MATCH REPORT: Fisher 4-2 Corinthian

Fisher 4-2 Corinthian
Tuesday 17th February
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 141
Scorers: Festos Kamara (10 min, 24 min – pen, 85 min – pen), Lorenzo Duncan (73 min)

Fisher moved up to fourth spot in the SCEFL Premier Division, after a pulsating game under the lights at St Pauls that saw them emerge 4-2 winners against a resilient Corinthian side. Fisher were forced into one change from Saturdays win at Stansfeld, with illness ruling out Tom Jones and Rafael Garcia returning to the starting line up in his place.
It was the visitors who were to start the game the better and some quick passing and good movement across the slick surface, on a chilly night threatened to open up the Fisher back line. However, the concentration of the centre halves, Don Macaulay and Conor Darwish, was up to the task and they were able to stop the early onslaught actually resulting in any clear cut chances with some solid defending. On ten minutes the game swung Fisher’s way, as they opened the scoring with their first real attempt at goal. Jack Gibbons and Rafael Garcia combined well on the right and Gibbons low through ball was neatly flicked on at the edge of the box by Flavio Jumo allowing Festos Kamara to run on to it and though forced a little wide he was able to turn and unleash a thunderous strike into the roof of the net from a tight angle. A powerful effort from the left from Lorenzo Duncan almost doubled the advantage not long after and Alex Kozac’s good work down the left caused alarm in the Corinthian defence with last gasp blocks denying Kamara and Jumo after he pulled balls back form deep in the area. Just past the midway point in the half Fisher did create a two goal cushion when Garcia skipped past a man and drove into the box from the right where he was up ended with the referee pointing straight to spot despite strong complaints from the Corinthian defenders. Festos Kamara held his nerve for the long delay before the kick and then sent the keeper the wrong way to confidently convert.
On the half hour though, the lead was halved as Fisher did not clear their lines well and the ball was sent back into the box from the left wing with Oscar Housgo applying a flicked finish across Ogunseri and in off the far post. Corinthian continued to push to get back on level terms before the break. Only a fine reflex save from Ogunseri denied them as he reacted superbly to tip away a close range header at full stretch and two free kicks carelessly given away by Fisher in good range were wasted by the visitors as one flew over the stand and the other hit the wall, allowing Fisher to go into the break still ahead.
The second spell began in scrappy fashion, with a number of stoppages for injuries and free kicks, one forcing Sha’mar Lawson out the game, with a badly scrapped thigh. Just before the hour mark Fisher were pegged back to level terms. Again insufficient distance on a clearance following a spell of Corinthian pressure allowed Jack Billings to rifle a shot from just outside the area that despite Ogunseri getting fingers on it as it flew through a mass of payers, screamed into the far corner. At this stage the visitors looked the more likely to go on and find the winner but the last half hour saw a fabulous display of attacking football from the Fish as they themselves went in search of a winner. Kozak and Jumo both drove efforts into the side netting as Fisher attacked well down both flanks and then following great work down the left, with some patient build up the ball was recycled to Kozak who found an inch to whip over a cross that Lorenzo Duncan flicked onto a defender with the ball squeezing in at the near post giving the keeper little chance. There is no finer sight than a rampant Fisher on the attack under lights and they continued to drive forward. Duncan sent in a rasping drive that fizzed just wide of the upright and substitute Esteban Salgado saw a close range header well saved by the keeper.
With five minute remaining Fisher made the game safe as Eden Deh strode forward from halfway and as he burst into the box was clipped from behind allowing Festos Kamara to step up and complete his hat trick from the resulting spot kick. Fisher’s task of seeing out the game was made easier by a late sin bin for a Corinthian player and they cruised through nine added minutes to take the points.