MATCH REPORT: Fisher 3-4 Welling United

Fisher 3-4 Welling United
Saturday 12 July
Pre Season Friendly

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 258
Scorers: Chibueze Echam (3 min and 78 min), Lorenzo Duncan (20 min)

On a sweltering afternoon Fisher were edged out in a high scoring game against Step Three side Welling United by the odd goal in seven at St Pauls, in front of a health pre-season crowd of 258, including a sizable number of travelling Wings supporters.
Fisher were missing several of the squad through injury and holidays so began in a rather unfamiliar 352 formation, which contributed to a high scoring first forty five minutes. Welling started the game like an express train immediately forcing Fisher deep into their own half with several shots and crosses raining in on the Fisher goal in the first two minutes. However, it was the Fish who were to strike first, with their first attack on three minutes, when a chipped through pass saw Kesna Clarke’s outstretched leg beat the defender to the ball and the keeper only able to parry the ball to his right, where trialist Chibueze Echam converted from an ever narrowing angle.
The lead was only to last eight minutes as a half cleared corner allowed a deep cross into the Fisher box to be tucked back for Gil Carvalho to sweep home from eight yards out and four minutes later Fisher found themselves behind when John Ufuah was fed out wide from an intercepted pass in midfield and the former Fisher player cut inside his marker and fired off a fierce shot that beat Sam Amedu at his near post despite him getting a hand to the ball. Amedu then made two sharp saves as Welling looked to take control, before Fisher rounded off an frenetic start to the game by making it two a piece on eighteen minutes with Lorenzo Duncan rounding off a good move down the left, bringing down a cross with a sublime first touch and firing home into the roof of the net on the turn.
Ufuah was causing Fisher plenty of problems with his pace down the left Amedu had to dive bravely at a forward’s feet after a sharp run and cross from the Welling wide man. Just before the half hour mark, Welling regained the lead as Greg Cundle was slipped in down the left channel and neatly converted into the far corner and five minutes and a drinks break later Welling had a two goal cushion when a chipped ball forward saw Ruben Shakpoke just stay onside to race through and chip the advancing Amadu with a tidy lob. The half ended with Kesna Clarke hobbling off for the Fish after taking a knock as the heat final took its toll and slowed the game down from its early blistering pace.
The second half saw a number changes from the visitors, but only two from the Fish, who as a result showed more fluency and were able to retain possession more than in the first half with the eager running of Omari Williams an outlet. Don Macaulay had a great chance to pull a goal back when staying up from a corner, played a one two in the box but swept his effort at goal over the bar. Substitute Charles Yiadom-Konadu saw a volleyed effort from the edge of the box saved by the keeper after the ball was only half cleared by the Welling defence.
With fourteen minutes to play, Fisher made the game interesting by adding a third when Yiadom-Konadu’s measured chipped free kick found Echam rising highest at the back post to powerfully head home. At the other end Keegan Bloom almost immediately restored the two goal lead for the Wings when he struck the inside of the post from his shot from the right of the penalty area.
Welling then sought to take the sting out of the game with some controlled possession stopping Fisher from getting any head of steam up for the last few minutes to force and equaliser.
A useful work out for both sides despite the heat came to end with no further chances on goal leaving Welling victors by four goals to three. Fisher now move on to their final home pre-season game on Tuesday night when Combined Counties side Wembley will be the visitors to St Paul’s before a trip to Heybridge Swifts rounds off the pre-season programme next Saturday.