‘Our early fixture list is madness’
Gosport boss Gale adopts ‘horses for courses’ approach
Gosport Borough open their Southern League Premier South home campaign against Hampshire rivals Farnborough at Privett Park (3pm).
Borough battled to a hardearned 0-0 draw at muchfancied Chesham United in their opening league game last Saturday.
They followed it up with a midweek FA Cup first qualifying round success at Tavistock Town where they came out on top in a penalty shoot-out.
Both games were tough so Borough manager Shaun Gale is hoping his squad can make a quick recovery.
'This is our first home game so want to start with a win,' he declared.
'We have another game at Beaconsfield on Monday which will make it four games, three away from home, in nine days.
'It is madness really. 'Though it is nice to be playing football again, this schedule is bound to take its toll.
'We didn't get back from Devon in midweek until gone 3 in the morning.
'The players and myself then had to get up and go to work a few hours later.
'I have been involved in non-league football long enough to know the pitfalls.
'My biggest job now is to pick the right team to go out and beat Farnborough.'
Gale accepts that it won't be easy juggling around a relatively small squad.
He believes in a 'horses for courses’ approach.
At Chesham he felt it wasn't a game to suit Pat Suraci, but he was used in Devon.
Gale is prepared to switch players in and out of the starting line-up.
'I have to look at the players and assess who is able to play games in quick succession,' he said.
'Some players will recover quicker than others.
'The players put in an amazing shift at Tavistock after an eight-hour coach journey.
'Their work ethic is terrific and their togetherness fantastic.
'Even players not in the team travelled and got behind them from the sidelines.'
Farnborough made a disappointing start to their campaign, losing 3-1 at home against Swindon Supermarine.
Gale refuses to read too much into that result.
'This is a bit of a derby and we know that Farnborough will be up for it,' he remarked.
'This is even more so after losing their first game.
'I am expecting a very tough game and have to pick a team with that in mind.
'Options are available to freshen things up if I think it is necessary.
'There were players on the bench that can come in. Also a couple of other players can be drafted in.'