City and Gosport grind out goalless Trophy stalemate

City and Gosport Borough will meet again in Hampshire on Wednesday evening for a place in the FA Trophy 1st Round after a dour and forgettable 0-0 draw at Twerton Park this afternoon. Although City dominated possession during the first half they lacked the quality to find a way through the packed yellow-shirted defence the visitors set up. And any momentum City tried to build was disrupted with a number of late challenges and time-wasting. In the end just one long range effort from Tom Smith tested Borough keeper O’Flaherty. The second half began in a similar fashion but as City committed more men forward in an attempt to counter Gosport’s tactics they were caught on the break on several occasions and, but for two stunning saves by Ryan Clarke and a last-gasp goalline clearance by Alex Hartridge, could have been on the wrong end of a cup shock. So, in the end, City will have to try again at Privett Park on Wednesday (ko 7.45pm).