kasimu, Fernandes (Gray 88), Greenwood, Oastler
Unused subs: Williams, Sharp
Bookings: Morrison (16), Greenwood (38), Oastler (45+2), Wassmer (90+7)
Sending off: Rew (52)
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor (J), Bennett, Jenkins (Larvin 90+8), James, Guest, Jackson (Zebroski 90+5), Gonzalex-Birchall (Mehew 74, Sady 90+1)) Mannings, (Taylor-Clarke 89) Taylor (A), Monks
Unused subs: None
Bookings: Taykor A (49), Guest (88)
Attendance: 852
Referee: James Kerten
Photographs by Bob Chester
Yate Town Player of the Match: Josh Bennett