Match Report: Fisher 0-1 Chatham Town

Fisher 0-1 Chatham town
Scefl premier 2/10/21
Attendance-146

Match Report and picture courtesy of the Non-League Chronicles. Give their facebook page a like: https://www.facebook.com/thenonleaguechronicles

The first real autumnal weather hit south London today. Wind and rain had me reaching for the big coat for the first time this season. The petrol crisis and the bad weather put a dent in attendances right across the scefl league. With some particularly low attendances being posted up on the scefl league website. It was great to see fellow groundhoppers Simon and Paul who spend a fair amount of time following the fortunes of Chatham town.

The game itself was a scrappy affair that had more than enough for everyone. Both keepers had plenty to do and they did it very well. The games first action came when an inswinging free kick from the right from Hayes found Lanky left back Dickens at the far post with the goal at his mercy. Dickens side footed effort should have put chats in front but his effort clipped the bar and went out of play. To add insult to injury Dickens collided with the post and needed some treatment for a knock to the ribs.

Khadean Campbell only lasted 13 minutes before injury forced him off. Replaced by Christian Udo up front. You could see Campbells frustration as he threw his shirt on the floor by the dugout.
Fisher where awarded a free kick that Seaman thumped into the chats wall. Chatham swept up the field and won a corner that Carpanini punched clear of his area.

Christian Udo plucked the ball out of the air before laying the ball off to Seaman who in turn lays the ball off to Jacob Katonia who sends a low drive just wide of Walkers upright. Not a shot on target but a fine move that shows everyone that there’s an even contest going on here. The games next chance fell to Jack Evans at the far post. As Evans slid in he should have opened the scoring for Chats but luckily for Fisher evans effort sailed wide. A real let off for Fisher as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end.

Malachi Coker bustled his way through a couple of token Chats tackles before having his shot charged down. Giant centre half Sam Fitzgerald earned himself a talking to from the ref along with Bradshaw after a minor altercation. Fitzgerald did a great job on keeping one of the scefl leagues top strikers quiet.

Jacob Katonia picked up a yellow card for a challenge in his own half. Matt Bodkin took the free kick that didn’t amount to much as both sides tried to get on top. As the half drew to a close Udo forced Walker into a fine low save from a downward header. Walker who is in the veteran stage of his career showed panther like reflexes to turn Udos header around the post. Fisher didn’t do much with the corner. The ball was worked back into the box from the right and it was that man Udo who once again made his presence felt with a header that landed on the roof of the net.

Ht Fisher 0-0 Chatham town

The halfs first action saw a looping header clear the Fisher crossbar after a deep Hayes cross from the right. Jacob Katonia not to be outdone cracked off a shot from fully twenty yards that Andy Walker saved well. Sam Fitzgerald picked up a booking after failing to deal with a difficult ball in the skiddy conditions. He pulled Bradshaw back as he tried to get away from Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald would now have to be careful.

Dan Carpanini was then forced into a save after Chatham moved the ball well through midfield. Fisher Skipper Luke Thomas who had a fine game at right back was beaten by Bodkin who crossed to the far post. Jack Evans met the ball on the stretch and once again the ball went wide when on another day Evans would have poked the ball home.

Andy Walker in goal at the dockers end now needed to keep his side in the game. Katonias quick free kick saw Courtney Swaby unload a blockbuster that Walker tipped onto his crossbar and out for a corner. From a Fisher corner Chatham break down the other end of St Pauls. It was that man Evans again who’s shot thumped back off post & Bar. On another day Evans would have walked off with the match ball.

As the rain continued to lash down Fisher appeared to have weathered the Chats storm. Fish left back Cherradi carried the ball out as chats players let him out and didn’t apply any pressure. His ball into Udo was neat and Udos touch was even better as it enabled Udo to look up and release Swaby away down the left.

Swaby turned the afterburners on and raced past two men before firing in a low cross that Walker collected. Moments later it was Udo and Swaby who linked up again. Swaby once again fizzed his cross across the six yard box. This time the ball beat everyone.

As Fisher applied some pressure Cokers shot was just high of Walkers top right hand corner. Jacob Katonia collected a second yellow card for a foul and Fisher go down to ten men. Seaman is replaced by Julio Da Mata who slots into midfield along Sarpong in a bid to keep Chatham out in the closing minutes.

Chatham now have a chance to nick all three points as they apply pressure to the Fisher back four. A free kick from the right is saved well by Carpanini. A corner in the 91st minute was to be Fishers undoing when Centre half Lawal poked home almost on the line to take all three points back to the Bauvill. 0-1

With three minutes still to play Udo made way for Weemes. The ref also found time to send off Sam Fitzgerald. A second yellow Im not sure for what saw Sam exit stage right. Fisher now down to nine men had one more late Evans free kick to deal with that went over before the final whistle brought the curtain down on a scrappy game that had plenty of chances for both sides.
Fisher gave a very good account of themselves in difficult conditions for both sides.

FT Fisher 0-1 Chatham Town
NLC MOM – Andy Walker (Chatham Town) A class act