MATCH REPORT: Fisher 4-2 Faversham Strike Force

Fisher 4-2 Faversham Strike Force
Saturday 28th February
SCEFL Premier Division

Match Sponsors: Paul Heaton – click for details about Paul’s music, gigs and merchadise
Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 319
Scorers: Alex Kozak (33 min), Jack Gibbons (39 min), (Lorenzo Duncan 45+2 min), Jaedon Reynolds (90+10 min)

A 4-2 victory over Faversham Strike Force made it five league wins in a row for high scoring Fisher to boost their play-off credentials as they move into the final two months of the season. Two changes were required to the side with neither Tom Jones nor Rafael Garcia available, but such is the current depth in the squad they side looked no weaker with Charles Yiadom Konadu and Armani Jordan Martin coming in. A crowd of over 300 were treated to an exciting game, refreshed by the free Old Red Eyes Pale Ale kindly supplied by match sponsor Paul Heaton.
The game started at good pace with both sides looking to get on top, but with the footwork of Yiadom Konadu creating space, it was Fisher who always looked the likeliest to strike first. Armani Jordan Martin saw his shot pass wide of the post early on after he followed up Yiadom Konadu’s blocked effort. Fisher used the flanks well and Alex Kozak’s drilled cross from the left flashed across the goal where any touch could have nudged it in had someone gambled at the back stick. Strike Force’s more direct play was causing some problems with the hold-up play of Esumobi keeping the Fisher backline honest in a physical battle with the ever impressive Conor Darwish.
Fisher continued to search for an opener but a header from Festos Kamara could only be directed in the keeper’s arms after another surging run from full back Jack Gibbons allowed him to deliver a pinpoint cross. Just as frustration in front of goal was growing Fisher finally took a thirty third minute lead. A short corner routine found Alex Kozak on the edge of the area and whilst there looked little danger Strike Force’s defence didn’t close enough and he whipped in a cross that slammed off the underside of the crossbar and bounced off the line and then up into the roof of the net.
One quickly became two as skipper Jack Gibbons swept forward and played a neat one two with Flavio Jumo to advance into the box and sweep the ball home with his right foot across the keeper into the far corner. The second goal should have put Fisher in control but a quick break from Strike Force was well worked to tee up Mefosi Esumobi and whilst Isaac Ogunseri did well to save the initial effort, he was unable to stop the same player slamming the rebound into the roof of the net from three yards out. Having carelessly given up the two goal cushion Fisher claimed it back on the stroke of half time. A good cross field run from Kozak along the edge of the box saw his eventual shot blocked but he had the presence of mind to slip the loose ball through to Lorenzo Duncan, arriving from left back, into the box to slam the ball into the far top corner, to take his tally for the season to sixteen having scored in all the last five wins from left back.
Strike Force pushed hard in the second half to get back into the game but wasted a good early chance when planting a free back post header over the bar. However just past the hour mark they drew a rash tackle in the box and Alex Willis rifled home the resulting penalty kick. Faversham pushed forward for an equaliser but in doing so left themselves short at the back, which Fisher looked to exploit on the break. A huge scramble saw Jumo, Kozak and Kamara denied by some good goalkeeping and brave blocks. Earls them made an excellent save to further deny Kamara, who then saw the post deny him late on after he had sprinted clear on another break, as Fisher looked to seal the points. Fisher then had to absorb some late pressure throughout the ten added minutes but having repelled a last gasp long throw launched into their box cleared it to Kamara who skipped his marker on half way and raced to the edge of the penalty area before squaring the ball for substitute Jaedon Reynolds to neatly clip it over the keeper into the net with what proved to be the final kick of the game. The win rounded off a perfect five wins from five games in February which should surely see the manager of the month award wining its way to St Paul’s.