The Fish face a trip to the Sussex coast on Tuesday after this FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie finished all-square.
This cup tie threatened to spark into life towards the end of the first half, but in truth it was not great entertainment for the crowd despite two excellent finishes for the goals.
There was an early chance for Steve O’Donnell when he was put through on the right, but his shot went wide. At the other end, the visitors sent a free-kick flashing across the face of the goal and the Fisher defence were relieved to see that no-one managed to get a touch to it. East Preston were on top in the early stages, but their best chance came courtesy of an uncharacteristic passing error from keeper Danny Firkins. Fortunately the resulting shot went well wide of the goal.
Fisher came back in to the game, and Ben Frempah – striding out of defence with the ball – sent Ope Aromona clear on the left but Aromona’s cross found visiting keeper Matt Evans. On the other wing, Orlando Richards performed a neat turn but again the shot went wide. Richards had more success just minutes later though, as he again turned swiftly and this time passed to O’Donnell. O’Donnell lashed an angled shot at goal from about 8 yards out and the pace on the strike bear Evans and saw Fisher go one goal up.
That’s the way it looked like staying until half-time, and Fisher were on top for the remainder of the half. But with the referee adding on three minutes of injury time, the Fisher defence went to sleep and allowed visiting skipper Joe Shelley space on the edge of the box. Shelley placed a neat side foot finish past Firkins, who got a hand to the ball but could not stop it from reaching the net. The sides entered the break locked at one goal apiece.
The second half started in scrappy fashion, and it remained that way for the rest of the game. Both sides struggled to breach the other’s defence, with moves breaking down on a regular basis as the 18 yard box approached. East Preston probably had the best of the play, although they did not force Firkins into a save from the few half-chances that they fashioned. Richards had a chance for the Fish as he was sent clear, but his long range shot was comfortably saved.
East Preston looked to make the most of numerous free-kicks given away by the Fish in dangerous areas, and Fisher will need to limit the opportunities for the referee to penalise them in the relay if they are to prevail. On this occasion though, the biggest scare was a fierce free-kick that Firkins palmed on to the bar. Hakin Griiffiths went on a late run but shot over, and the game drifted to an inevitable draw to set up a seaside trip for Fisher on Tuesday in the replay.
Fisher: Firkins, Taylor, Wickenden (Olugbemi 69), Warren, Frempah, Wadmore, Henry, Brown (Griffiths 69), O’Donnell, Richards, Aromona. Unused Subs: Ramsamy, Wilson, Dixon, Mustafa, Hensman
Attendance: 71
