Fisher fell to controversial defeat in this Macron Premier Division Cup quarter-final first leg, as Corinthian knocked a free kick in from 20 yards before the referee blew the whistle for a restart.
The Fish were guilty of missing crucial chances as their dominance in possession went unrewarded, but Corinthian’s second goal left Fisher players and fans angry and upset – and keen to make amends in the second leg.
Steve Firkins handed a debut to George Beavan, who played just in front of the back four, and Richie Monan returned at right-back as Frankie Warren was unavailable due to work commitments. There was a welcome return to the squad for keeper Danny Firkins who took a place on the bench as he continues his comeback from a broken finger.
Fisher were kicking downhill in the first half on the excellent but sloping surface at Gay Dawn Farm. The game started slowly, with both teams playing good football but unable to manufacture any meaningful chances. Fisher enjoyed most of the possession, though moves often broke down as they neared the Corinthian goal. But the first real action of the game came at the other end on the half-hour mark, Ryan Johnson forcing a diving save from Joe Hagan as he let fly from 25 yards.
Fisher forced a corner, and Danny Tipple’s excellent delivery just failed to find a Fisher foot and was cleared to safety. Johnson then forced Hagan into another good stop at his near post on 37 minutes. The Fish should have taken the lead shortly before halftime as Mark Sisson and Danny Tipple combined on the left. Tipple’s cross took out the Corinthian keeper and defence, and Chan Quan’s header from a yard out looked for all the world as if it had found the net – but the Fisher fans’ cheers were choked as the ball somehow rolled agonisingly wide of the post.
There was still time for Hagan to deny Johnson yet again, this save the best of the lot as he flew to his left after Johnson hammered a loose ball from a corner at the goal on the half-volley. The sides entered half-time goaless.
It was more of the same in the second period – Fisher were on top, but struggled to create chances. Sisson was involved in much of Fisher’s good approach work and his flick saw Jamie Turner put through but the linesman’s flag brought the move to a premature end. Sisson then got on the end of a Tipple cross but his header was saved. Tipple then delivered an excellent cross that found Chan at the far post but he shot wide from a good position. Chris Hubbard was put through on goal but missed the target from the left, but the Fish were entitled to feel that a goal was coming.
It was, but at the wrong end. The experienced Lee Barnett, on as a substitute for Corinthian, picked up the ball on the right just by the touchline in the 83rd minute. Seeing Hagan off his line, he attempted an audacious chip and succeeded as a back-pedalling Hagan could not reach the ball. It was a superb, skilfull finish but a disappointing way for the Fish to concede.
Just two minutes later came the controversial second. Corinthian won a free kick on the left-hand edge of the box, and set the ball down in preparation for the kick. Play seemingly stopped until the whistle blew for the restart, Hagan set about organising his wall. It was the best part of a minute after the award of the kick and the stoppage in play when Barnett, seeing Hagan lining up the wall at the near post, decided to take the kick and he sent a chip into the unguarded portion of the net.
Fisher players and fans, expecting the referee to order a retake on his whistle, were stunned when the goal stood. The team were perhaps naive in expecting the referee, and opposition, to observe the established standard for free kicks whereby a quick take happens almost immediately after the award of the kick – otherwise both sides are expected to wait for the whistle.
The sense of injustice is likely to remain when the sides meet for the second leg on 23rd January at Champion Hill, and with a two-goal deficit very much recoverable the stage is set for a thrilling cup tie. While the manner of this defeat left fans and players upset, there were many positives to take from the game – not least the continued improvement at the back with Corinthian unable to create any clear-cut chances from open play.
Fisher: Hagan, Monan, Tipple, Beavan, Helps, Walton, Quan, Turner (Humphris 74), Sisson (Afolayan 68), Wilson-Joseph, Hubbard. Unused Subs: Taylor, Wadmore, Firkins
Attendance: 60
