Fisher were forced to settle for a hard fought and well-earned point when Lordswood visited Champion Hill on Saturday.
Lordswood had plenty of chances throughout a less than memorable opening half hour, with Fisher limited to a couple of half chances, the best of which came from a corner although the resulting header went well wide of the target. Lordswood’s best effort of the opening 30 minutes saw a well hit long range effort bounce off the cross bar.
With under ten minutes to play until half-time, Lordswood broke forward and some scrappy defending from Fisher looked to have dealt with the problem. The referee then blew his whistle to signal a free-kick on the edge of the Fisher penalty area, which everyone expected to be awarded to Fisher. The referee had other ideas and awarded it to Lordswood. Callum McGeehan stepped up and his curled shot hit the back of the net before Fish goalkeeper Jack Kelly could react.
With Lordswood now in front, they started to take control and the end of the first half, and first couple of minutes of the second half were bossed by the visitors.
Then it was Fisher’s turn to take charge. A well placed Danny Maguire free kick three minutes into the second half was begging for a touch, but sadly none came and the ball scampered behind for a Lordswood goal kick.
Then, in the 50th minute, Troy Abbey found time and space in the box to turn and send a strike under the goalkeeper to draw the hosts level, much to the delight of an unusually small Fisher following.
Just two minutes later, Kieron Campbell jinked his way in to the box, fending off a couple of defenders and the visitors’ goalkeeper before firing home to put Fisher ahead. Fisher, now ahead, finally settled in to the game and started to strut around in defence and midfield, with Jack Kelly, Aaron Seales and a few others all showing skill and fluency on the ball under continuous pressure from the Lordswood midfielders.
A cheeky back heeled effort from Campbell could well have doubled Fisher’s advantage, but the lack of power meant Highsted was able to make an easy save.
Minutes later, Lordswood broke forward down the middle and Piers Hanifan did really well to get back, stick with the man on the ball and finally, throw in a great tackle to break the move down. Although he did concede a corner, it meant Fisher’s out of position players could regroup to deal with the pressure, which they did with a degree of comfort. Looking to settle the game, Fisher broke forward several times with long balls to Campbell, who was repeatedly caught offside.
With the game well into the last ten minutes Lordswood defender Neil Perkins saw red after picking up two bookings, the second of which was awarded for a deliberate handball offence. Just a minute later, goalscorer McGeehan was booked for a poorly timed challenge as Lordswood started to lose their discipline.
But with Lordswood now down to ten men, Fisher still could not prevent an equaliser. Winger Rhys Lawson, a danger all game, attacked the byline and his deflected strike got the better of Jack Kelly to level the score.
Then in stoppage time, McGeehan was awarded a second yellow card (resulting in a red), which reduced Lordswood to nine for the last couple of minutes. Fisher couldn’t take advantage and the game ended with the scores level at 2-2.
FISHER: JACK KELLY, AARON SEALES (MIKE DAMAROLA 90), DANNY MAGUIRE, TOM CARR, DANNY WILLIS, BILLY WALTON, JUNIOR FATAI, HARRY DRAPER, TROY COPELAND (KIERON CAMPBELL 46), PIERS HANIFAN, TROY ABBEY. UNUSED SUBS: SHAQUILLE RICHARDS, BRYAN ZEPO
ATTENDANCE: 71
