John-Lewis poses biggest threat to Borough
Lennell John-Lewis is expected to provide the biggest threat to Gosport Borough’s hopes of pulling off an FA Cup upset.
The 31-year-old target man made a big impression at Hereford after joining from League 1 Shrewsbury earlier this year.
He scored three goals in six games, including two in a 4-1 victory at high-flying York City, before the National League North season was abruptly halted.
John-Lewis, though, has missed most of pre-season with injury and has not played 90 minutes for quite a few weeks.
Hereford were lying 15th out of 22 when life went into lockdown, and have not played a competitive game since March 14.
Gosport, in contrast, have already played four competitive games in 2020/21 - and have yet to concede in three Southern League outings.
Hereford boss Josh Gowling has recruited some experienced ex-EFL defenders for his first full season in charge.
Jake Wright, 34, played for Bolton in League 1 last season on loan from Sheffield United while Dan Jones, 33, was at Cambridge in League 2.
‘Defensively, Hereford look strong,’ said Dan Goddard, who covers the club for the Hereford Times newspaper.
‘John-Lewis is the key man up front. Without him, there’s not a lot of attacking flair.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised if the game ended 0-0 and went to penalties.’
Hereford were formed in 2015 after the demise of Hereford United, a club steeped in non-league FA
Cup folklore.
This is only the phoenix club’s fifth FA Cup campaign, but they have already gone further than Gosport ever have in the tournament.
In 2016/17 - only their second season in the FA Cup - Hereford won through five rounds before losing to EFL club Fleetwood in a second round replay.
The furthest Gosport have ever reached is the first round proper, in 2014/15, when they were beaten 6-3 at home by Colchester.