Fisher were left empty handed at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday, but can take plenty of positives as they put in a spirited display against tough opposition in difficult conditions.
Kick-off was delayed by fifteen minutes following a very late decision from the referee to allow the game to go ahead (the decision was finally made at 2.35) but the poor weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of both sets of fans, who contributed to a superb atmosphere as Junior James made his coaching debut in the Fish dugout. James handed debuts to Emiliano Hysi, Sean Mason, Cherno Mendy and Malachi Robinson – all of whom went on to have very good games.
Twelve minutes in to the game, Fisher were left facing a nightmare scenario after midfielder Al-Hassan Oshilaja was given a straight red card after an altercation with Tunbridge’s Tom Bryant. The two players came together after a tackle, and Bryant fell to the floor in somewhat dramatic fashion. Many observers felt that the Wells left-back had exaggerated contact, as Oshilaja was given his marching orders, while Bryant escaped without a card for his part in the incident.
Just two minutes later the Wells were ahead courtesy of a Brendon Cass strike, leaving the Fish looking vulnerable.
Fisher held their own across the field despite having a number of youthful debutants in the squad, with several of the newbies playing well against vastly experienced opposition. Kareem Boyle and Alfie Roche provided some dangerous attacks but stout defending ensure they could only muster a handful of shots on target on the first half. At the other end, despite facing several shots on target, Adam Highsted was once again in good form and kept the score at 1-0 going into the break.
Seven minutes after the break, a well hit effort from Cass doubled the Wells’ lead and left it looking like only a matter of time before the hosts would seal the win. Fisher kept battling though and began to ask questions of the Wells’ back line and were unlucky on a few occasions not to create more testing shots, with Mark Chiverton hitting the bar from 20 yards out.
Finally the Wells’ defence was beaten in the 70th minute when Mendy broke through and was taken down (seemingly in the penalty area) by goalkeeper Michal Czanner. Czanner was sent off to make it ten-men apiece, but strangely the referee changed his mind (after conferring with the linesman who did not flag for the penalty) and awarded a free kick just outside the box. Fortunately, justice was served when Mendy’s free-kick was parried by substitute keeper Steve Lawrence, and Chiverton fired home to bring the Fish back into the game.
With Fisher pushing for an equaliser, they became exposed at the back and seven minutes from time Lee Radford sealed the win with the hosts’ third goal of the game, which came just minutes after the Fish hit the bar from short range.
In the dying minutes, the Wells’ looked to add a coat of gloss to the score-line but both of their late efforts sailed well wide of Adam Highsted’s goal.
Overall it was an encouraging display from the Fish at the end of a tough week.
Fisher: Highsted, P Hanifan (Rothwell 89), Robinson, Hysi, Mason, Walton, Mendy, H Oshilaja, Chiverton, Roche (Uings 72), Boyle. Unused Subs: Lee, James, Demetrious
