MATCH REPORT: FC Elmstead 0-4 Fisher

FC Elmstead 0-4 Fisher
Saturday 11th July
Pre Season Friendly

Attn: 30
Scorers: Jake Lovell (17 mins), Temi Alaka (27 mins), Alex Kozak (45+2 mins and 47 mins)

Fisher continued their pre-season campaign with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Southern Counties East Football League Division One side FC Elmstead under a blazing sun at Bishop Justus School in Bromley.
Fisher included several new trialists in the line up but only took four outfield substitutes, after two morning withdrawals due to illness, meaning those present had extended spells on the pitch in the very hot weather, with several trialists making good claims to be signed.
A fairly open first ten minutes saw both sides push the ball around well, but it soon became apparent that Fisher’s pace and eager running would be a decisive factor in the game. With Elmstead playing a very high line, the Fisher forwards found plenty of space to run into and utilising that Temi Alaka nearly opened the scoring, when he was put in free down the right and whilst he skipped past the sweeping goalkeeper a good fifteen yards outside his box Alaka was forced too wide and saw his shot from close to the touchline roll into the side netting while the goal was gaping. It wasn’t to matter however has just past the quarter of an hour mark Fisher took the lead, as neat play from Rafael Garcia again sent Alaka free down the right and he neatly squared the ball inside for Jake Lovell to carry it into the box and push the ball through to keeper’s legs to open the scoring. Fisher looked to a double the lead just before the drinks break when following a spell of sustained pressure Garcia’s wayward shot on the volley was turned in by Alaka wide in the six yard box but from an offside position, ruling the goal out.
Fisher did get their second though shortly after the drinks break when Elmstead clumsily coughed up the ball with a loose pass deep in their own half and Temi Alaka snaffled possession and gratefully fired in a shot that crept in off the inside of the post via the back of the keeper. Elmstead’s best chance of the half came from a rifled in low drive that Akinde did well to push away at his left hand post and a series of corners came to nothing in their best spell of the game. However, Fisher were quickly back on the front foot and shortly before the break they had a third. Jake Lovell’s through ball again pierced Elmstead’s high line, allowing Alex Kozak to beat the keeper to the ball and slip it into the unminded net.
Fisher brought on all their substitutes at the break and within two minutes of the restart had added a fourth goal. Again, Kozak was given the freedom of the defensive half as Macaulay’s sublime through ball sent him clear on goal and he calmly beat the keeper and as with his first rolled the ball into the net. The heat started to take a toll on the players and the pace of the game slowed with Fisher happy to try and keep possession and Elmstead continuing to squeeze high up the field helped by some mistimed runs of the Fisher forwards keeping the linesman busy with his flag. A good save down to his right by Bull kept Fisher’s clean sheet, as Elmstead looked to get a consolation, but they rarely look like getting in behind Fisher’s back line.
Kozak should have completed his hat trick and added Fisher’s fifth shortly after the final drinks break, when again racing clear down the left but after neatly clipping the ball over the goalkeeper he saw his shot agonisingly drift just past the upright.
A useful workout ended with a four nil win and plenty of minutes in the legs and air in the lungs on what was a blistering hot afternoon. Fisher now move on to tougher tests against step four sides with back-to-back home games as they take on Isthmian League North sides Walthamstow and Grays Athletic in the coming week.