In what started out as a rather tame match, Fisher twice came back from the brink to snatch a replay against Crawley Down Gatwick in the FA Vase.
The first half saw the Fish just shading the play, creating just a couple of chances but using the ball the well in midfield, with the visitors doing what they could to disrupt and create chances for themselves.
Most of Fisher’s shots were taken from long range with Junior James, Alfie Roche, Jamie Taylor and right back Cedric Abraham amongst the most dangerous Fish. The best chance of the half came courtesy of Junior James, whose well struck free kick from just outside the box forced a good save from Crawley keeper Seb Boss.
Crawley broke the deadlock just before the break, and against the run of play, when Mo Shuga’a headed home from short range after getting on the end of a well-placed cross from Steve Major.
Fisher looked a little more dangerous in the second half and began to create more testing efforts. But while Fisher dominated possession and territory, they were unable to break down a resolute Anvils defence.
Alfie Roche continued to shine on the right hand side and some sublime link up play down the left side started to stretch Crawley’s back line. Kareem Boyle was introduced at half time and caused trouble going forward throughout the second half.
Crawley came very close to killing the game five minutes from time when Josh Alcock broke free of the Fisher back line. With his defence all at sea, it was left to Adam Highsted to prevent a goal. Highsted rushed towards the edge of the box and collided with Alcock just inside the penalty area. Highsted was booked for the foul and Alcock stepped up to take the resulting penalty.
Before he could take the kick, Fisher decided to throw Jay Garrick on in place of Nat Bell who had enjoyed a good game at left back. The delay worked in Fisher’s favour as Alcock slammed the penalty against the post.
In the dying minutes, as Fisher pressed forward, the referee handed the hosts a lifeline. He sounded his whistle and was quickly surrounded by red shirts as he pointed to the penalty spot following a foul on the lively Boyle. Jamie Taylor stepped up and forced extra time with a confident and comfortable shot which sent Boss the wrong way and nestled in the back of the net.
In extra time, both sides went for the win, and it was Fisher who had the first chance to take the lead. Substitute Piers Hanifan forced a superb diving save from Boss when he unleashed right footed effort from twenty five yards.
Crawley regained their lead in the 103rd minute when Andy Goodwin’s head beat Highsted to the ball just a couple of yards out, with Fisher defenders claiming in vain that the ball had swung out of play on the cross.
With Fisher once again looking done for, Crawley twice hit the post looking to kill the game off. But in the last minute of extra time, Fisher once again received a massive slice of the luck as Crawley shot themselves in the foot.
Alfie Roche sent a distinctively tame low cross in to a mass of players, and as Boss went to collect the ball, Blair Cooney foolishly nudged the ball towards Boss who proceeded to pick it up. The referee awarded the Fish an indirect free kick just a few yards from goal.
Mark Chiverton took the free-kick, played the ball to Calum McGeehan who thrashed towards goal, and the ball finally found it’s way home courtesy of debutant Boyle to level the scores. Just after the restart, the referee brought the game to a close, with a replay at Crawley on Wednesday evening required to settle the tie.
Fisher: Highsted, Abraham (P Hanifan 62), Bell (Garrick 85), McGeehan, Walton, Oshilaja, Roche, Uings, James (Boyle 46), Chiverton, Taylor. Unused Sub: Lee
