Gosport Borough 3 Colchester United 6

Colchester United finally ended their Cup hoodoo, following a goal-feast at non-league Gosport Borough in an FA Cup first round on the Hampshire coast this afternoon.

The U’s had failed to win any of their previous nine games, in cup competitions, but they ended a three-year barren spell with a relatively comfortable victory against plucky Conference South hosts.

The League One visitors showed their class to race into a 3-0 lead, inside the first 26 minutes, thanks to goals from Gavin Massey (14 minutes), Sanchez Watt (21) and Freddie Sears (penalty, 26).

Gosport front-man Justin Bennett squeezed home the first of his brace, to reduce the deficit in the 39th minute, only for Alex Gilbey to make it 4-1 on the stroke of half-time with a super-cool finish.

But any thoughts of the U’s simply strolling to victory in the second half were dashed by Bennett, who charged through to celebrate his 16th goal of the season on 54 minutes.

Despite this goal, United remained in control and Sears tucked home a fifth goal in the 77th minute, tapping home Watt’s unselfish cross at the far post.

Substitute Sammie Szmodics made it 6-2 in the first minute of injury time, with a smart finish, but there was still time for Gosport substitute Lee Wort to net a third for the hosts in the third minute of stoppage time.

Teams

GOSPORT: Ashmore, Forbes, Williams, Poate, Ramsey (sub Wilde, 46), Smith, Paterson (sub Wort, 82), Bennett, Wooden, Gerring (sub Molyneaux, 68), Carter. Unused subs: Dunford, Saez-Ferre, Harris, Matthews.

COLCHESTER: Walker, Clohessy, Okuonghae, Eastman, Gordon, Fox, Moncur (sub Eastmond, 60), Gilbey (sub Szmodics, 81), Massey (sub Roofe, 85), Sears, Watt. Unused subs: Bransgrove, Kent, Bonne, Curtis

Refere: Lee Collins

Attendance: 2,013