MATCH REPORT: Fisher 5-0 Rusthall

Fisher 5-0 Rusthall
Saturday 20th December
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Photo Credit: Dave Anderson – full album here

Attn: 189
Scorers: Tom Jones (7 min), Festos Kamara (28 min, 79 min), Rafael Garcia (70 min), Lorenzo Duncan (78 min)

Fisher served up a festive treat for their supporters with a dominant 5-0 win over high flying Rusthall at St Pauls. With flu and injuries still hitting the squad it was almost last man standing in the starting eleven with Ajay Ashanike again having to name himself on the bench. However, Jack Gibbons, Isaac Ogunseri, Lorenzo Duncan and Tom Jones were all able to return to the starting line-up, with David Mata given a starting slot on the wing.
Fisher started on the front foot and in the first minute almost opened the scoring when Festos Kamara escaped down the right and his low cross just evaded two Fisher players arriving at the back of the box with the goal gaping. It was a warning the visitors did not heed as on seven minutes Dabid Mata nipped in front of his marker to get onto a through ball and was pulled back. After a long discussion with his assistant the referee adjudged it to be outside the area, curiously issuing no card, but this mattered little, as Tom Jones nonchalantly stroked the ball around the wall and out of reach of Senneh in the Rusthall goal, to put Fisher ahead.
Rusthall looked to hit back, but also missing a few key players struggled for clear cut chances with Ogunseri comfortably saving a couple of efforts from outside the area. Despite having a height advantage Rusthall failed to trouble the Fisher defence from dead balls and rarely looked like opening the back four up from open play with stand in left back Lorenzo Duncan again putting in an impressive showing and Tyron Mbuenimo providing excellent screening cover in front of the back line. Mbuenimo was on the receiving end of a wild challenge on halfway necessitating extended treatment for a bloodied face and a change of shirt before rejoining the pitch.
On the half hour Fisher doubled their lead, as again they opened Rusthall up down the right. This time it was David Mata who was sent away and his low cross was powerfully turned home by Festos Kamara from six yards out. Fisher thought they had a third as Garcia turned in Kamara’s low cross after another run down the right, but the flag went up for offside much to every one’s bemusement with the ball appearing to be delivered backwards from the by byline. As the half looked to be coming to a close, tempers flared on the benches following a heavy challenge in front of the dugouts, with several people not showing the Christmas festive spirit and finding their way onto Santa’s naughty list, leading to some extended added time that also saw Jack Gibbons cautioned for a foul.
The second spell started badly for Fisher with Rusthall going close with a header that flew just wide, quickly followed by Kamara picking up a yellow card for dissent when questioning a throw in and dispatched to the sin bin. Fisher saw out the ten minutes with reduced numbers sensibly, keeping possession and limiting Rusthall to just one effort on goal that was well saved by Ogunseri. Kamara’s return to the field, sparked a spell of complete dominance for Fisher, as on seventy minutes they added to their lead when a superb through pass by Mbuenimo split the left back and centre half allowing Rafael Garcia to run through and lift the ball over the advancing keeper with aplomb. Eight minutes later Fisher added a fourth as again Garcia was threaded in behind the full back and cutting into the box pulled the ball back into the path of Lorenzo Duncan who opened out and side footed the ball into the far corner. A minute late the rampant Fish had a fifth as Rusthall were caught in possession in their own half by a strong press and Festos Kamara strode forward before rifling a low shot across Senneh into the corner of the net.
Fisher rested some tiring legs with Paponette, Bakare, Amaquandoh and Ojemen all coming off the bench but could not add to the scoring as they saw out the last ten minutes with little alarm to blemish their clean sheet. The final whistle signalled a fine win and the perfect Christmas gift from the side to the Fisher faithful in the Dockers stand.