A late Luke Haidarovic goal gave Fisher a vital win against Erith Town at Champion Hill, as they edged out a nerve-wrought contest between the SCEFL’s two bottom-placed sides.
Haidarovic’s dramatic intervention came in the 90th minute when he latched onto Kieron’s Tarbie’s pinpoint cross into the penalty area and rifled a terrific shot past Dockers goalkeeper Joe Hagan.
It was a rare moment of quality in a match that never really got going despite both sides heading into the clash on the back of positive runs.
Fisher were guilty of another slow start and they were almost made to pay for it as they allowed Key Kedze too much time on the ball in the 3rd minute. His accurate through-ball found Key Kedze, who in turn picked out Romone McCrae, but luckily for Fish the striker screwed his shot wide with just goalkeeper Charlie Payne to beat.
Payne was again called into action 2 minutes later, punching away a powerful free-kick from Kadeem Ajeon.
A flashpoint arose in the 7th minute as an aerial challenge from Haidarovic left Dwayne Campbell writhing on the floor in pain. Ex-Fisher boss Martin Ford was less than happy with referee Craig Burton’s decision not to caution the striker. Ford directed a foul-mouthed rant at the man in the middle – the type that Neil Warnock would’ve been proud of – but Burton was unwavered after Campbell got back up and declared himself fit to continue.
Around the 10 minute mark Fisher started to up the ante and Williams-Agunabor had to be alert to turn over a fizzing centre from Alfie Roche after the midfielder had been released down the right-hand side.
Jordan Adekunle then found himself in space on the opposite flank in the 12th minute – his low cross stung the palms of Hagan and went out for a corner.
The next 10 minutes passed without many incidents of note as both sides looked nervy in possession and the Dockers blazed a couple of long-range efforts well over Payne’s crossbar.
The opener nearly came in the 21st minute though, when Akinwande’s brilliant cross from the right was header just over by Roche.
The away side then took the lead in the 27th minute, following some sloppy play in the Fish midfield. Al-Hassan Oshilaja gave away a cheap free-kick on the right-hand side, which was taken by Ajeon and somehow evaded everyone to find its way into the back of the Fisher net. Payne will feel he could’ve kept out the set-piece.
The goal seemed to settle some Dockers nerves and the away side had chances to double their lead shortly after making the breakthrough. First Thomas Youngs shot straight at Payne after being put through, then only a last-minute interception from Oshilaja denied Richard Morgan an opportunity to make it 2-0 from 10 yards out.
Fisher fell asleep in the 41st minute as they gave Morgan the freedom of the penalty area to pick his spot and Payne made a splendid save to keep the score down. McCrae tucked home the rebound from two yards out but he was clearly in an offside position.
So it was against the run of play when Fisher equalized right on the stroke of half-time. Tarbie whipped a cross into the penalty area, where Max Rothwell was lurking and the midfielder beat his marker to force the ball home and restore parity.
There was a half-time change as Ikechi Eze came on for his Fisher debut, replacing Oshilaja in midfield.
A poor decision from the linesman halted a good move from Fisher in the 53rd minute, as Haidarovic had flicked the ball onto Adenkule in space. The winger had a free run on goal, but was left befuddled as he was adjudged to have been offside.
McCrae spurned a glorious chance to give his side the lead for the second time two minutes later –he could only plant his header wide after latching onto a superb cross from Youngs.
Frazer Bent was introduced in the 60th minute and his impact was almost immediate as he saw his low shot well kept out by Hagan just moments after coming on for Roche.
Bent then latched onto Akinwande’s accurate through ball and closed in on goal but the referee blew for offside when it appeared that the forward was level with play.
It was Erith’s turn to strike next, and they were unfortunate not to score a second as Payne made a fabulous point-blank save from Youngs in the 68th minute.
Chances were at a premium in the final 20 minutes and it looked as though Fisher’s luck was out when Adenkule sprung the Dockers’ offside trap once more in the 79th minute, yet was denied by a flag.
A draw seemed the only outcome when Fisher wasted a 90th minute free-kick in the centre-circle – Jake McIntyre fired the dead ball straight at Payne even though he had several bodies to aim for.
But Haidarovic made sure he had the last word with a dramatic goal in the dying embers of the game. With time running out, the striker ran onto Tarbie’s teasing cross and shot low into the corner of the net.
The ensuing celebrations were that of a squad with a real togetherness and a never-say-die-attitude.
Moods were dampened however, when Dockers defender Paul Springett had to be brought off on a stretcher after he fell awkwardly in the Fisher box in injury time. The post-match news was positive though – the injury to his right foot does not appear as serious as it first looked.
The win means Fisher remain in 19th place in the SCEFL, with 28 points from 30 games. Crucially, they are now 6 points clear of bottom-placed Erith Town – who occupy the only relegation spot and have taken 22 points from 31 games.
Fisher are next in action this Saturday as they take on 14th-placed Deal Town at Champion Hill in a 3pm kick-off. Entry is only £5 so make sure you’re there to back the Fish to the hilt.
Fisher: Charlie Payne, Kieron Tarbie, Jake McIntyre, Al-Hassan Oshilaja (Ikechi Eze 46), Mike Aziaya, Hassan Janneh, Alfie Roche (Frazer Bent 60), Max Rothwell, Luke Haidarovic, Femi Akinwande, Jordan Adekunle (Troy Abbey 73). Unused Subs: Ali Musa, Chas Davis
