A dominant second half performance saw Fisher secure a win at Greenwich Borough that took them out of the bottom three.
It was a young Fisher side that took the field at Oakley Road as Borough played their last ever home fixture at the venue, and Academy products Benga Ogunseye and Jake Palladino started as did Kent County Cup under 18 winner Harvey Hanifan.
The game kicked off twenty minutes late as traffic problems meant that some of the home side arrived very late, but despite disjointed preparations Borough got off to a lively start. But it was Fisher skipper Mark Lewis – playing in an advanced role on the left of midfield, who forced the first save of the game as his diving header was palmed over the bar by Borough’s stand-in keeper – regular Jack Rankin had been forced out of the line-up due to injury.
Borough had chances too though and only a George Jones goal line clearance stopped them from opening the scoring. Sam Ryan couldn’t quite connect with a good chance for Fisher, and then Ogunseye’s shot following an excellent run went over the bar as the game reached the half-hour mark.
Fisher should have scored shortly afterwards, as the keeper spilled a cross and Danny Akers found himself 6 yards out with the goal at his mercy. But Akers was undone by an Oakley Road bobble and his shot somehow missed the target and went over the bar. Fortunately it wasn’t to matter, as Hanifan’s excellent cut into the box and shot hit the bar, rebounding to Sam Ryan who lashed his shot into the net to give Fisher a 1-0 lead just before half-time.
It had been a fairly even game until the break, but Fisher were dominant from the start of the second half. Hanifan and Akers switched positions, with Hanifan moving forward and Akers playing right-back. The Fish swarmed forward, and Nathaniel Bell shot just over after an excellent run from Lewis. Lewis then missed another headed chance as he continued to be in the thick of the attacking action.
Fisher added to their lead after 68 minutes, as a Sam Ryan shot was palmed away. Hanifan was on hand to coolly bring the ball under control and send a placed, sidefoot finish past the keeper. Fisher didn’t have it all their own way though as Borough looked dangerous in attack, and only a superb last ditch tackle from Palladino prevented the home side from getting a goal back.
Fisher made the game safe in style with ten minutes to go. Substitute Kieron Campbell found himself twenty yards out, and he let fly at goal – the ball finding the net via the underside of the bar. It was an excellent strike from the diminutive midfielder, and it wasn’t his last contribution. With two minutes to play Campbell sent in a pinpoint cross that was met on the volley by Ogunseye who scored a deserved fourth goal.
Mel McCann scored a consolation for Borough in injury time, but this was a comprehensive win from the Fish and it lifted them above Greenwich Borough and out of the bottom three, with one game to go.
Fisher: Hensman, Hanifan, Palladino, Jones, Willis, Mabbs (Campbell 76), Akers, Ryan, Bell, Ogunseye, Lewis
Attendance: 15
