Fisher picked up an important three points in an excellent performance at Lordswood, but suffered more injury woe as three players were forced off the field after getting hurt.
The most serious injury was Billy Walton’s broken wrist, and both Mark Sisson and Junior James picked up hamstring strains. Chris Hubbard got the Fisher goal in what was a deserved, but difficult, win.
Steve Firkins shook up his line-up following the midweek defeat to Erith and Belvedere, Walton lining up alongside debutant Charlie Helps in a new-look central defensive partnership. The game opened fairly quietly, with little for either goalkeeper to do. Mark Sisson’s hamstring strain forced him off after just 18 minutes, to be replaced by Junior James.
Fisher’s injury curse then struck referee Lee Dyson, who had pulled his calf muscle and was unable to continue. The game was stopped while a replacement official was sought, with Ryan Whitaker taking over whistle duties. Fortunately, a qualified referee happened to be in attendance and took up the flag – dressed in an FA rain jacket and jeans.
Fisher’s first real chance came on 29 minutes, following a neat passing move involving Micah Banton, Frankie Warren and Chris Hubbard on the right. Hubbard’s cross was met by a superb glancing header from James which clipped the top of the crossbar with Lords’ keeper Matt Byott stranded.
Manager Firkins was forced into another change five minutes later, as Walton fell awkwardly under challenge – suffering a broken wrist which saw him taken immediately to hospital. It was cruel luck for Walton who had started well alongside Helps, having received a chance in the first team after waiting patiently through the early weeks of the season. Fisher reorganised with Kobi DeGraft-Johnson returning to a central defensive role.
Banton and Hubbard, who both had perhaps the best games of their Fisher career so far, combined well again on the right and Banton’s cross found James who could only shot straight at Byott. James went close again just before the break, as he fired a free kick against the bar with Byott beaten again.
Fisher picked up where they left off after half-time, and dominated the second half. James had another good chance after excellent work from Ellis Wilson-Joseph, but he could not beat Byott. The goal finally came in spectacular fashion from Chris Hubbard, who received a bouncing ball 12 yards out and smashed it right-footed past Byott to give the Fish a deserved lead.
The lively James became Fisher’s third injury victim as a mild hamstring strain forced him off on 68 minutes, replaced by Richie Monan. The game became very scrappy as Lordswood looked for an equaliser, and the Fish had Danny Firkins to thank for a magnificent save as Mark Morrison found himself on the edge of the six yard box with only Firkins to beat – Danny’s flying save diverting his strike away from goal and maintaining Fisher’s lead.
There was time for Fisher to create another chance, as excellent work from Ken Jarrett-Elliott on the left saw him beat two men to burst into the box. His cutback found Warren whose sidefoot shot went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Fisher held on for a deserved and hard-fought win against a committed Lordswood side, and the three points see the Fish move up to fourth place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League. The mounting injuries though will cause Steve Firkins a headache on Monday as the Fish face London Tigers at Champion Hill in the London Senior Cup.
Fisher: Firkins, Banton, Tipple, Warren, Walton (DeGraft-Johnson 35), Helps, Hubbard, Turner, Sisson (James 18 (Monan 68)), Wilson-Joseph, Jarrett-Elliott. Unused Sub: Taylor
Attendance: 83
