The Fish ended up comfortable winners against Ash United, inspired once again by skipper Jamie Turner, and progressed through to an FA Carlsberg Vase 2nd Qualifying Round tie at Beckenham in two weeks’ time.
Both sides looked to get the ball down and play in a fast-paced opening to the game, which despite the non-stop action saw good football played. Richie Monan was influential for Fisher in the early going, finding space on the right-hand side of midfield and attacking the Ash fullback. But chances were few and far between as Ash’s defence were able to restrict the Fish to half-chances and speculative shots.
The increasingly influential Jamie Turner sent a shot wide after a run from midfield on the half-hour mark, and Monan went close towards the end of the half, his shot flashing just wide of the far post after he had created space for himself with a mazy run into the box.
At the other end, the Fish were extremely lucky not to find themselves 1-0 down following a goalmouth scramble. Temporarily down to ten men as Frankie Warren received treatment for a wrist injury, only some fine goalkeeping from Danny Firkins, last gasp clearances off the line, and the crossbar (twice) kept the ball out of the net.
The two sides entered the dressing rooms level at half-time, the 0-0 scoreline a fair reflection of the balance of play in what had been an entertaining half. After the break, the second half started in a similar fashion and the prospect of extra time was beginning to loom large. Steve O’Donnell latched on to a superb through-ball from Warren, but his shot was blocked by Dan Gowler in the Ash goal.
Fisher secured a breakthrough with just over twenty minutes left to play, finally receiving a favourable penalty decision as the ball struck an Ash United arm in the box. Jamie Turner took responsibility, and sent an unstoppable shot into the roof on the net to put the Fish 1-0 up.
Ash were forced to push forward in search of an equaliser, and Fisher took advantage of the extra space to work a second goal. Following good work on the left, the ball found Steve O’Donnell 6 yards out and he smashed his shot past Gowler. Fisher added a third, as Turner fired a free-kick from the left-hand side of the box directly at the goal which beat Gowler for pace and set the net bulging. Just before the final whistle, substitute and debutant Junior James added a fourth – and then set off on a chest-thumping celebration run that left his teammates struggling to catch up with him!
Another fine win for the Fish, and Danny Firkins and his back four will be delighted with a first clean sheet – the first half scramble aside, the defence coped very well with everything that was thrown at it as the hard work on the training pitch paid dividends. In the second qualifying round we travel to Kent Hurlimann League rivals Beckenham Town on Saturday 24th September.
Fisher: Firkins, DeGraft-Johnson, Tipple, Warren (Taylor 67), Kendall, Wadmore, Monan (Jarrett-Elliott 70), Turner, O’Donnell, Sisson (James 81), Bell. Unused Subs: Walton, Hubbard
Attendance: 113
