Yet another tough loss for Fisher, who let a two goal lead slip before falling to a late winner.
Once again Fisher put in an excellent performance against one of the top sides in the league, and once again they left with less than they deserved from the fixture. The Fish were the dominant side in the first half, but a quick-fire hat-trick from former player Jamie Humphris set Erith Town on the way to a comeback that ultimately netted them all three points.
Fisher gave a debut to Joe Jackson, and he impressed early on playing on the left wing. Fisher were by far the better side in the opening exchanges, Jackson testing the home keeper before excellent midfield play set up a chance for Badar Mohamed who was denied by the linesman’s flag.
Fisher soon took the lead though, a marauding run from Jackson down the left saw him cut into the box along the byline then fire across goal. Erith defender Corey Walters-Wright deflected the ball into his own net. Marvin Alebiosu could have doubled Fisher’s lead but shot straight at the keeper when well placed.
But Fisher did get a second on 25 minutes, this time from the other wing as Jordan Green used quick feet to make himself some space in the box and then he chipped a cute finish over the keeper from a very tight angle.
Town showed some fight and Jamie Humphris sounded a warning of what was to come as he fizzed a free-kick dangerously across goal. At the other end Huseyin Budak latched on to a free-kick put he fired just over the bar. Fisher then lost the dangerous Green as he began to feel unwell, and he was replaced by debutant Omar Salem.
Just before half-time came the goal that gave Erith Town hope, and it was an error at the back that gifted Humphris a chance he couldn’t miss. Winston Kentebe attempted to deal with a cross into the box, but he stumbled as he tried to clear and Humpris was able to pounce on the ball and slot past Juan Figueroa-Ball in the Fisher goal.
Kentebe’s luck didn’t improve after the break as he gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box. Humphris fired a low ball across goal but everyone missed it – unfortunately for the Fish that meant it snuck inside the far post to level the scores at 2-2.
Just seven minutes later it was Humphris again to complete the turnaround – this time a vicious dipping shot from the edge of the box that deceived Figueroa-Ball. It was a cruel blow for Fisher who paid for ten minutes where their concentration dipped and the stand-out player on the pitch, Humphris, punished them.
The Fish could in fact have been punished further as Town proceeded to miss a hatful of chances before Fisher regained their composure, and only a flying save from Figueroa-Ball stopped Humpris from adding goal number four.
But the Fish did recover, and began to look dangerous again. With twenty minutes left, Adam Wadmore got his head to a Jamie Taylor corner and his glancing blow found the net. It was an excellent header, and the Fish were deservedly back on level terms.
That’s the way it stayed until four minutes before the end, when Erith Town secured the winner through Marcus Perona, who sprung free from the attention of Fisher defenders and slotted a cool finish past Figueroa-Ball. The result sees Fisher once again leave with nothing despite a performance from which the team can take some confidence – particularly going forward – and the Fish will be hoping to eliminate the errors at the back and secure a better result in the Kent Senior Trophy at VCD next Saturday.
Fisher: Figueroa-Ball, Wadmore, Lewis, Taylor, Kentebe (Olugbemi 78), Frempah, Green (Salem 35), Budak, Mohamed, Alebiosu, Jackson (Tunji 81)
Attendance: 30
