Fisher secured a deserved victory in this fixture, after a dominant first half and two goals from debutant Danny Willis put them on their way. Another goal on debut, from Sam Ryan, made sure of the points in a bad-tempered second half.
After a three-week break enforced by the weather, Fisher managers Billy Walton and Martin Ford rang a few changes as Willis and defender George Jones made full debuts. In goal, Billy Hensman retained his place after his excellent performance last time out at Lordswood. Sam Friskey returned after suspension while Aaron Jeffery missed out after his late red card in the 1-1 draw with the Lords.
The game opened in scrappy fashion, the teams perhaps having to come to terms with playing on a dry surface for the first time since the Autumn. Gradually however Fisher began to assert themselves and dominate possession in midfield. Friskey had a great chance to give Fisher the lead but he shot straight at the keeper after being put through on goal.
The Fish did take the lead just after the quarter-hour mark, and what a goal it was. Receiving the ball in space and midway inside the Woodstock half, debut-boy Willis saw that opposition keeper Chris Smith was off his line. He sent a perfectly executed lob over Smith from all of 35 yards and Fisher had the lead that their early possession deserved.
Fisher continued to dominate. Ben Frempah saw a header cleared off the line, and Fisher’s midfield trio of Friskey, Jason Mabbs and Jamie Taylor were linking up really well. This allowed Marvin Alebiosu and Richie Monan to find space further forward, and Alebiosu in particular was heavily involved in most of Fisher’s good work.
Willis sent a free-kick wide after 25 minutes, then excellent work from Mark Lewis saw his cross headed wide at the far post by Monan. It was all Fisher, and rewards came after 33 minutes when Willis latched on to a through-ball from Friskey, and he placed a cool finish past Smith to double the lead.
Just minutes later Smith denied Willis a hat-trick with a superb save, and Woodstock came back into the game towards the end of the half with Russel Jeffery shooting wide just before the break.
After half-time, the game was a much more scrappy affair. Lots of niggly fouls meant that no flow was able to develop and as a result it was a more even contest. Fisher still created chances however and Monan forced Smith into a save at his near post as he looked to score from a tight angle.
But it was the visitors who struck next, a well worked goal which saw James McDonald rise to meet a cross and plant the ball past Hensman. Buoyed by this, Woodstock looked to attack although Fisher’s defence held firm. On the one occasion that they allowed a shot on goal, Hensman pulled off a wonderful fingertip save to preserve Fisher’s lead.
Tempers began to flare as the game wore on, with niggles and nudges the order of the day and forcing the referee to pull out his notebook on a number of occasions. Taylor, showing signs of letting his frustration get the better of him was withdrawn by Walton and Ford to be replaced by former Greenwich Borough captain Sam Ryan.
As the game entered the final few minutes, Bryan Zepo came off the bench to replace Willis. His impact was immediate – racing through on goal past a static Woodstock defence, he was sizing up a shot past Smith when he was clipped by Paul Teague. It was the easiest decision that the referee had all day as he awarded the penalty and dismissed Teague for a professional foul.
Friskey stepped up to take the spot kick, but his frankly awful, scuffed penalty was chipped against the post. Fortunately for Fisher it rebounded to Ryan who made no mistake with a calm finish to put Fisher 3-1 up.
Fisher saw out the game with no alarms, and an unnecessary clip with his arm saw Daniel Baverstock pick up a second yellow card and the visitors reduced to nine men in stoppage time.
Fisher: Hensman, Jones (Hanifan 78), Lewis, Walton, Frempah, Taylor (Ryan 78), Monan, Mabbs, Willis (Zepo 85), Friskey, Alebiosu
Attendance: 47
