MATCH REPORT: Woodford Town 2-2 Fisher

Woodford Town 2-2 Fisher
Saturday 25th July
Pre Season Friendly

Attn: 30
Scorers: Flavio Jumo (2mins), Trialist (81 mins)

Fisher got some much needed match practice on a grass surface in their final scheduled pre-season fixture, when twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Essex Senior League side Woodford Town. Fisher opted to rest several probable starters in next week’s league opener, in a squad including several trialists, but we’re still able to match the fancied Essex side, thanks to a late equaliser.
A parched rock hard surface gave both sides a challenge as the game got off to a frenetic start in bizarre circumstances. From the kick off Fisher looked to send the ball forward but it was charged down by a Woodford player and looped into the path of their centre forward with a free run on goal, who confidently smashed the ball home from the edge of the penalty area to give Woodford the lead inside 15 seconds. However, within a minute Fisher were level, as good work down the left wing from Alex Kozak slipped in Kaylam Burgess on the overlap and his cross worked its way deep into the penalty area where Flavio Jumo was on hand to powerfully hook the ball through a crowd of players into the roof of the net. The quite improbable opening to the game caught late comers, unaware with those arriving just two minutes after the start finding the game already one a piece.
As both sides got grips with the challenging surface the game settled down with Woodford making good use of the slope and overloading on either wing to keep Fisher very much penned in their own half and looking to play on the counter. Fisher defended a number of corners well, as a powerful looking home side continued to put them under pressure with Zach Akinde making a great blocking save to keep the scores level going into the drinks break.
The hosts retook the lead on the half hour mark through a quick break down the right with some neat passing finding runners allowing the ball to be fed into a forward arriving in the box to slam the ball into the roof of the net. Fisher again looked to get back on level terms before the break but despite some good approach play couldn’t find a final ball and shots on goal were limited, with the keeper saving well low to his right from another effort by Jumo being the closest they came.
With the slope in their favour in the second-half Fisher showed more attacking intent with substitute Jake Lovell twice coming close to levelling the scores as he saw a header flash past the upright and then forcing the keeper into making a fine save to tip over with a rasping drive from the edge of the area. At the other end Woodford wasted two good chances to extend their lead with their striker inexplicably turning the ball over the bar from close range with the goal at his mercy and then a looping header from former Fish Sam Owusu coming back off the crossbar with Akinde making a fine save to the follow up.
With time running out Fisher pushed for the equaliser and it duly arrived in the 81st minute as a surging run down the left from Alex Kozak allowed him to send in a low cross that was tucked home the near post by arriving left back Kaylam Burgess.
All Fisher’s hard work to get back on level terms was almost undone with the final kick of the game as a Woodford forward was allowed to nip in behind the back line and advance on goal better Akinde saved magnificently to push the effort around the post with the final whistle blown before the ball could even roll out the corner. The game will stand Fisher in good stead for some of the trickier grass surfaces that await as the league season gets underway next Saturday, with Fisher at home to Corinthian in the opener.