A good performance from the Fish wasn’t enough as this game turned on a missed penalty for Fisher followed by two quick-fire goals from Wells.
It was a frustrating afternoon for Fisher manager Steve Firkins, as he watched his side play some excellent football – only for a crazy five minutes in the second half to put the game beyond his side’s reach. Firkins handed debuts to Stefan Dixon at right-back and striker Charles Ademeno. Ademeno, who scored for AFC Wimbledon earlier this season, will no doubt be looking to resume his career further up the pyramid as soon as possible. But after he showed moments of real class in this game Fisher fans will hope that he sticks around for a little while longer as the Fish look to improve their form before the season ends.
Fisher started strongly, Danny Hunt forcing an early corner and Ademeno sending a left foot shot just over the bar after he had turned his marker. Richie Monan also shot wide of the target before Ellis Wilson-Joseph finally tested visiting keeper Dean Nash, who pulled off a good save. Adam Wadmore then hit the side netting from a deep Ademeno cross as Fisher took the game to their opponents.
Tunbridge Wells, riding high in the league, came back into the game as the first half reached its mid-point. They forced a number of corners, and Billy Hensman pulled off an excellent save to keep the scores level. But he was powerless to stop a shot from an unmarked Drew Crush, as Wells put together an excellent move that stretched and then broke the Fisher defence, and they took a 1-0 lead on 24 minutes.
Fisher responded, and Ademeno worked himself an opening only to see Nash block his shot. At the other end, Hensman – having an excellent first season in senior football – produced another outstanding stop.
The quality of the game dropped as half-time approached, although Fisher had two further chances – a brilliant, flowing move ended with a Monan shot deflected wide and then Ademeno took on and beat four Wells defenders before shooting over the bar from the edge of the box.
Plenty of encouragement for Fisher in that first half then, and they started brightly in the second period. Hensman had to remain alert at the back however and he saved well from Nick Nowotny. But Fisher made the breakthrough – Monan, having a very good game, cut in from the left of midfield and drove at a hesitant Wells defence. Allowed space to shoot from the edge of the box, Monan sent a low drive just inside the near post to secure a deserved equaliser for Fisher.
Fisher continued to look good, though further chances were limited for both sides. With fifteen minutes left, Ademeno went past a Wells defender in the box and was tripped, leaving the referee an easy decision to point at the spot. Hunt stepped up to take the kick, but his placed shot didn’t beat Nash who guessed correctly and Wells cleared the ball to safety.
Just two minutes after that blow, Fisher fell victim to two defensive lapses. First, Wells were allowed to play a free-kick on the edge of the box in to Carl Cornell’s feet about 8 yards out. He neatly turned his marker and sent a true striker’s finish past Hensman to restore Wells’ lead. And a minute later, irreparable damage was done as Wells took advantage of a Ken Jarrett-Elliott slip to overload the Fisher defence and give Any McMath an easy finish to take a 3-1 lead.
Fisher pushed on, but never really troubled a sturdy Wells defence, and so were left to reflect on what might have been had the penalty been scored. While losing a game in which they were the better side for a long time is galling, Fisher can take many positives from the performance and the number of chances created against a very good side.
Fisher travel to VCD Athletic next Tuesday 27th March followed by a home clash with Lordswood on 31st March. Firkins will hope that injured striker Mark Sisson can recover these games, though the Fish will be without long-term injury victim Peter Afolayan and the suspended Frankie Warren.
Finally, everyone at Fisher was delighted to see striker Steve O’Donnell taking part in a light pre-match warm-up on Saturday. O’Donnell suffered a horrific broken leg at Erith & Belvedere at the start of the season and while a return to playing this season is not likely, it was fantastic to see Steve back on the pitch this week.
Fisher: Hensman, Dixon, Bruniges, Wilson-Joseph, Jarrett-Elliott, Taylor, Walton (Alex Ball 85), Wadmore, Ademeno, Hunt (Chattey 78), Monan. Unused Subs: Rose, Aromona
Attendance: 71
