Pre Season Friendly

Fisher 1 - 2 Witham Town
Tuesday 16 July 2024 - 19:45

Fisher 1-2 Witham Town
Tuesday 16 July
Pre Season Friendly

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn:103
Scorers: Ed Sata (87 mins)

Fisher put up a spirited display despite falling to defeat by the odd goal in three against step four side Witham Town of the Isthmian League Northern Division.
Featuring several trialists in the matchday squad, Fisher started well in an even opening twenty minutes. Fisher went closest to opening the scoring when Alvin Reji got onto a long diagonal pass into the box, but his lobbed volley bounced away of the underside of the bar with the keeper beaten. At the other end the pace of Witham’s right winger Josh Osuda caused Fisher problems and only some wayward finishing stopped them from scoring after he raced clear and cut into the box on several occasions.
With the game being played at good pace, Witham started to look the stronger, and Sam Amedu saved well at his near post after good work from the visitors down the left. Both of Fisher’s wingers, were well contained by a strong Witham back line, meaning Alvin Reji received little service and few chances and when Fisher did get the ball into the box a well massed defence blocked the route to goal. The best saw a headed effort from Baricho Bari cleared away off the line with a follow up shot from Jeffrey Oredein blocked, but it was always Witham who looked the more likely to open the scoring.
The goal duly arrived on the half hour mark. Osuda again opened Fisher up down the right with his pace and worked his way into the box, swapping passes before slotting the ball home. Despite going behind Fisher were still competing well, with an all action display from Billy Brown encapsulating the spirit in the side. In an unaccustomed right back position Brown won tackle after tackle to constantly turn the visitors around and some surging runs forwards gave hope for a way back into the game.
Trialling at the break Fisher made a few a changes to start the second half with the introduction of youngster Sam Nwabuko in goal, back from a trial at Colchester United. He could do little about Witham’s second, ten minutes after the restart. Osuda again outpaced the Fisher back line and from his low centre Desse Kasinga, a former Fisher target several seasons back, was on hand to slide the ball home. Further changes saw Fisher utilise the whole squad, but it was the introduction of Teddy Jones that allowed them a little more attacking intent and on several occasions he threatened to break through the Witham back line with some direct running. Nwabuko had to be at his best to make a fine double save as the game moved into the final quarter with both sides still playing with good intensity. The substitution of Osuda for the visitors allowed Fisher to gain momentum in the closing period of the game with less counter threat as they pushed forward. With three minutes remaining Fisher got their reward for their enterprise, pulling a goal back. Good work down the right allowed Jones to slip in and his shot was blocked but recycled across the area where full back Ed Sata arrived to drive the ball low back across the keeper and in off the far post.
Fisher pressed for a late equaliser but could only muster a half chance for Jones which was blocked before time ran out. A deliberately tough test for Fisher against side from the step above ended in narrow defeat but saw a very  useful workout for both sides and plenty of positives to take into the penultimate pre-season game on Saturday when Redbridge, also of the Isthmian League North Division will visit St Paul’s.

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