MATCH REPORT: Aveley XI 3-2 Fisher

Aveley 3-2 Fisher
Monday 7th August
Pre Season Friendly

Attn: 120
Scorers: Omari Williams (35 mins), Eden Deh (54 mins)

An experimental Fisher side, featuring several trialists and youngsters, were edged out by three goals to two, in a close game against a similar trialist laden Aveley XI at the Parkside ground.
Only four of Saturday’s squad from the win against Redhill featured in the game, with Ed Sata also getting a few minutes on return from holiday amongst a largely unfamiliar side. That lack of the familiarity showed in the opening twenty minutes as Fisher struggled to get control in the midfield and were troubled by the hosts eager running up front. It was no surprise therefore when the host took the lead on 18 minutes with a quick break down the right saw a low ball sent across the face of the goal, where their impressive centre forward was on hand to turn the ball home from close range.
At the other end Fisher were struggling to make impact and whilst Alfawaz Dada saw a shot into the side netting and Eden Deh placed a header over the crossbar that probably should have troubled the keeper more, chances were few and far between. Aveley then took control of the game when adding a second goal, as Fisher looked to have cleared some danger only to see a neat through ball find a free forward, who was played onside by a slowly out defender, allowing him time to convert with ease from 15 yards out.
A switch of wingers allowed to Omari Williams to become more influential in the game giving the Aveley left back more to think about with some powerful runs down the right flank. This coupled with more effective pressing of the Aveley defence as they looked to play out from the back saw Fisher play far better in the latter part of the half. It was this good pressing that allowed him to pinch possession and set up Omari Williams to jink into the box and drive the ball home low to the keeper’s left to halve the deficit ten minutes before the break.
Having finished the first half on the front foot Fisher would have been hopeful of getting back level in the second-half, but possibly due to a number of changes they again started slowly and fell victim to a good press from the home forwards, causing some suicidal passing with the ball eventually coughed up for an eager Aveley trialist to gratefully tuck it home and restore their two goal cushion.
However, Fisher soon reduced the deficit back to one when a good move from back to front saw Dada slip the ball into the path of Eden Deh, who from the left side of the penalty area rifled a shot that beat the keeper at his inside post. The game then opened up as players tired and space appeared for either side to exploit. Aveley wasted a great chance to move further ahead when a chipped cross found an unmarked player at the back post, but he got the ball stuck under his feet with the goal gaping in front of him. Enos Duah pulled off a great double save in the Fisher goal midway through the half before Fisher ramped up their efforts to find an equaliser resulting in the hosts having to absorb a lot of pressure in the final 20 minutes. Deh’s good through ball which split the Aveley back line looked to a teed up Deshon Carty for an equaliser, as he found himself alone with just the keeper to beat, but the stopper made himself big and got just enough on Carty’s effort to see it balloon over the crossbar. The home keeoer then beat awa a good effort from Tylan Balli after he cut in from the right.
Fisher sent a number of good crosses into the box in the dying moments, but Aveley’s determined defending saw them block the resulting shots and headers and see the game out for a narrow victory. Despite the defeat it was a useful workout for the Fish allowing manager AJ Ashanike to further consider the remaining slots in his embryonic squad. Fisher now move on to Saturday’s home fixture against another step three side in Welling United.