Match Report: Fisher 2-0 Crowborough Athletic

Fisher 2-0 Crowborough Ath.
Monday 3 January 2022
3pm kick-off
SCEFL Premier Divison

Goalscorers:
Julio Da Mata (43)
Sam Edwards (76)

Photo credit – Non League Chronicles

A much needed return to form saw Fisher pick up three vital points against an in form Crowborough Athletic in the first game of 2022.
A debut for winger Esteban Solgado and the selection of midfielder Julio Da Mata as a free running centre forward were amongst the surprises when the team sheets were announced, but both decisions proved pivotal, with Solgado providing two assists and Da Mata scoring an exquisite opening goal in a high energy performance leading the line.
The visitor arrived at St Pauls with nine wins and a draw in their last ten league games, but there was little to suggest today’s performance was an indicator of the run they have been on, with neither side making use of the passing surface the 3G pitch provides and the busiest person I the opening twenty minutes was the ball collector as the surrounding trees were brought in play regularly!
The nearest to a goal came when Da Mata challenged the out rushing Crow’s keeper for a high through ball just outside the penalty area and with the rebound falling to Luke Thomas thirty yards out his lobbed effort was cleared by a retreating defender as it bounced goal wards with the goalkeeper stranded.
Crowborough’s Oli Hyland should have made more of the visitors opening chance but shot straight at Dan Carpanini from the edge of the box and at the other end Isaac Thompson went close when his driving run took him deep into the Crowborough half but his effort went over the bar.
With Sam Edwards pulling the strings in midfield Fisher looked the more likely to score and shortly before half time Fisher did take the lead. Solgado’s early release along the floor down the left channel allowed Da Mata to time his run to break the offside line and beat the outrushing keeper to the ball. However he had a lot to do having been forced out wide, but delightfully chipped the ball into the unguarded net from almost out by the far touchline.
The second half had more pace to it as Crowborough looked to preserve their impressive unbeaten run. Michael Sarpong had a fierce long range shot fizz past the post and Hyland hit the side netting from a cross come shot that looked to have deceived Carpanini.
With ten minutes remaining Fisher made the game safer and doubled their lead when a disputed corner saw Salado’s delivery nodded into the bottom left comer by Sam Edwards who had outjumped the Crows defence.
Fisher saw the game out from this point with few dramas, with Carpanini only required once to hold onto to a Funnell effort that the forward should have made more of. An impressive cameo in midfield from debutant Prince Imoru, on as substitute, kept Fisher moving forward and Michael Sarpong almost added third when wriggling to make room in the box and squeezing a low shot away that just crept past the far post. That was to be the last of the action with Fisher deservedly picking up the points.