Match Report: Whitstable Town 0-4 Fisher

Whitstable Town 0-4 Fisher
Saturday 9 March
SCEFL Premier Division

Scorers: Jacob Katonia (37 mins), Flavio Jumo (59 mins), Nathan Tshola (77 mins), Michael Sarpong (88 mins)
Attn: 376

A scintillating performance saw Fisher romp to a 4-0 win away at Whitstable Town, with a flawless display belying their recent poor form. Fisher were boosted by the return of Jacob Katonia to the starting line up and Flavio Jumo also returned to the midfield after missing the midweek defeat at Erith Town.
A large crowd, nearing four hundred, enjoyed an open game in the spring sunshine, with both sides looking to get the ball down and play on the perfect surface. Fisher started well and the early exchanges were chiefly in the Whitstable half with Darnelle Bailey-King looking threatening down the right, linking well with Eniye Amgbaduba. Whitstable created the better of the early chances though with the dangerous Josh Williams getting a number of good balls into the box that fortunately evaded any meaningful touch from the forwards.
Fisher’s first sight of goal in anger midway through the half saw Amgbaduba’s first time shot from Jumo’s precision cross just rise over the bar via a slight touch off a defender, with the resulting corner coming to nothing, whilst at the other end Whitstable contrived to waste the opportunities presented to several forwards to get a shot away as the ball recycled several times around the Fisher box, allowing Mo Otuyo to make a smothering save when they finally aimed for goal from an ever worsening angle as they seemed to want find the perfect goal.
On thirty seven minutes Fisher took the lead. Michael Sarpong chipped a ball into the Whitstable area and with two defenders closing, Jacob Katonia turned them both with a deft touch of the ball and good upper body strength and then emphatically powered the half volley into the roof of the net, leaving Perrin in the Whitstable goal no chance.
Whitstable replied well and on the strike of half time forged a good shooting chance for James Jeffery, but he sent his shot wide allowing Fisher to go into the break a goal to the good.
The second spell saw Fisher absolutely dominant. Bailey-King gave the first indication that they were not going to try and sit on the lead, with two explosive runs down the right flank, whipping in low crosses that Tshola and Amgbaduba arriving at the near post just failed to turn home. On the left flank Katonia was starting to enjoy more of the ball and also sending over some dangerous balls. The home side were reduced in the main to shots from distance with a coupe of efforts from Gillies and Jeffery both not troubling Otuyo as they flew high and wide.
Whitstable’s tendency to overplay in midfield, whilst pleasing on the eye, took away the threat of quick counter attacks, so Fisher pushed forward in numbers knowing that Prince Imoru and Joseph Adewunmi, both excelling at back would be able to hold up any breaks on half-way until the midfield could get back into shape. It was a plan that worked perfectly and just before the hour, paid off with a second goal. Good possession on the right saw some quick passing feed the ball into a centrally placed Katonia and he drew in the defenders before flicking the ball wide to his left where Flavio Jumo raced on to carry the ball into the area before calmly guiding it past the outcoming Perrin.
Whitstable tried to get back into the game, but an outstanding defensive performance blunted everything they attempted, with Prince Imoru marshalling the dangerous Jeffery well and the midfield providing an excellent screen in front of the back four as the Fisher forward’s timed their engagement superbly as Whitstable tried to play out from the back. Otuyo handled well from the odd occasion Whitstable got sight of goal and with just over ten minutes to go the game was assured as Fisher added a third. Bailey-King had earned a free kick deep in the Whitstable half after a mazy run had beaten several defenders, though the winger picked up a knock in the process and was replaced. From the free kick though Nathan Tshola easily lost his marker and planted Callum Flynn’s pinpoint delivery into the net with an emphatic header.
Substitutes Sam Sene-Richardson and Teddy Jones both saw good ball down either flank and continued the Fisher pressure. Good work on the right by fellow sub Thomas Ngegba teed up Sene-Richardson and his shot was deflected into the path of Michael Sarpong who capped an all action display by guiding the ball into the top corner for a Fisher fourth from twelve yards out.
The scoreline was no more than Fisher deserved for a fantastic display of quick attacking football coupled with some resolute defending in an away performance to savour for the 35 travelling supporters.