Abbo – We’ll score goals against anyone in this league. Erith Town 2 – 3 Fisher

The Fish got the Non-League Day weekend started in just the right way by putting their first win of the season together away to Erith Town on Friday evening. After the game boss Gary Abbott celebrated his first win back in the dugout, saying it felt like a bit of pressure had been lifted.

“It’s a great feeling to finally get a win. That will be a big weight off our shoulders, we have been 3-2 up with 10 minutes to go in 2 out of 3 games which we should have won. It was the same again last night but we managed to hold on, which I knew the boys had in them. It’s great to have that first notch against the ‘Win’ column.”

Abbo was impressed by the way the hosts applied themselves to the game, and clearly thinks that The Dockers’ position at the bottom of the table isn’t a true reflection of their play – “To be fair they dominated the first15 minutes, which is exactly what we expected from them, but once we got hold of the ball we dominated for the last half hour of the first half and it showed with 3 really well worked goals. The passing and movement of players was there for all to see, we will score goals against anyone in this league.”

Having raced into a three goal lead by the break, with goals from Joel Mensah, Scott Wason and that man Trey Williams again, there was an unfortunately similar feeling in the second 45, as the Fish’s grip on the game was loosened. Not for the first time this season Gary was left wondering what was amiss. “We all know the we have got to tighten up at the back. We were still comfortable after 60 mins, and to be fair Scott should have made it 4-0, but then they get a penalty which if anything was a foul on my defender. The Linesman said it wasn’t a pen, but  they score and it obviously gave them a massive lift. They went 3 up top, so I changed it around and we went 4 at the back. They pushed us all the way after that, they get a second goal with 5 to go, and what a great strike it was. With Erith building all the time our boys dug in to get that final result and what a relief that was. As a squad we know we need more experience so it is a massive credit to the boys for wanting to get out there and play; we are a young side that is going to grown and get better as the season goes on.”

Abbo’s last word was reserved for Joel Mensah, who got things going for the Fish in the 16th minute after a mix up at the back for Erith. “I left Joel out in the first game against Rochester and he asked me after the game why he wasn’t playing, which I really don’t mind. Since then he has played in 3 games, wasn’t fit for the defeat at Beckenham last week and we missed him. He is only a young lad but will be a player for the future; I’m sure that Dartford are keeping a close eye on his and he will get his chance there, but our aim is clearly that he stays with us for the whole season.”

Erith Town 2 – Fisher 3
Erith Town goals – Jack Mahon ’69, Lamin Bah ’86
Fish goals – Joel Mensa ’16, Trey Williams ’40, Scott Wason ’43

Fisher XI – Wadman, Taylor, Miller, Jabbie, Haidarovic, Mensah, McLeod-Bentley, Hussein, Wason, Williams, Adesina
Fisher subs – Roche, Ufuah, Izukanne (on for Taylor), Abbey & Thorne

Attendance – 75

Photo (C) Ian Bailey