A good start for the Fish with a hard-fought point at Tunbridge Wells as Richie Monan’s goal early in the second half cancelled out Perry Spackman’s opener for the home side.
Manager Steve Firkins handed debuts to Ben Frempah, Femi Olugbemi, Zak Henry and Damien Ramsamy, while Steve O’Donnell played his first competitive game in nearly a year after suffering a nasty injury early last season. The opening stages of the game were scrappy, with both sides trying to gain the upper hand on a bobbly Culverden pitch that made passing and shooting difficult.
The first chance of the game came on 17 minutes as Ope Aromona attacked down the left and sent in a low cross that Ramsamy looked to fire home – only to see the ball hit one of those bumps in the pitch as he set to shoot, and the shot went over.
But it was the home side who took the lead, and with the pitch a factor Wells opted for the aerial route. A long throw was launched into the Fisher box and was headed home by Perry Spackman – but Fisher keeper Danny Firkins appeared to be clearly impeded as he came out to collect the ball. The referee saw nothing wrong and the goal stood.
Fisher fought back, and Aromona saw a shot blocked from a Henry cross. At the other end Wells’ Jason Barton skied an excellent chance as the game opened up a little. Fisher exerted some pressure towards the end of the half and a neat corner routine nearly paid off, while Richie Monan had a shot saved. But the Fish went in to half-time 1-0 down.
That deficit was wiped out just two minutes after the restart. Adam Wadmore curled in a free-kick from the right and Monan applied a deft flick finish to the delight of the Fisher team and the travelling support. Monan nearly had another just a few minutes later as his fierce shot stung the keeper’s hands.
Steve Firkins introduced 16 year old Orlando Richards for his senior debut, and the young striker caused problems for the Wells defence with his pace. Fisher should have taken the lead when Olugbemi burst forward into the box and found Ramsamy, whose trickery beat the keeper but he just couldn’t get his shot right and the ball went wide. Another Wadmore free kick flashed just wide as Olugbemi and Frempah were both inches away from connecting.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Firkins had to be at his best to deny John Pilbeam, a flying save keeping out a ball that looked destined for the top corner. Fisher were on top however, and subsitutes Hulusi Mustafa and Richards linked up well in a fast attack before Richards shot was deflected wide for a corner. In the closing stages, with the home team launching balls into the box, Fisher’s defence – marshalled by Frankie Warren – stood firm, although Wells did hit the post in a scramble.
In the end a draw was probably a fair result, although Fisher were disappointed not to have picked up all three points after a very impressive second half performance.
Fisher: Firkins, Taylor, Olugbemi, Warren, Frempah, Wadmore, Henry, Monan, O’Donnell (Richards 58), Ramsamy (Mustafa 71), Aromona. Unused Subs: Wickenden, Wilson, Hensman
Attendance: 132
