Kent Football League

Fisher put in a creditable performance against table-topping Hythe Town, but the visitors took their chances and came away with the three points.
It was always going to be a tricky fixture for the Fish, but for large periods of the game the vast difference in the resources available to the two managers was not evident on the pitch. Fisher took the game to Hythe, and some neat passing saw the Kent Premier League leaders on the back foot for much of the game.
The Fish fell behind after just 5 minutes. Mark Lewis was harshly adjudged to have fouled Gary Mickelborough, and from the resulting free kick Brendon Cass nodded the ball home. Fisher didn’t let their heads drop, and enjoyed their best spell of the game for the next 20 minutes. Dexter Babalola caused havoc roaming down the right wing, his mazy runs spreading panic amid the Hythe defence.
Ernest “JJ” Simon had the best chance of the half, as a loose ball fell to him on the edge of the box but his left foot strike was easily helped by Hythe keeper Kieron Mann.
The Fish couldn’t make their pressure tell, and Cass grabbed a second as the Fish defence failed to deal with one of the many long balls launched by Mann. Craig Thompson latched on to the ball, and although Teeley saved well from Thompson’s shot the rebound fell to Cass who couldn’t miss.
After the break, Fisher continued to press and had two penalty shouts turned down by the referee turned down. Steve O’Donnell, who had a very good game leading the line on his own, went close with a neat flick at the near post. But the Fish couldn’t create too many more clear chances as the Hythe defence stood firm. Cass missed a good opportunity to complete his hat-trick as the game became stretched, while at the other end substitute Juan Ramirez will feel he could have done better when put through on goal with only the keeper to beat, although Mann saved well at the diminutive striker’s feet.
Hythe held on to complete the victory and remain unbeaten in 2011, and they look a very good bet to take the KPL title this season. Fisher will take comfort from a performance that demonstrated just how well this team can play, and will look to deliver a similar performance against  Tunbridge Wells at Champion Hill next Monday.