Fisher took full advantage of Non-League Day, picking up their first win of the SCEFL season against Woodstock Sports on Saturday in front of a bumper crowd of 149.
The game started in favour of Woodstock, with the visitors winning a corner within minutes of kick off. Fisher showed solidity to clear the threat and got into the game fairly quickly. Sean Sinclair got the first chance of quality for Fisher, hitting the cross bar with a long range effort. Woodstock got forward on occasion but didn’t create any dangerous chances.
Woodstock were reduced to ten men just before the half hour mark when player-manager Ben Taylor saw red for violent conduct (a decision that he disputed at great length). A few other players picked up cautions during this incident for a range of offences. This was just one of several incidents that the referee had to deal with in a half with, as one Fisher supporter said, “more bookings than a holiday park”. With a man advantage, Fisher settled down and drove forward, and nine minutes before the break Kieron Campbell saw his shot blocked by the keeper before Michael Daramola slotted the rebound home to put the Fish ahead.
Just minutes later, Woodstock won a penalty after Fish keeper Charlie Hyam collided with an attacker. Hyam pulled off a fantastic save to keep the hosts ahead. Fisher continued to push forward and saw two shots sail narrowly over the bar and the score remained at 1-0 as the referee brought the first half to a close.
To start with, the second half was much more broken down, and Woodstock’s Ashley Baverstock equalised seven minutes in to give the visitors something to cheer about. That was to be it for Woodstock who, despite their best efforts, couldn’t find the net again.
Fisher then began to push forward again, Daramola had the best chance to put the Fish ahead but his shot was tipped onto the post and then smothered by the visiting keeper. Several Fish players performed well throughout the afternoon, with the hosts producing some sublime passing moves and quality attacks, although the second goal eluded the forwards on several occasions.
On the whole, Woodstock defended well and several of their players showed skill and desire to keep the game level. Chris Hubbard and Campbell were among the Fisher players whose shots found various parts of the woodwork, and Woodstock looked like they might survive and take home a point as reward for their efforts.
Campbell then broke forward again, got himself into the box and appeared to be floored by the Sports goalkeeper. The referee blew his whistle and the Fisher fans cheered what they thought was a penalty. The cheering was cut short as the referee booked Campbell for a dive and gave Woodstock a free kick. Just moments later another shot hit the bar and it looked like the win was now gone and a draw would have to do.
But Fisher never let up and in the third (and final) minute of stoppage time, Fraser Walker found time a space to hit what proved to be Fisher’s winning goal. After the recent bad run the goal was understandably welcomed with great enthusiasm by the faithful home supporters (and those taking advantage of Non-League Day).
The result sees Fisher up to fourteenth in the Southern Counties East Football League, with Greenwich Borough, Beckenham Town and Lordswood now taking up the bottom three places.
Fisher: Hyam, Akers, Tipple, P Hanifan (Draper 61), Walton, Carr, Walker, Campbell, Binitie (Zanelli 67), Sinclair (Hubbard 53), Daramola. Unused Subs: H Hanifan, Bell
Attendance: 149
