The Fish were disappointed not to collect all three points after creating numerous chances against Corinthian, as the visitors took advantage of a late defensive mix-up to secure a draw.
Fisher started on the front foot and pressed the visitors back with a succession of attacks. A Chris Hubbard run and cross was deflected behind for a corner, and Ken Jarrett-Elliott headed just over from a Danny Tipple corner. Mark Sisson then put a shot just wide after great build-up play, and the first ten minutes had suggested the Fish should be able to wrap up the points with ease.
But Corinthian worked their way back into the game, with Fisher’s passing play becoming sloppy. The chances, however, continued to come at one end only. Tipple was marauding down the left, and he put in a dangerous cross that Corinthian keeper Reece Thwaites tipped just out of the reach of Sisson. Jarrett-Elliott stepped out of defence to briefly reprise his wing role, but his cut back across the penalty area didn’t reach a Fisher boot.
Hubbard and Nathaniel Bell swapped wings, and Hubbard caused problems for Corinthian down the left as he teamed up with Tipple. Hubbard made one superb run into the box, beating his man as he cut inside, but his shot was just over the bar. The half ended with Fisher well on top, but with no goals to show for their pressure.
The second half continued in a similar vein, and Ellis Wilson-Joseph could have given the Fish the lead just after the break as he was put through, but he wasn’t quite able to control the ball in time to get a shot away. Corinthian then showed signs of life, as veteran Lee Barnett began to pull the strings in midfield. A Barnett shot went wide, and then Billy Hensman pulled off a tremendous stop at point blank range to keep the scores level.
Corinthian continued to be restricted to long range shots however, as the makeshift Fisher defence put on the best display at the back for some time. Jarrett-Elliott was an assured presence and a danger moving forward with the ball into midfield, and Frankie Warren had a tremendous game – the midfielder filling in at the back won a series of crucial headers and tackles. Full backs Tipple and Kyle Demetrius defended well and looked to get forward, with Tipple in particular causing havoc all afternoon.
At the other end Fisher continued to create chances. Substitute Danny Hunt looked lively, and he created space only to see his cut back just miss the unmarked Sisson. Sisson then executed a tremendous lob over Thwaites only to see the ball bounce off the bar – rebounding just too high for Hunt who was poised to knock the ball home. Jamie Turner then fired a shot from the edge of the box which was kept out by a stunning save from Thwaites.
Finally the pressure told. Cutting inside from the right, Bell played a one-two with Hunt before firing past Thwaites to open the scoring with just fifteen minutes left to play. The Fish could have been forgiven for this was the three points in the bag, and Wilson-Joseph had a chance to seal it when the ball found him direct from a corner, but it rebounded off him into the arms of the keeper.
But with just a minute left on the clock Corinthian, who had been pressing and harassing all game, finally got their reward. Fisher lost the ball in their own area, having looked to play the ball out when perhaps Row Z (or the Sainsbury’s car park) might for once have been a better option. Barnett couldn’t miss from a yard out and Corinthian had grabbed a point.
The huge disappointment in the home dressing room after the match reflected the dominance that Fisher had enjoyed. But while dropping two points following a late error was unfortunate, there were many positives to be taken from the game. The formation gave the Fish a more solid look than was the case earlier in the season, and the back four played superbly while going forward the Fish created enough chances to win three games.
Fisher: Hensman, Demetrius, Tipple, Warren, Jarrett-Elliott, Wilson-Joseph, Hubbard (Monan 90), Turner, Sisson (James 80), Taylor (Hunt 61), Bell. Unused Subs: Helps, Bangura
Attendance: 84
