‘Magnificent’ Gosport continue great start
Gale’s new-look squad chalk up fifth win in six Southern League games
Gosport Borough manager Shaun Gale heaped praise on his young charges for standing up to another Southern League Premier South challenge.
Boro's brilliant start to the season continued with an impressive 2-1 triumph over Yate Town at Privett Park.
Efforts in either half from defender Matt Briggs and Nick Dembele's late winner cancelled out Oliver Mehew's early opener as high-flying Gosport remained second with five wins from six.
And they again had to do it without the injured Mike Carter, Matt Paterson, Bradley Lethbridge and Bradley Tarbuck, while Rory Williams could only feature as a second half substitute.
It's been a familiar story so far this season for Gale, who has been without a number of first-team regulars.
But the Boro boss has been delighted how his squad have stood up despite numerous injuries. And he highlighted the performances of teenagers Harvey Rew, Forest Green
loanee Luke Hallett, and Ipswich loanee Albert White.
Gale said: ‘It's been tough - I'm not moaning about it whatsoever - the group of players I've got have been fantastic. You've seen who's missing, it's no disrespect to the players who are doing an unbelievable job in the team.
‘They'll make us so much stronger (injured players) but we're having to do without them. The boys have been magnificent.
‘Today we didn't start great, we went 1-0 down, but we showed the fight and determination to comeback.
‘There are young kids in there who haven't been in that situation and they're learning. Luke
Hallett is 18, Harvey Rew is 18, Albert White is 19, so it's pleasing.
‘I've said it's a massive week to them - it is a massive week - long may it continue.’ Gale conceded Gosport's efforts in their latest win was far from the complete display. But he could not fault his troops for how they battled back against a Yate side Borough face again in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup next weekend.
Gale added: ‘The harder you work, the luckier you become. Yate are a good side, they're a typical Southern League side, they've got some good players but we caused our own problems at times.
‘We changed a few little things at half-time and we showed a little bit of quality. The quality for the (Dembele) goal was fantastic.’
The players I’ve got have been fantastic ... they are doing an unbelievable job
Shaun Gale