Southern Counties East Football League

In what was both the final match of the season for Fisher and their final match at the Champion Hill ground, hard work was rewarded with a deserved point in a 1-1 draw. It was fisher who took an early lead after 5 minutes, but a red card for Robert Curtis allowed Canterbury back into the game.
Both teams came out with all pistons firing and the work rate of both teams was impressive from the off. The enthusiasm of both teams animated the crowd and made for an enjoyable afternoon.
Fisher’s break cam after just five minutes as Luke Haidarovic, who was the outlet for most of Fisher’s moves for the afternoon, charged down Canterbury’s right flank and sent in a beautiful ball for Will Agbo who had a simple job of finishing into the gaping net. Fisher possession and attacking threat looked like it would be a good afternoon for the Fish and the crowd was expectant of a second coming at any moment.
At 14 minutes it looked like the moment had arrived, as a looping cross was headed right to the head of Haidarovic who was positioned perfectly, only for a chasing defender to cut out the cross at the expense of a corner.
Canterbury’s first real chance came after sixteen minutes as their number 11, Rob Lawrence, chipped on stylishly for Ryan Philpott who was free in the Fisher box. Apparently unable to decide between a cross and a shot, Philpott swung the ball easily into the path of Fisher’s keeper Joel Hannington.
A needless free kick given away by Canterbury provided Fisher’s next chance. The ball arced into the path of Will Agbo who directed it goalwards, but wasn’t able to supply enough power to trouble Canterbury’s number 1.
After twenty six minutes, a mistake almost saw Fisher lose their lead. A defensive mix up left the ball bobbling into the path of Rob Lawrence, but a slip as he shot saved face for Fisher and the ball sailed high over the bar.
Tempers were high throughout the game due to the tense, closely fought nature of the match and with the end of the first half in sight, they spilled over. A high ball was being contested by Fisher’s Robert Curtis and Canterbury’s Dave Pilcher who led with his elbow into the back of Curtis. Curtis took exception to this and as he got to his feet from the foul, he kicked out at the opposing player and earned himself a straight red card.
The mission for Fisher now was to stay in the match with 52 minutes plus added time.
After seeing out the half by retaining possession when possible, Fisher almost got a second goal immediately after the restart of the second half. Another free kick was played into the box and Daniel Flemming raised a foot to the ball, but his shot crashed off the post and went out of play.
It was only two more minutes until Canterbury cancelled out Fisher’s lead. A Fisher attack broke down on the edge of Canterbury’s box and they played the ball up the pitch quickly through the out of position Fisher. Rob Lawrence had all the space and time he needed to blast past Hannington.
Fisher needed to keep their heads as Canterbury increased the pressure to find three points. A scuffed clearance almost gave Canterbury the lead they were looking for as number 7 Pat Nzuzi hit the ball on the volley skimmed Fisher’s crossbar.
Fisher hadn’t completely given up on the points either and one of the most tantalising attacks of the afternoon saw intricate one-touch football tear the Canterbury defense to shreds and Haidarovic through on goal. The curl of the ball from our number 9’s shot took the ball wide of the net to the obvious anguish of the crowd.
Just one minute later Haidarovic had a second opportunity as a speculative shot bounced off the keeper and came high through the air back to him, he rose to meet it with a bicycle kick and the ball sailed towards the net. Canterbury’s decision to put a man on the line paid off and Haidarovic’s beautiful kick was cleared off the line.
With fifteen minutes remaining, smart movement from Will Agbo allowed him to burst past his man and blasted a shot on target. Canterbury’s keeper kept his wrists strong and pushed the powerful shot wide.
Organised defence and occasional timely tackles prevented Canterbury from increasing their tally for the match and Fisher almost stole the three points at the death. With the last most of the match, Fisher substitute Adetokunbo Adeyemo rounded his man on the corner of the box and found Wale Ayoola unmarked, but Wale couldn’t get over the top of the ball and his shot went over the bar.
A draw was probably the fairest result, but with a touch more luck and with cooler heads, the spoils might have been for the taking.