A closely fought game against local rivals Beckenham Town ended in heart-wrenching defeat for the Fish, writes Joe Arif, as Joe Jackson smashed home the winner with barely a minute left on the clock.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the hosts who bossed large spells of this game, particularly in the second period, but paid a heavy price for not turning dominance into goals.
Despite this latest set back, the players should take heart from a very encouraging performance with Frankie Warren, relishing a return to midfield, the star man for the Fish.
However, after an extended nine day break without a game, the home side were slow out of the blocks in the first fifteen allowing in form Town to take the early initiative. Directly from kick-off Beckenham forced the first corner of the game and still inside the first minute the hosts were forced into some Alamo defending when Beckenham tried to force home the in-swinger. Finally the pressure told on 16 minutes, Malik Fofana nipping in at the near post to nod home the opener.
Steve Firkins’ team responded well and managed to get a foothold on the game as the half progressed. Frankie Warren had the ball in the net on the half hour mark heading home from an Ope Aromona centre but the ref disallowed the goal for a push in the box – a decision that bemused much of the crowd as it appeared Becks defender Danny Tipple had simply misjudged the flight of the ball.
In the second period the Fish began to press for the equaliser and camped in Beckenhams half for long spells. On 54 minutes Fisher’s continuous probing deservedly brought about the leveller. A fine through-ball from the fast-improving Sean Brown saw Stefan Dixon race clear on the right wing, exploiting space on the left of Beckenham’s defence. The full back’s cross was met first time by the on-rushing Warren who left Joe Hagan rooted to the spot as he guided the ball home off the far post.
The Fish had their tails up and continued to push for the second. The hosts continued to exploit the right channel and Steve O’Donnell was presented with a clear shooting chance on 70 minutes but the forward’s shot swung the wrong side of the post. Fisher then spurned a glorious opening just five minutes later. Good work down the left resulted in a cut back to the penalty spot but the unmarked Rob Depeazer skied his shot over the bar.
In a rare forage forward, Beckenham’s front-men made the home side pay for their wastefulness. A blocked shot in the 89th minute fell invitingly for Jackson 15 yards out who duly smashed home the lose ball which cued over-elaborate celebrations from the visiting side and further frustration for Fish.
Attendance: 111
