Match Report: Deal Town 3-0 Fisher

Deal Town 3-0 Fisher
Tuesday 19 March
SCEFL Premier Division

Attn: 514

For the second season running Fisher made the long trip down to Deal on a midweek evening , but again returned empty handed, after the champions elect turned in a powerhouse performance to send the ten men Fish to a 3-0 defeat after Jacob Katonia’s early red card.
With difficulties for players getting out of work for the journey, it was much changed Fisher side from the weekend’s win over Hollands & Blair. Youngster Rivah Bailey came in for a debut at left back for the injured Callum Flynn, with Lloyd Prezmecky-White standing for Luke Thomas at right back. There were also starts for Teddy Jones and Charles Yiadom-Konadu, replacing Billy Brown and Flavio Jumo. On the bench Australian, Sam Carmichael made a first appearance after his International Clearance was granted at lunchtime allowing him to be quickly registered to play.
Fisher made the worst possible start, falling behind in just the second minute, as good work down the Deal left allowed Billy Munday to pull the ball back for top scorer Aaron Millbank, who swept it confidently into the far corner. With Deal first to the ball and winning the aerial battles, Fisher found it hard to get a foot into the game and buoyed by the early goal, Deal continued to press at will.
On eighteen minutes Fisher’s task became far harder, when after conceding a foul on the edge of the area, Jacob Katonia pushed a Deal player in the face in an unnecessary confrontation and received a red card. Whilst the free kick sailed over the bar, within two minutes Fisher were further behind as Wes Hennesy was sent through down the right channel and converted the one on one giving keeper Mo Otuyo no chance.
Ten man Fisher then battled well and could easily have pulled a goal back on thirty one minutes when Nathan Tshola’s low measured shot was not held by Adam Molloy in the Deal goal and from a tight angle Teddy Jones struck the rebound against the foot of the post. At the other end Otuyo saved well when Hennesy again escaped for a one on one chance and Millbank fired into the side netting from close range as the hosts got back on top towards the end of the half after a good fifteen minute spell for the Fish.
Half time saw the introduction of Jojo Kinzonzi at right back. However, despite more solidity from Fisher and some good build up play in the centre of the park with Nathan Tshola again impressing, the visitors could not really make inroads into the Deal back four. Good footwork by Charles Yiadom-Konadu fashioned an opening for him to shoot but the effort flew high and wide with the midfielder aggravating his knee injury in the process and being replaced by Sam Carmichael. Carmichael grew into the game well in his first run out in England, adding bite and good distribution in midfield.
At the back Fisher seemed more resolute than in the first half, with seventeen year old Rivah Bailey looking impressive on debut at left back, managing the dangerous Macaulay Murray well. With fifteen minutes to go Fisher were set to have a go at getting something out of the game by throwing on Joshus Duyile to play with two up top, but before the strategy could have any impact Deal wrapped the game up with a third goal. A corner into the box was only cleared to the edge and on being headed back into the danger area Fisher were out muscled, allowing Rory Smith to hook home on the turn from close range.
Fisher still looked to try and create something for themselves. Teddy Jones saw an effort lack power as he seemed to get his studs caught in the turf when shooting and Michael Sarpong sent a couple of speculative long range efforts over the bar. It was Deal though who looked the more likely to add to the scoreboard with Otuyo making a series of good late saves, including one excellent one-on-one double save when Hennesy again outran the back line.
The final whistle ended what was always going to be a tough night for the Fish with Deal worthy three nil winners. The Kent coast outfit look favourites for the title now, so hopefully their promotion will see Fisher avoid a third successive season with a midweek trip for their longest journey!