Fynn-tastic debut for Brighton loanee Talley
New teenage keeper helps Gosport Borough return to winning ways
Brighton’s teenage goalkeeper Fynn Talley made a winning start to life on loan at Gosport Borough.
The highly-rated 19-yearold, coming in to replace Boro's recalled Ipswich loanee stopper Bert White, was in goal as Shaun Gale's men recorded a 3-1 Southern League Premier South triumph over Harrow Borough at Privett Park.
Gosport acted quickly to bring in Talley on a loan deal after receiving the news League One Ipswich would be recalling White from his Privett Park stay, with the Tractor Boys' requiring cover as their third-choice stopper Tomas Holy closes in on a Portman Road exit.
And having only arrived at the club 24 hours before Boro’s win over Harrow, Gale spoke highly of his new loan arrival's 'fantastic' debut.
‘Fynn was fantastic, he really was,’ assessed Gale.
‘He is a top lad, his next progression is to go out and play men’s football, which is obviously what he’s doing.
‘He was safe, he was assured, he was calming, he made a really good save just before half-time which kept us at 1-0.’
Gosport claimed a first league win in three attempts as they eased past Harrow, who had only lost 1-0 at Fratton Park in the FA Cup in November.
Switching to a 4-4-2 formation, Boro were ahead when Ryan Pennery poked home after Bradley Tarbuck had hit a post early in the firsthalf.
Dan Wooden got his first of two goals three minutes after the restart, slotting home after Tarbuck's pass had been dummied by Pennery.
Partnered up top with Pennery, Wooden volleyed home his second on 51 minutes from Mason Walsh's cross.
Goalkeeper Joshua
Strizovic saved Wooden's penalty after Tarbuck had been fouled in the area as he missed the chance to complete his hat-trick on 67 minutes
Antonio Demebele brother of Gosport's Nick, himself making a long-awaited return from injury as a sub - netted a late consolation.
Gale added: ‘I changed the shape slightly (against Harrow). I brought Ryan Pennery in (for his first start), he’s not a short-term project for us because Ryan’s been out for quite a while with a long injury. ‘I just felt yesterday with what we had available to us we could just change the shape of the team and we did.
‘It was a pleasing performance. I’m pleased for the lads with the hard work they’ve shown and put in.
‘They were keen to get back on the horse after Wednesday night (home defeat to Hayes & Yeading) and go again.’
Gosport remain on the edge of the play-off places and next Saturday face a tough trip to second-placed Metropolitan Police.