Fisher were reduced to ten men for the third time in four matches, and fell to local rivals Erith & Belvedere despite another encouraging performance.
The result could have been different had Fisher been able to make their early pressure tell. Mark Lewis nearly caught home keeper Dean Ruddy off his line with a 40 yard lob from a free kick, but the ball dipped just too late and went over the bar. Elstrom Die caused the Deres’ defence problems all game, and he had a good case for a penalty when felled in the box in the first fifteen minutes. Referee Mr Harnett saw no foul however, to the amazement of the Fisher following behind the goal, and waved play on. Die then hit the post after a superb run and shot, and the Fisher midfield – anchored by the returning Steve Sallis – dominated the game.
The Deres took the lead just before half-time, as Fisher switched off at the back. The E&B left-winger was allowed too much space and crossed for an unmarked Adrian Deane to nod home from just a yard.
The second half saw the referee dominate proceedings. Apparently unhappy at the number of people in the Deres’ dugout, Mr Harnett spoke to the bench and sent a member of the coaching staff to the stands. Moments later, alerted by his linesman, he returned to the bench and gave one of the Deres’ unused subs his marching orders.
Shortly after this incident, Adam Lisney attempted a clearance from the edge of his penalty area, only to see the ball strike an onrushing E&B forward. The ball rebounded towards the goal, and as Lisney raced to stop it crossing the line the other linesman put his flag up, and the referee blew his whistle. Without consulting his assistant, Mr Harkness gave a free kick to the Deres, and showed Lisney the red card. His explanation was that the rebound from the striker had brushed Lisney’s arm as it ricocheted past him and that this therefore constituted a deliberate handball. It was not a view shared by many in the ground.
Centre-half Marc Hughes donned the gloves as Fisher reorganised, with Callum Roberts coming on to replace the injured Sallis. Hughes was confident between the sticks and kept the Deres from extending their lead with a superb tip around the post, and the Fish continued to play well on the break. In search of an equaliser, Gary Lisney brought on Rafa Akala, and the substitute looked lively up-front. But the Fish fell behind with just five minutes to play, Andrew Dalhouse unleashing an unstoppable shot past Hughes.
Shortly afterwards the Fish were back in the game when Rafa Akala latched on to a through ball and finished with aplomb. The Fish felt that an equaliser was still possible, and they should have had their chance as Akala was tripped as he ran through on goal for a second time. To the striker’s credit he tried to keep his feet and finish the chance, and that gave the referee the opportunity he needed to turn down the penalty shout. Fish continued to press, but the Deres got a third in stoppage time as Louis Sprosen’s pass was intercepted in midfield and E&B broke away to score.
This game was the fourth in succession where one of the sides finished with ten men. In those 360 minutes of football, there has been perhaps one bad tackle (which drew a yellow), and in every game both benches have been frustrated with the officiating.
Fisher: Lisney, Ngongue (Akala 76), Lewis (St Aimie 76), Simon, Hughes, Beauchamp, Savage, Sallis (Roberts 56), Sprosen, Rozan, Die. Unused Subs: Bangura, Oatley
