Goalkeeper Billy Hensman was the Fisher hero as he saved a late penalty to ensure that the Fish took maximum points from the Easter weekend.
Jamie Taylor scored directly from a corner and Aaron Jeffery finished a magnificent solo effort, after Rochester had taken a first half lead from the penalty spot.
Despite Saturday’s win, Martin Ford and Billy Walton were forced into changes as work commitments kept Sam Friskey out of the line-up, while Mark Hammond made a debut at right-back. Conditions at Rede Court Road were challenging, a dry bumpy surface made passing and control something of a lottery while a strong wind blew down the pitch and was at Fisher’s back in the first half.
Understandably given the conditions, the game got off to a scrappy and error-strewn start. It was end-to-end stuff, but quality was lacking from both teams who conspired to give the ball to each other on a regular basis. Hensman was forced into action, making a fingertip save from the first shot on target from either side in the 14th minute. Fisher had the best chance to open the scoring but Aaron Jeffery could not get his shot on target.
Fisher looked the more dangerous team as the sides got to grips with conditions that meant that the Fish had to adapt their passing game. Richie Monan had the ball in the net after 20 minutes but unfortunately from an offside position and so the game remained goalless. Marvin Alebiosu became increasingly influential, and his skilful dummy, turn and shot went just wide before he set up Jeffery whose shot was saved by Rochester keeper Luke Watkins.
Just as Fisher were getting on top, Rochester were awarded a controversial penalty, as Mark Hammond defended an attack down the left. The ball was played past him, bobbled off the surface to brush his arm, and the referee deemed this to be a deliberate handball and pointed to the spot. Matt Rowe made no mistake and Rochester had the lead.
This was a tough break for Fisher, but events swung in their direction just before half-time. Jamie Taylor took an inswinging corner from the left. The bend on the ball received a little extra help from the wind, beat everyone in the box and nestled in the top-right corner of the net.
Level at half-time then, and the least that Fisher deserved. The second half opened in – relatively – pulsating fashion as chance were missed at both ends. Dominic Elms missed a sitter from two yards out for Rochester, as he blazed over the bar. At the other end Danny Willis missed a superb chance as he found himself one-on-one with the keeper but shot wide, and then Alebiosu put the ball wide from a Jeffery cross when it looked easier to score.
Jeffery then missed an equally good chance just after the hour, as he echoed the Elms miss having been set up by Willis. But the tall forward made amends two minutes later as he burst through from midfield, racing past Willis as he charged towards goal. The assistant referee put her flag up – the static Willis was in an offside position – but the referee, seeing that Willis had not touched the ball, waved play on. Jeffery advanced on goal and slotted a cool finish past Watkins to give the Fish the lead.
Fisher deserved their lead, but galvanised by what they perceived as an injustice Rochester looked to attack. Chances were limited as Fisher defended well, but with just ten minutes left another controversial penalty award threatened Fisher’s lead. Hensman raced out to close down the angle as the home side’s forward attacked from the right hand side of the box. The striker got his shot off, which Hensman successfully blocked and the ball bounced clear. But as both players’ momentum carried them in to each other, the referee deemed that Fisher’s young keeper had committed a foul and pointed to the spot.
This time however, Hensman went the right way and blocked the penalty which was cleared behind. His excellent save galvanised the away team, though there was still time for both sides to miss chances. Rochester’s diminutive winger Josh West was dangerous all game, and he put in an excellent cross in stoppage time which was headed over the bar.
That was the last real action of the match, and the final whistle saw Fisher secure two wins in a row for the first time this season. While this was perhaps the least cohesive performance of what is a three match unbeaten run, the Fish were worthy winners and now that a forward threat has been added to a strengthened defence and midfield Fisher can look forward to the rest of the season and the chance to move up the table and out of the bottom two.
Fisher: Hensman, Hammond (Wadmore 59), Lewis, Walton, Frempah, Taylor, Monan, Mabbs (Ryan 65), Willis, Jeffery (Olugbemi 88), Alebiosu. Unused Subs: Hanifan, Zepo
Attendance: 45
