A disappointing start for the Fish who are left to rue missed chances in the season opener.
The Fish were on the back foot from the start of the game, as E&B launched the opening kick-off into touch deep inside the Fisher half, and pressurised the throw. The Deres dominated the opening ten minutes, culminating in a penalty awarded as Billy Walton brought down Lee Morgan in the box. But Jamie Wood’s spot kick was saved by Fisher keeper Danny Firkins diving low to his left.
However the Deres took the lead just a few minutes later, as Fisher failed to deal with a corner and Paul Gross slotted home from 8 yards out in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. This setback seemed to spark Fisher into life, and they dominated the rest of the half. Ken Jarrett-Elliott caused havoc down the left-hand side, and he forced Richard Stroud in the E&B goal into a flying save to tip over. Jarrett-Elliott then tested the keeper again, and Stroud spilled the ball at the feet of Danny Hunt who could not quite lift it back up and over him into the net. Hunt had a another chance shortly afterwards, as Jarrett-Elliott put the striker through on goal but after rounding the keeper Hunt’s shot was off-target.
Stroud was busy early on in the second-half too, with Peter Afolyan stinging the keeper’s hands from distance. But the Deres held firm and there were few chances for either side as the half wore on. Steve Firkins made a triple-substitution, bringing on Richie Monan, Danny MacGuire and Mark Sisson, but it was E&B who made a decisive move. Fisher conceded a harshly awarded free-kick on their left-hand side, which was swung in by Adam Gross. With Andy Constable dummying in the box, the ball flew past the Fisher defence and the stranded Firkins to nestle in the bottom corner. Despite 9 minutes of injury time, the Fish were unable to convert their late pressure into goals and the game finished with a disappointed Fisher manager talking to his players on the pitch about what had not gone right.
The Fish move on to a derby game at Greenwich Borough on Tuesday, and the team will be looking to get some points on the board ahead of the big FA Cup clash with Chichester City on Saturday.
Fisher: Firkins, Banton, Tipple, Wilson-Joseph, DeGraft-Johnson, Walton, Hubbard (MacGuire 63), Turner (Sisson 63), Afolayan (Monan 63), Hunt, Jarrett-Elliott. Unused Subs: Wadmore, Kendall
Attendance: 107
