MATCH REPORT: Fisher 1-3 Wembley – FA Vase 1st Round

Fisher 1-3 Wembley
Saturday 21st October
Isuzu FA Vase First Round

Matchball Sponsors: Millwall Community Trust
Picture Credit: Dave Anderson https://www.flickr.com/photos/brockleylion/albums/72177720312119359/with/53275476974/
Attn: 168
Scorer: Kaylam Burgess (90+2 min)

Fisher slipped to defeat and with it exit from the FA Vase, with a below par performance seeing them beaten 3-1 by Wembley, on a dank Autumn afternoon.
Injuries and suspensions hit Fisher hard, with Ezekiel Miller, Conor Darwish, Sam Amedu, Charles Yiadom-Konadu, and Jospeh Adewunmi all missing from the side, whom may ordinarily have started and Andres Tobon pulling out on the morning of the game further hit the plans of stand in for the day manager, Luke With.
However, the squad has depth and the side sent out still should have been capable of getting something from the tie and in a scrappy first half short on quality held their own against the Combined Counties League visitors.
The games first big chance saw Fisher stretched by a ball down the right and a teasing cross seemed to just need guiding home at the far post before Justice Owusu threw himself at full length to make an incredible save which was slightly lost on everyone as the assistant’s flag went up for offside anyway. Owusu was again called into false action, tipping a rasping drive away from his top corner, but the referees whistle had gone as the shot was unleashed for a foul.
At the other end Fisher were struggling to create, missing the influence of Yiadom-Konadu badly. Their best chance of the half fell to Manny Shoderu, but he saw his effort blocked by the keeper’s legs. Fisher’s best route to goal came down the right, with Inesh Sumithran linking well with Jojo Kinzonzi and sending over some well flighted crosses, but a well marshalled and tall defence dealt with he aerial threat with ease.
There was feeling at half time that having played within themselves in the first forty five minutes some reshuffling may allow Fisher to come out with more purpose in the second half. However, the visitors quickly took control of the game, as some woeful defending allowed a deep cross from a drop ball on halfway, to be flicked on and then nodded back across the area, where Myles Senior-Campbell swept home unmarked from close range, with Fisher never getting switched on or close enough to their players from the moment the ball was dropped.
The goal saw the immediate introduction of Billy Brown after a month out and he added some direct pace and power down the right, but some great runs and low crosses were not met by his fellow forwards.
Wembley had a great chance to double their advantage on sixty five minutes with a free header from a corner flashing just past the upright as Fisher failed to learn the lessons of the first goal with some sloppy marking.
Fisher pushed players forward looking for an equaliser and centre half Luke Thomas strode onto a clearance and advancing midway into the Wembley half, fired in a vicious low drive that just flew wide of the post with the keeper looking beaten.
Twelve minutes from time Wembley seemed to sew the game up, as they took advantage from Fisher pushing on, to release Dan Sefton, who raced clear down the left and calmly slotted past the advancing Owusu. This prompted the introduction of Eniye Amgbaduba for Manny Shoderu as Fisher switched to a 442 formation but despite Thomas Ngegba powering a header wide of the post, it was largely ineffective and it was not until the introduction of Teddy Jones four minutes from time that saw any alarm in the Wembley defence.
Jones, who surely would have been a greater influence if introduced far earlier, opened up gaps down the left with some clever running and good link up play and two minutes into the six added for injury time he teed up Kaylam Burgess who capped a solid game at left back with his first goal in Fisher colours as his cross deceived the keeper and dropped in off the back post to give Fisher a late lifeline.
The expected siege of the Wembley goal in the final minutes occurred. Billy Brown raced in down the right and saw a powerful effort just go the wrong side of the near post and some late corners came to nothing before with time virtually up Fisher got a free kick within delivery range. Everyone including Owusu went up and the ball in was nodded goalward but just evaded Owusu’s swinging leg as he looked to lash in an improbable equaliser and Wembley smuggled the ball away. Fisher made a hash of recycling it back into the area and saw possession robbed and with Owusu still in the other penalty area, Sefton raced away to slot into an empty net with what was the last kick of the game.

A disappointing exit for the Fish, who will no doubt rue the injuries and suspensions, but credit to an organised Wembley side who deserved their victory on the day.