Russell Cotes Cup quarter-final football: Brilliant Brockenhurst take superior Gosport Borough to penalties in thriller

Russell Cotes Cup quarter-final

Gosport Borough FC 3

Brockenhurst FC 3

Gosport Borough won 5-4 on penalties

BROCKENHURST took the lead three times against Gosport Borough – who play two leagues higher – who equalised each time before winning a penalty shootout.

Toby Bailey, Elliott Pearce-Eavis and Noel McCarthy-Gardiner each put the Badgers in front, but after it went to spot-kicks, after missing their first, Southern Premier South side Gosport were perfect.

The first chance of the evening fell to Brockenhurst, with Freddie Bullard fizzing low effort, requiring a decent save from keeper Callum Smart to deny him.

With 34 minutes on the clock, Bailey smashed a fierce rocket from distance into the top corner to leave the hosts open-mouthed in shock.

The match exploded into life, and within two minutes, the hosts were level when Oli Davies worked some space before unleashing a power shot into the back of the net.

Any relief the hosts felt was soon dashed when Elliott Pearce-Eavis, from 20 yards out, squeezed the ball inside Smart’s near post. After some confusion, when the referee appeared intent on ruling the goal out, a brief discussion with the linesman saw the goal given, and the Badgers led at the break.

The Badgers came under severe pressure after the restart, and with 10 minutes played, the referee pointed at the penalty spot. Former AFC Totton player Alfie Stanley stepped up and fired home to level.

Rian Drake forced an excellent save from Smart before Bailey missed a glorious chance. However, he made amends a minute later when his saved shot deflected into the path of McCarthy-Gardiner, who tapped home to make it 3-2.

With five minutes left, substitute Jacob Pope enjoyed a massive slice of luck when his blocked shot cannoned off Badgers captain Ronan Moore and into the goal, sending the match to penalties.

Brock keeper Amad Skrzyniarz came out on top in the battle of wits with the earlier successful Stanley, diving to his left to make the save. However, Gosport converted the rest, while Brockenhurst scored their first four before two successive unsuccessful attempts ended their cup run after a heroic showing.

The Badgers host Blackfield & Langley at home on Saturday at 3pm.

Brockenhurst: A. Skrzyniarz, E. Pearce-Eavis, R. Moore, R. Drake, J. Davis, B. Channell, T. Bailey, M. Rossi, F. Bullard, S. Makhloufi, N. McCarthy-Gardiner. Subs: H. Bartram, L. Carbayo-Borges, B. Atiako-Hall, T. Crook.