Things continued to improve on the pitch for Fisher as they picked up their first home win of the season when Woodstock Sports visited Champion Hill in the FA Vase on Sunday.
The day was successful off the pitch too as Fisher fans collected donations of food and spare change for the Southwark Foodbank – and the cause was aided by a bumper donation from visitors Woodstock Sports. Fans and Foodbank volunteers were rewarded with a pulsating and dramatic cup tie.
Having mafe a few changes due to illness and unavailability, Fisher started brightly with Eku Deen and Kieron Campbell among others causing several problems for Woodstock’s backline, but Sports held strong and limited Fisher to just a handful of meaningful opportunities. Woodstock had a few chances themselves although Adam Highsted laid claim to most of their opportunities with ease.
Fisher had a solid shout for a penalty turned down midway through the first half (the incident resulted in Junior James going off injured, replaced by Alfie Roche), and Woodstock continued to hold strong until the 40th minute when a clumsy challenge in the box gifted Fisher the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot. Jamie Taylor stepped in for the absent Danny Maguire to take the sport kick. Taylor’s strike sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and Fisher ahead in the tie.
The scores stayed at 1-0 until the break, but it took just four minutes of the second half for Woodstock to level. A well placed effort from Colin Justin flew past the outstretched right arm of Adam Highsted for 1-1. Fisher took just two minutes to regain the lead, with Kieron Campbell unleashing a sweet strike which clipped the underside of the cross bar on its way into the net.
Fisher continued to press forward in the hunt for another goal, with Campbell and Deen repeatedly getting the better of the Sports’ defence. The Fish introduced debutant Max Rothwell in place of Jay Garrick which added pace going forward.
Jamie Taylor and Harvey Hanifan enjoyed strong performances with both doing their bit as Woodstock went in hunt of an equaliser. A spell of pressure from the visitors hinted that they would eventually draw level however, and after Fisher conceded a cheap corner, Woodstock’s Joe Borland stabbed home the leveler with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Fisher looked like they had the game wrapped up when Richard Morgan found the net six minutes from time with another excellent long range strike, but Woodstock refused to give up and leveled for a third time when Bradley Webb bundled the ball over the line.
With the scores level the game went to extra time. During the first half of extra time Woodstock began to look a little tired which allowed Fisher a little more space. Chances during the half were limited and the scores remained at 3-3.
The second half of extra time saw Fisher regain the lead when they were awarded another penalty and Rothwell beat his man and was felled in the box. Despite the pressure of an extra time penalty, Jamie Taylor dispatched it with confidence and style with around ten minutes left to play. Woodstock went for goal straight from the kick off, but the long range effort sailed harmlessly over the bar. In truth that was the Sports’ only real chance of equalising but chances continued to come for the Fish, the best of which fell to Rothwell, who was found by Deen and his volley slammed against the cross bar, bounced down and out to safety.
The referee finally brought the game to a close to send Fisher through to the next round which sees them travel to the Sussex Coast for a second time this season. The Fish take on Seaford Town on Saturday 4th of October.
Fisher: Highsted, Bell, Webber, McGeehan, H Hanifan, Taylor, Morgan (Robbins 103), James (Roche 22), Garrick (Rothwell 78), Campbell, Deen. Unused Subs: Lee, Seales
Goals: Taylor (40 pen, 109 pen); Campbell 49; Morgan 84
Attendance: 104
