Fisher FC’s first ever FA Cup fixture ended in a draw, as despite dominating possession the Fish were unable to prevent a spirited Chichester City side from taking this Extra Preliminary Round tie to a Monday night replay.
Fisher made one change from Tuesday’s 6-2 win over Greenwich Borough, with Billy Walton replacing the unavailable George Kendall at centre-half. A strong start for the Fish was rewarded on 9 minutes when Danny Hunt latched on to Jamie Turner’s defence-splitting through-ball and thunmped a right footed finish into the net.
Sussex League side Chichester, who looked to play good football throughout, responded and pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The Fish continued to look dangerous on the break, with Peter Afolayan keeping the Chichester defence busy. But City levelled after 23 minutes, with Fisher reorganising after losing Hunt to a thigh strain, and Michael Turvey pounced on a loose ball in the box to make it one apiece.
Matters threatened to get worse for the Fish just minutes later, as Chichester won a dubious penalty just after the half-hour mark. Danny Firkins, having saved penalties in both of Fisher’s fixtures so far, made it a hat-trick with a fine block to his right that was scrambled away for a corner.
The Fish started to exert some pressure, and Mark Sisson forced the Chichester keeper into a fine flying save having been put through on the left. Pete Afolayan had a shot blocked from the edge of the box, but Fisher couldn’t make the breakthrough and the sides went in level at half time. Afolayan then had a shot cleared off the line as the Fish looked to make their dominance tell.
The sides went in level at half-time, and Steve Firkins made an early change in the second half bringing on Nathaniel Bell for Chris Hubbard. Fisher continued to press, and scored from the third of three consecutive corners. Jamie Turner’s delivery flashed across the six yard box, and was turned into the net by the knee of Kobi DeGraft-Johnson.
Fisher threatened to put the game to bed, and Peter Afolayan saw another shot saved by Richard Boyle in the Chichester goal after he was put through following good work from Ken Jarrett-Elliott. Frankie Warren, on as a substitute, headed wide from a corner.
But Chichester continued to look dangerous, and Firkins pulled off a stunning save from a well-worked Chichester corner. With ten minutes to play, nerves were on edge amongst the large contingent of travelling support, although Jarrett-Elliott nearly settled the match as he met a Bell cross on the volley but he was under pressure from a Chichester defender and couldn’t quite steer his finish on target.
The Fish were made to pay for those missed chances, as Chichester pushed forward and Rhys Watling lashed home a rebounding ball in the box to take the tie to a replay at Champion Hill on Monday.
While disappointed not to win the tie, the Fish will at least have another chance on home turf. With the side looking likely to score goals in every game, Steve Firkins and his coaching staff will be looking to stamp out the errors at the back in order to secure progression to a Preliminary Round tie with Lingfield on September 3rd.
Fisher: Firkins, Banton, Tipple, Jarrett-Elliott, Walton, DeGraft-Johnson, Monan, Turner, Afolayan (Warren 73), Hunt (Sisson 20), Hubbard (Bell 53). Unused Subs: Wadmore, O’Donnell, Wilson-Joseph, Hensman
