MATCH REPORT: Fisher 3-2 Redhill

Fisher 3-2 Redhill
Saturday 5 July
Pre Season Friendly

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 127
Scorers: Kesna Clarke (3 mins), Jacob Katonia (41 mins, 78 min pen)

Goal Highlights: Fisher Film Crew – here

Fisher edged a close fought pre-season friendly against Redhill by the odd goal in five at St Pauls Sports Ground. Whilst both sides had made their respective step five league play offs last season, Fisher had managed to retain many of their squad, whereas Redhill were a newly assembled group under a new manager an it the familiarity of the Fisher side that helped shade an entertaining game.
Fisher used twelve of the squad from Wednesday night’s game, with Sam Amedu and Eddie Hall each coming in for a half each in goal and Charles Yiadom Konadu, Salim Nassor and Deshon Carty getting their first run out of the pre-season campaign.
Fisher were quickly into their stride and opened the scoring with their first attack of purpose in the third minute, moving the ball with speed through the midfield, where Tom Jones was able to stride onto Charles Yiadom-Konadu’s pass and in turn slipped a fine ball down the right channel for Kesna Clarke to run onto and elegantly dink the ball over the advancing keeper, to get himself off the mark for the season.
However, the lead did not last long as five minutes later Redhill squared the game, as they put pressure on the Fisher defence with a several blocked shots before a shanked effort squirted wide to the right of the Fisher box where an unmarked forward was able to blast it low across the area and two further deflections took the ball into the net.
Fisher looked to get back in ascendency and Clarke was sent free in similar fashion to his opener down the right, but a sliding defender got in a block on his goal bound effort. Jacob Katonia then found the side netting after a mazy run took him deep into the Redhill area and a bit of magic from Charles Yiadom-Konadu saw him dance along the by line, past three defenders and almost walk the ball into the net after a short corner routine as Fisher continued to press. Five minutes before the break they regained the lead through Jacob Katonia’s solo effort. Picking the ball up midway in the half, he drove goalwards skipping out of several tackles before cutting back on the final defender and slamming the ball into the far corner.
The second half saw a raft of changes for both sides, and it was Redhill who settled the quicker, again levelling the game on fifty one minutes. A deep ball into the Fisher area was met with some miscommunication and as result was nudged back towards an unmanned goal where an eager Redhill forward was able to force it over the line.
Fisher again set about regaining the lead. A fine save from Redhill’s keeper kept out a powerful header from Stephan Richard-Kingson after a well flighted corner as the game started to open up in the final quarter. Fisher’s wingers were getting plenty of ball and several dangerous crosses flew across the Redhill area. With twelve minutes remaining Fisher got themselves back in front for a third time. Jacob Katonia’s quick feet in the penalty area drew a rash tackle and despite being upended he rose to take the subsequent penalty kick and nonchalantly rolled it past the wrong footed keeper.
Redhill applied late pressure to the Fisher goal, but some determined defending and wayward finishing allowed Fisher to see out the game and take the spoils in a very useful work out for the squad against aside who will no doubt have gelled and further improved by the time they meet again in the FA Vase First Qualifying Round at the end of August. Meanwhile Fisher’s pre-season campaign moves onto Monday night’s fixture against an Aveley XI at Parkside.