Once again Fisher did more than enough to take something from a match, only to see their hopes of a point dashed as time ran out in a game marred by a harsh red card shown to winger Joe Jackson.
With both sides’ defending leaving a lot to be desired, Fisher were left ruing a string of missed chances in the first half as a late Rikki Cable goal sealed the win for the visitors, and a hat-trick for the striker. Fisher made two changes for this match, the cup-tied Juan Figueroa-Ball and Joe Jackson returning at the expense of Billy Hensman and two-goal Kent Senior Trophy hero Bryan Zepo.
The Fish got off to a terrible start as Cable bagged the first of his three goals after just four minutes having easily beaten Winston Kentebe in the box. Fisher responded well to this setback and created a string of chances – midfielder Marvin Alebiosu guilty of missing many of them including a free header in the area that went agonisingly wide.
Fisher finally finished a chance on 20 minutes as Jamie Taylor found space to shoot after a good advantage played by the referee and an excellent finish beat Colin Barnes in the Holmesdale goal. Fisher finished the half on top and Richie Monan tested the keeper with a left-foot shot after an excellent run. Holmesdale remained dangerous on the break, and an excellent sweeping move ended with Ross Cable flicking a header on to the bar.
With both teams looking to play the ball on the floor, this was an attractive game to watch and the sides went in to half-time level.
Fisher looked to press forward after the break, and Jackson had a shot saved after 49 minutes. But shortly afterwards the winger’s day took a turn for the worse – stretching for the ball with Liam Connor, Jackson caught the defender as he cleared into touch. The challenge was mis-timed, but the referee’s decision to show Jackson a straight red card was considered by those closest to the incident to be a very harsh decision.
With ten men, Fisher were forced on to the defensive. Holmesdale re-took the lead on the hour mark, Cable again given too much space and executing a clinical finish. Fisher though again responded well and just minutes later won a penalty as Jordan Green was felled in the box. Adam Wadmore stepped up and his excellent spot kick levelled the match up again.
The Fish then looked to hold what they had as the heavens opened and rain of biblical proportions fell on Champion Hill. The rear-guard action worked well until the closing stages, when Cable again received the ball in the penalty area, this time shadowing by Monan. But Monan was a victim of the conditions as he slipped while jockeying Cable, and that gave the striker the room he needed to pick his spot and win the game for Holmesdale.
Another tough loss for Fisher in a game that could have gone either way. Fisher boss Steve Firkins will rue both the missed chances and controversial red card that both contributed to the side coming away without any points in the last game of 2012.
Fisher: Figueroa-Ball, Monan, Lewis, Taylor (Akers 59), Frempah, Kentebe (Wadmore 55), Green, Budak (Brown 45), Mohamed, Alebiosu, Jackson. Unused Subs: Zepo, Olugbemi
Attendance: 107
