Fisher welcomed Beckenham to Champion Hill on Bank Holiday Monday and were left with just a point despite leading the game three times as Beckenham fought for their share of the spoils.
Previous meetings between the sides at Champion Hill have started quickly, and this tie was no different. The game was played out in persistent, heavy rain, but the Champion Hill surface held up well under the barrage.
In contrast to the last two meeting between the sides where Fisher were hosts and Beckenham gained an early lead, this time it was the Fish who made the early breakthrough. Junior James fired Fisher ahead after just five minutes to get the game going, and Fisher could well have extended their lead as the first half went on.
As Beckenham settled into the game, they became more threatening. Adam Highsted did well on a few occasions to keep the visitors out, but a sloppy short corner from Danny Maguire gifted possession the Becks who broke forward, and a stunning effort from Travis Gregory – chipping the ball up and over a defender before firing home – just before the 30 minute mark levelled the scores.
The first half finished with the Fish in front after Maguire’s powerful 20 yard strike caused problems for Beckenham goalkeeper Dillon Barnes who couldn’t make enough contact with the ball to keep it out seven minutes before the break.
The game became scrappy in the second half with the terrible weather conditions made things difficult for both sides. Fisher continued to cause Beckenham trouble, although nothing that really worried Barnes (despite the fact his defence disintegrated on several occasions). It was Beckenham who found the net first in the second period, with Jamie Humphris leveling the scores again in the 76th minute with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box. Fisher, though, will point to what appeared to be a clear foul on Junior James in midfield in the build up – the referee, having put his whistle to his lips, opted not to give the decision and Humphris took full advantage.
Troy Abbey (who came on for Jay Garrick) fired the Fish ahead for a third time when his long range low effort slid under Dillon Barnes seven minutes from time. The goal was followed by a scrappy few minutes where both sides had players booked, and Beckenham saw manager Jason Huntley sent from the dugout for leaving his technical area.
That should have been enough for the Fish, but as the game became stretched Beckenham took their third clear opportunity of the game two minutes from time to once again level the scores, this time the goal coming from Jalloh Gassimu who fired home after a corner was only half-cleared.
FISHER SQUAD: ADAM HIGHSTED, ASHLEY HENRY-BROWN, JACK WEBBER, CALUM McGEEHAN, BILLY WALTON, AL-HASSAN OSILAJA, RICHARD MORGAN (KIERON CAMPBELL), JUNIOR JAMES (JAMIE TAYLOR), JAY GARRICK (TROY ABBEY ), DANNY MAGUIRE, EKU DEEN. UNUSED SUBS: AARON SEALES, ALFIE ROCHE
