Match Report: Tower Hamlets 0-7 Fisher

Tower Hamlets 0-7 Fisher
Monday 18th April 2022
SCEFL Premier Division
Scorers: David Luzolo (20, 40, 44 and 60 mins), Isaac Thompson (pen 58 min), Tommy Taylor (pen 80 min) AbdoullahTraore (88 min)

Fisher made the short trip to neighbours Tower Hamlets for their final away game of the season and treated the travelling faithful to a goal fest in the Bank Holiday sunshine, as they put their already relegated host to the sword.

With several players unavailable Fisher switched to a back three, with Luke Thomas and Temi Oladejo pushed up to wing back positions and David Luzolo supporting Isaac Thompson in a twin striker role. It was move that paid off handsomely as Fisher spent the game on the front foot and the Hamlets’ defence never really got to grips with the running threat of the forwards and the pressing of the wing backs.

An early free kick was wasted as Oladejo’s scuffed effort went wide of the post and several Fisher corners were just about cleared by a shaky looking defence. Jacob Katonia had the best chance to open the scoring when a surging run took him past several defenders but arrowing in on goal he fired high and wide when a calmer finish was required.

The Fish then thought they had taken the lead as another testing corner from Oladejo was headed onto the bar by a Hamlets’ defender, under pressure from Prince Imoru, and bounced off the line in a very similar manner to the goal Fisher conceded last week – however the referee was well placed to adjudge it had not crossed the line and the decision drew few complaints from the Fisher forwards.

The first goal had been coming though and duly arrived when Oladejo swung in a yet another corner and David Luzolo had space to rise well and head it powerfully into the net. With aerial dominance Fisher were looking a threat at every dead ball opportunity and Sam Fitzgerald almost doubled the lead when heading just over from a Thompson corner from the left.

The high press Fisher adopted was also causing problems for the hosts and when Katonia stole the ball and flicked on to Luzolo, he was able to power in the box and neatly tuck it low into the reverse corner for a second. Minutes later Luzolo had the perfect hat trick as having scored with a header and his right foot he pounced on hesitation in the Hamlets’ defence to slide home with his left to make it three nil. Isaac Thompson should have added a fourth goal just on half time as with time and space he received the ball on the left of the penalty area but shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

The second half quickly saw Fisher in control and after Fitzgerald and Sarpong had both gone close, the frustration of the hosts boiled over and their manager was sent off for abusing the referee – at three nil down with hardly a contentious decision in the game it seemed a puzzling turn of events. There was also little to debate about the penalty decision minutes later as Thompson was felled in the box when chasing onto a ball down the channel.

Despite both Luzolo and keeper Tommy Taylor wanting to take the kick, Thompson picked himself up to dispatch the spot kick and grab his eleventh goal of the campaign. Having not been allowed to take the penalty Luzolo still found a way to add his fourth of the day when running the right channel he turned inside his defender then shot low into the near corner to make it five nil, before being substituted for Abdoullah Traore.

A further substitution saw Katonia replaced by Patrick Hoy and Hoy was quickly in the thick of the action as when chasing a through ball he suddenly found himself goal side of the defender only to be tugged back in the box. The Hamlets defender was given a red card and this time Thompson passed the spot kick duties over to keeper Tommy Taylor who showed why he has been asking all season to take one, as he calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net to make it 6-0.

The game had now become a procession of Fisher attacks and player coach Michael Williams came on for his first appearance in Fisher colours and almost scored with his first touch when free on the left of the penalty area, but spooned his effort over – his coaching voice would have told him he should have done better!

There was still time for Fisher to grab a seventh. Thompson turned his man on half way and despite being hauled down flicked the ball into the path of substitute Traore who bore down on goal and calmly chipped the approaching keeper round off the scoring.

The 32 travelling fans were in fine voice behind the goal, enjoying both the sunshine and the goals bonanza, making the final away day of the season a carnival like affair. With one more game to go, at home to K Sports next week, Fisher will be looking to keep their unbeaten April run and goal scoring spree going.