Match Report: Bearsted 0-1 Fisher

Match report courtesy of The Non League Chronicles. Please like their facebok page a like: https://www.facebook.com/thenonleaguechronicles/

Bearsted 0-1 Fisher
Saturday 11 September 2021
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

Attendance:142

Scorers: Coker

Report:
It was my first visit to Bearsted, which is situated just off the back of Maidstone. The 40 mile journey taking just over an hour. The ground itself is situated down a long bumpy cinder path that had to be carefully negotiated. Once inside the ground we were greeted by very friendly staff in the clubhouse who made you feel more than welcome. Pint drunk I went outside for a look around and to take a few photos.

Down one side of the ground housed two stands one for seating and the other standing. Along with the clubhouse and changing rooms. The rest of the ground was railed off with a hard standing all round. Behind the far end were three horses in a field. More about those later.

Fisher had a much changed side on show with several injuries and players unavailable for different reasons. Bearsted must have had 80% possession during the game but being honest they had their pants pulled down at the death today.

Bears right back Jason Danson had the first chance to get a decent cross into the box in the opening minutes when his deep cross evaded everyone and dropped behind Dan Carpaninis goal. The returning Luke Thomas playing in an unfamiliar right midfield role gave the ball away when he trod on the ball. Follea being the lucky recipient turned quickly and fired his venomous effort wide of Carpaninis right hand post.

Bearsted are in full control of the game and are knocking the ball around at will. Majoyegbe bringing the ball out of the back four and using the ball well along with Croucher in midfield who kept things ticking over finding a bears player every time he got the ball.

Fisher on the other hand where woeful in midfield. Not working hard enough individually and collectively. It is a crime at any level of football when you don’t put sweat on the shirt. One man who can never be accused of not working hard for the team is Christian Udo. He managed to take in a rare forward pass and as he nudged it past Whibley he was cleaned out unceremoniously. Whibley picked up a yellow for his challenge when it may have been a red.

Up stepped left back Oladejo who’s thumping 25 yard free kick whistled just wide of the upright. Portaresco fails to clear a long bears through ball and loses possession to Ababio who knocks the ball out of his feet as he headed for the touchline. His low cross is met by Hatfull who flicks his effort into the side netting. A real let off for Fisher.

The game was all one way traffic as Fishers lacklustre performance continued. In fact if was so poor I went off to take some photos of the horses behind Fishers goal. That really sums up how bad Fisher were playing. The only good thing to come out of the half was the fact that Fisher went in on level terms at half time.

HT Bearsted 0-0 Fisher

AJ had obviously seen enough and made a double substitution as the half started. Portaresco and the ineffectual Folkes being replaced by Coker and Seaman in a bid to liven things up.
Fisher had Carpanini to thank for keeping Bearsted out when he saved well from Majoyegbes downward header from a corner.

Fisher began to pick up the pace a little as they started to get a bit closer to there bears counterparts. Fisher began to win some loose balls in midfield and hey presto some attacks and forward momentum started to take the pressure off the Fisher back four.

Fisher broke out down the left hand side and Seaman’s quick pass to Coker saw him win a corner. Swabys corner was easily collected by the keeper. Courtney Swaby has been starved of any service for most of the game. He finally received a ball down the right and straight away he opened the magic box dancing away from two Bears players before bending a left footed shot just wide.

Bears not to be outdone bombed down the other end and won another corner after Carpanini saves well. Majoyegbes header goes well wide but he has been a threat all afternoon. Malachi Coker earns himself a long chat from the ref after a typical forwards tackle leaves a bears player clutching his leg.

Bearsted make a double sub as they look to find a goal. That has been the only thing missing for them today. Christian Udo makes way for fit again striker Dennis Asante. Patrick Hoy picked up a yellow for a foul in midfield. Fisher had now begun to compete in the middle of the park.

Dennis Asante picks up the ball on the halfway line under pressure. His clever jink and beautiful 40 yard cross field pass right to left found Courtney Swaby galloping away. Swabys cross was over hit and Seaman picked it up near the touchline. His cross was flicked on by Asante in the middle of the box that went out for a goal kick.

Fisher now find themselves having a go. Coker collects down the left and he cuts inside his man making some room for himself. His shot is tame and the keeper saves easily. Swaby is fouled no question inside his own half. The ball is picked up by Sam Fitzgerald who hits a long raking pass into Cokers feet who is motoring away down the left hand channel. A quick change of direction and a Coker cuts inside Whibley who has to take one for the team with a crude bodycheck on Coker. Whibley gets a second yellow and first use of the showers.

After Coker received lengthy treatment it was left to Jacob Katonia to take the free kick from 20 yards out. Katonias free kick didn’t trouble the keeper as it sailed over.

Luke Thomas who had performed much better since switching to his usual right back position in the second half began the move that lead to the games only goal. Thomas won the ball back well before his neat pass down the line found Swaby. Swaby didn’t hang about and he moved the ball forward quickly to Asante who pushed the ball out of his feet quickly before racing past his marker. Asantes low square ball across the six yard box towards the onrushing Coker who calmly sided footed his effort home for the games only goal. Somebody call 999 because a robbery had just taken place.
0-1

There was enough time left for Swaby to enter the refs little black book. As the Bears tried to grab an equaliser. A couple of chances for the Bears were wasted as Melvin had his head in his hands when he headed over when well placed.

FT-Bearsted 0-1 Fisher
NLC MOM-Fishers back five. Kept Fisher in the game.