Brave ten-man Fisher pushed title chasers Erith Town all the way at Champion Hill, but saw a point slip away in the final ten minutes.
Fisher started with an unchanged line-up following Saturday’s win over VCD, and some good early moves demonstrated that confidence remained high. Elstrom Die, who ran the Erith defence ragged all night, closed down Town keeper Tim Roberts and as Roberts tried to clear the ball hit Die and bounced into the net to put the Fish 1-0 up.
Erith pressed forward, and got their reward when the first of two excellent free kicks from fullback Lawrence Collins beat Adam Lisney’s dive to put bring the Dockers level. Tempers flared shortly afterwards, as Ernest Simon misjudged a tackle and caught Town midfielder Lee Morgan on the shins, forcing him out of the game. Simon received a yellow card from referee Lee Macey.
After the half-time break, Erith continued to put pressure on the Fish defence but could not force a breakthrough. It took an outstanding run and shot from Alex Tisse, beating three men before finishing clinically from a tight angle, to give Erith the lead. Fisher continued to look dangerous on the break, with George Savage and Die giving the Dockers’ fullbacks a torrid time, but life got more difficult when Simon received a second yellow card for an innocuous challenge in midfield.
The Fish were not done however, and Die won a penalty in the 73rd minute. Substitute Steve O’Donnell stepped up to coolly smash the ball past Roberts and the Fish were level. Erith piled men forward in the closing stages but it took another gem of a free-kick from Collins to beat Lisney and put Erith in front. Michael Power added a fourth as Fisher chased an equaliser.
With this win, Erith took over top spot in the Kent Premier League and their display of attacking football and sharp finishing demonstrated that they have the wherewithal to stay in the title hunt until the end of the season.
Fisher: Adam Lisney, Tamba Ngongue (Raphael Akala 80), Mark Lewis, Isa Bangura, Marc Hughes, Jimmy Beauchamp (Steve O‘Donnell 68), George Savage, Louis Sprosen, Dwayne Cowan (Callum Roberts 76), Ernest Simon, Elstrom Die. Unused Subs: Steve Sallis, Luis Rozan.
