MATCH REPORT: Fisher 3-3 Kennington

Fisher 3- 3 Kennington
Tuesday 15th March 2022
SCEFL Premier Division
Scorers: Fejzi (12 mins), Thompson (71 Mins) Salgado (84 mins)

Photo credit: Dave Anderson
Match Report and picture courtesy of Peter Parry at the Non-League Chronicles. Give their facebook page a like: https://www.facebook.com/thenonleaguechronicles

Fisher continued their Jekyll & Hyde season coming off the back of two defeats to Lordswood and a humiliating 3-0 reverse to Rusthall on Saturday that saw the Fish surrender without so much as a whimper. Kennington on the other hand come into the game full of confidence having won the last five league games. Old stager Gary Clarke in fine form helping himself to a hatrick on Saturday.

Fisher’s opening ten minutes were the polar opposite of what the 19 travelling fans witnessed on Saturday. Closing down in packs, passes finding their intended target and everyone pulling in the same direction. All that said it came as no surprise when Fisher opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Left winger Fejzi delicately lobbed Joe Mant after Mant went walkabout.

Kennington, as you would expect a team bang in form to do, responded well by winning a corner and applying some pressure to the Fish back four. The ball was half cleared as a dangerous whipped cross evaded everyone.

Kennington went even closer on the 20 minute mark when centre forward Jeffrey moved the ball out of his feet quickly cracking a low shot towards the Fisher goal. Tommy Taylor saved well with his legs before the dockers end broke into Tommys new song. It’s fair to say it was like an evening with Tom Jones minus the great Welsh songster after that!

Isaac Thompson playing centre forward came into his own troubling the Kennington back four and keeper Mant. A smart twist and turn left Thompson with space to get his curling shot away. Sadly the shot was the wrong side of the post from a Fisher perspective. Mant denied Thompson with a smart stop to his right. The resulting corner didn’t come to anything as Fisher had dominated the half for large periods.

Sutton picked up a booking for pulling back Darnell Bailey-King who was brought down as he glided past his man. Temi Oladejo struck a wicked free kick with his left foot that Joe Mant did well to keep out.

Kennington kept Fisher honest when Jeffrey side footed into the top corner from close range after a flowing team move. Only for the linesman to flag for offside.

Luke Thomas back to his usual self galloped away down the right and delivered a pin point cross to Thompson. Thompson’s header beat Mant but cannoned back off the bar.

Just as it looked like Fisher would enjoy a half time lead a long ball from Stow that dropped between defenders and keeper saw both defenders and keeper hesitate. They couldn’t decide who would clear the ball and while that was going on Kennington winger Meziane didn’t bother asking if it was ok. He nipped in and fired home from 20 yards to send his side in level.

HT-Fisher 1-1 Kennington

The first action of the second spell saw Joseph Adewunmi who had a fine game needing to get across to cover his defensive partner Prince Imoru before conceding a corner. Gary Clarke gave Kennington the lead with a neat near post header from Sutton’s corner.

Sometimes you just have to be amazed at what the ref and linesman do or do not see. A simply superb sliding clearance from Sutton that went out for a corner was totally ignored by the officiating team as the rest of the Kennington players slapped Sutton on the back for his great defensive work. The ref gave a goal kick!!

Fishers equaliser has probably won the clubs goal of the season competition. Isaac Thompson who has trouble standing on his right foot let alone use it let fly from fully 30 yards to send the ball into Mants top left hand corner. Mant managed to get a left hand on the ball but he couldn’t keep out Thompson’s drive which was a thing of beauty.

The lead lasted less than five minutes as old warhorse Gary Clarke slotted past Tommy Taylor to come out on top in their duel.

Kennington go close again when the big lad wearing 8, Tom Scorer tried to bend one into the Fish top corner from some distance. Luckily it flew just wide of the upright.

The game really ebbed & flowed as Fisher searched for an equaliser. They found one in the 83rd minute when Substitute Esteban Salgado slammed home from just inside the box to send the dockers end into raptures.

Fisher may have had a penalty in the last few minutes when Fejzi was manhandled in the box and thrown to the floor. The ref once again well placed remained unmoved and waved play on.

Salgado won a free kick as the full time whistle approached. A darting run saw Salgado fouled. Fisher didn’t do anything with the free kick as the final whistle was blown.

A brilliant game all concerned Fisher did well from start to finish. Kennington won’t be happy but they go back to Ashford with a hard earned point.