The Fish recovered from an early set-back to record a first home league win, helped in no small part by a hat-trick from skipper Jamie Turner.
Turner struck three times in the second half as Fisher dominated what had been a close game in the first 45 minutes. Holmesdale fielded a starting lining up featuring four former Fish: Dexter Babalola, Cedric Abraham, George Savage and our 2010-11 Player of the Season Mark Lewis. And it was the visitors who struck first following a bright, up-tempo start. Colvy Thete slotted home with just 3 minutes on the clock to make it a nightmare start for a Fisher side that has yet to record a clean sheet.
Holmesdale, buoyed by their early success looked bright and committed as they looked to play attacking football. Savage, playing on the left of midfield, found plenty of space and Holmesdale were frustrated by the offside flag on a number of occasions. But the Fish struck back on 19 minutes, Peter Afolayan received the ball on the edge of the box and was allowed time to fire a left-footed shot beyond Chris Scott to level things up. Just minutes later, Fisher were finally on the right end of a penalty decision – but Afolayan’s spot kick cleared the crossbar and the sides went into the half-time break level.
The first half was an even affair, but the second forty-five minutes were anything but as Fisher pressed from the restart and swiftly took control of the game. Turner’s first goal came just three minutes into the second half, and was an absolute belter. The Fish won a corner on the right, which was played towards Turner who had made a late run towards the edge of the box. With a scorching first time strike, the skipper fired an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.
Just two minutes later, Mark Sisson scored his first goal in a Fisher shirt with a neat finish from 8 yards, and the Fish started to dominate the game as confidence returned to Steve Firkins’ charges. The Fish were awarded a second penalty on 66 minutes, and this time Turner took responsibility and despatched the ball into the top corner for his second and Fisher’s fourth goal.
Holmesdale were disappointed not to be awarded a penalty after a shoulder charge in the box, and their upset was compounded when Turner completed his hat-trick on 81 minutes as he slid the ball past an unsighted Scott to score Fisher’s fifth goal. Holmesdale lost substitute Bankole Karoma to a red card as he hit out at George Kendall in frustration to make it a miserable night for a side who had showed plenty of attacking ability and promise in the first hald.
For the Fish, this result sees us take second place in the early Hurlimann League going, and sets us up nicely for a tough encounter against Ash United in the FA Carlsberg Vase this Saturday. The selection headaches upfront will continue, as Mark Sisson pressed his case with top scorer Steve O’Donnell rested and Danny Hunt out injured. But a choice between four in-form strikers is the sort of headache that any manager would relish, and Fisher’s hugely entertaining season is all set to continue at the weekend.
Fisher: Firkins, Banton, Tipple, Warren (Hubbard 73), Kendall, Wadmore, Jarrett-Elliott, Turner, Sisson (O’Donnell 75), Afolayan, Bell (Monan 57). Unused Subs: Walton, DeGraft-Johnson
Attendance: 85
