Match Report: Fisher 0-3 Corinthian

Fisher 0-3 Corinthian
Saturday 6 January
3pm kick-off
SCEFL Premier Division

Match Sponsor: Ian Murphy
Matchball Sponsors: Millwall Community Trust – www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/

Attn: 206

Fisher’s opening game of 2024 saw them fall to a 3-0 defeat against a very strong Corinthian side, despite an even, goalless first half.
The Fish welcomed back Julio Da Mata, Tyron Mbuenimo, Kaylam Burgess and Andres Tobon into the starting line up and for large periods of the first half were a good match for their visitors who arrived at St Paul’s on the back of six consecutive league victories.
The first half was played a great pace with both sides moving the ball about quickly and Corinthian’s pacy midfield stretching the game. Some confusion at the back with a short pass from his defence, forced Fisher keeper Samuel Nwabuko into an early save as both sides saw early sights of goal. At the other end a swirling cross-come-shot from Kaylam Burgess had the visiting keeper back peddling nervously, but dropped harmlessly over the bar.
Billy Brown on the right wing was causing trouble for the visiting defence, getting around the back of his marker on several occasions and putting in some dangerous crosses, but the Corinthian central defence pairing including former Fish, Sam FitzGerald were the equal of them. When Brown combined well with Thomas Ngegba and Flavio Jumo only a well-timed challenge in the box stopped a shot as the route to goal seemed to open.
The half ended with a huge chance for Corinthian as Fisher only half cleared a late corner and a chip back into the box gave Sam FitzGerald a free header from eight yards out, but his glanced effort was just wide of the post.
The half time whistle saw the game still goalless after a high tempo half with both teams feeling the points were there to be won on the second half.
The second spell however saw Corinthian the far stronger out the blocks. Fisher struggled to get a foothold in the opposition half. With a lot of the play in Fisher’s half it was not surprising they conceded several corners and free kicks around the box and on fifty five minutes they allowed Corinthian one too many dead ball deliveries with the prolific Charlie Clover heading home from close range at what looked the second attempt.
Fisher tried to rally but with Billings and Fitzgerald dominating in the air they found it hard to build up aby sustained pressure in the final third of the pitch and Tobon and Brown on either wing were not being brought into the game sufficiently to cause problems down the flanks or get behid the Corintihian back line. Fisher readied changes with Michael Sarpong, Ibrahim Kamara and Ben Sangare set to come on to add fresh legs and ideas, but before they could make the changes Corinthian doubled the lead. A break down the left allowed Michael Hagan a shot at goal and having not quite got his angles right the ball flew in low at the near post past Nwabuko.
It was clear the second goal had sealed the points and whilst Kamara showed some good touches down the right, his dangerous crosses could not find a Fisher foot and the rare sorties onto the final third came to nothing and Fsiher lacked the aerial presence to cause problems from Burgess and Sumithran’s diaginal crossesfrom deep into the box.
Five minutes from time Corinthian added gloss to their victory with a third goal. Another low delivery from a dead ball was turned in by Sam Fitzgerald getting across the defence inside the six yard box with Fisher a little flat footed in reacting.
Whilst it was a closer game than the scoreline suggests, particularly from the first half showing there was little doubt Corinthian were the stronger side and on current form will certainly be in the promotion shake up come late April. Fisher will certainly have easier opponents, although their January fixture list may prove otherwise with games against title prospects Deal Town and Faversham Town to come in what looks a tough month.