MATCH REPORT: Fisher 1-2 Whitstable Town

Fisher 1-2 Whitstable Town
Saturday 1st November
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 197
Scorer: Michael Sarpong (79 mins)

Despite a strong second half comeback, Fisher fell to a 2-1 defeat to league leaders Whitstable Town on a wet afternoon at St Pauls. Fisher were buoyed by the return of Kesna Clarke who has signed on dual registration terms from VCD Athletic and were able to name a strong line up, with Tom Jones moving to the wing and Sha’mar Lawson playing in advanced midfield role.
The Fisher formation allowed plenty of attractive midfield play with Fisher moving the ball around well and seeing plenty of possession. There was a tendency though for the final pass to be over hit or crosses sent in too deep and so actual chances were less frequent although Clarke saw an early effort blocked for a corner after being slipped in down the right channel and then saw a low drive saved by Colmer in the visitor’s goal.
However, despite a bright start Fisher fell behind in the sixteenth minute from a goal out of nothing. Fisher’s good pressing forced Whitstable to go long from a goal kick and Colmer’s punt sailed over the back line, but as Ogunseri came to sweep, caught in the wind leaving him in two minds and trying to allow the ball back into his box to pick it up, only for Jauvan Splatt to get a toe end to nudge it goalwards and then arrive just in time to force the ball home as Don Macaulay tried in vain to get back and clear off the line.
Fisher responded well to the setback and continued to see the lions share of the ball but strong organised defending from Whitstable stopped them from getting a clear sight of goal. Jack Gibbons almost jinked a way through, skipping out of several tackles before his route to goal was blocked as he entered the area and a couple of free kicks in good areas did not get precise enough delivery to cause further problems, sending the Fish into the break still a goal down
The second spell was only minutes old when Whitstable added a second after reworking a deep corner back across the box for Splatt to add his second by hooking home from close range. Again, Fisher responded well, with the introduction of Rafael Garcia on the left adding more attacking intent and with Jones switching to the right he was able to get a couple of good low crosses into the area that were spooned behind for corners. It was the introduction of Lorenzo Duncan that really sparked Fisher’s fight back though, with the midfielder going on a great run to the byline down the left channel, only to see his pull back smuggled away by the Whitstable defence as bodies piled into the box.
On seventy nine minutes Fisher pulled a goal back after a good passage of possession around the edge of the Whitstable area teed up Duncan for a shot that was blocked and flew high into the air. As it was dropping close the cross bar Michael Sarpong reacted first, to challenge Colmer and making contact with the keeper and ball simultaneously bundled it over the line off his back, with the referee deeming no foul. The goal was no more than Fisher deserved and set up a thrilling last ten minutes plus injury time as Fisher laid siege to the Whitstable goal. Splatt could have wrapped the game up on the breakaway when failing to make contact at the back post after a quick break, but it was Fisher looking the more likely to score in the closing moments.
Jack Gibbons rose to head a well delivered Jones corner just past the post and in added time Garcia’s mazy run saw him square for Sarpong who from just outside the box, fizzed in a low drive that went a whisker past the upright with the keeper motionless. Despite the pressure it wasn’t to be, and the final whistle came with Fisher still searching or the equaliser that on balance off play many felt they deserved, as the side will certainly play worse and win in other games.