Match Report: Fisher 1-4 Faversham Town

Fisher 1-4 Faversham Town
Saturday 27 January
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsors: Millwall Community Trust – www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/

Scorer: Charles Yiadom-Konadu (40 mins)
Attn: 182

Fisher are still searching for their first league win of 2024 after a 1-4 home defeat to promotion hopefuls Faversham Town. As in all the recent defeats, Fisher had some good moments in the game and in midfield were the equal to their hosts, but key moments in both final thirds ultimately cost the Fish.
Faversham, under the new management of experienced Tommy Warrilow, came out flying, evident by some urgent pressing of the Fisher back line straight from the kick off. Faversham continued to push forward and former Fish, Kieron Campbell, fizzed a long range effort just wide of the post as an early warning of intent. Within six minutes the attacking strategy had paid off for the visitors as a poor Fisher decision to compete for a ball in the corner, with the forward going nowhere, conceded a needless free kick. Billy Bennett struck the kick low and hard and keeper Sam Nwabuko could only shovel the ball away as it took a difficult bounce in front of him as he dived to his right, but unfortunately found it’s way to the prolific Stefan Payne, who was playing at Step Two last season, to tuck the ball home from close range.
The onslaught on the Fisher goal continued at pace and Matt Newman went close, heading a half chance on to the top of the net, before on thirteen minutes Faversham doubled their lead. Prince Imoru’s header away of high ball into the box saw Sam Hassler first to the second ball, controlling it on his chest and driving to the edge of the box where his fired a swerving shot that beat Nwabuko and tucked inside the far post.
Fisher tried to find a way back into the game and Michael Sarpong powered a twenty five yard effort just over the bar after a defensive header fell kindly to him. Sarpong again went close when finding space at the back of the box from a deep corner but could not force his header on target.
Fisher’s task became even harder when on thirty three minutes a clever free kick routine saw Hassler double his tally. Bennet and Hassler stood over the ball and with Hassler eventually shooting as Nwabuko moved to cover the outside of the wall, only for Hassler to clip it inside where Bennett had looked more likely to place it, to find the net for Faversham’s third.
Fisher did manage to pull a goal back five minutes before half time. Sarpong’s delivery into the box was headed clear but only found Charles Yiadom-Konadu, who juggled the ball with his first two touches before sublimely hitting it with the outside of his left foot on the volley into the top far corner – a touch of genius from the midfield maestro.
The second half saw Fisher start brightly. They really should have reduced the arrears to a single goal as clever work by Teddy Jones and Yaidom-Konadu fed Thomas Ngegba in the left side of the penalty area, but despite space and time his effort was scuffed and the keeper gathered easily. Another good chance came and went when from a similar position to Faversham’s second goal, Fisher were awarded a free kick, but Yaidom-Konadu’s effort hit the wall. The two chances encapsulated the difference between the sides in the precision in taking chances.
Another carelessly given away free kick on seventy one minutes wrapped the game up as Bennett’s clipped delivery from the left was neatly headed in by Matt Newman to restore the visitors three goal lead. Fisher again looked for an unlikely way back and a good cameo from substitute Sineen Sineen gave the attack more edge, with the keeper saving well at his near post on two occasions after good work form Sineen set up chances for Jones and Yiadom-Konadu.
However, Faversham were just too strong for the Fish and only a good save form Nwabuko in the final moments and an offside flag stopped the visitors adding to their score late on.
It has been a tough few weeks for the young Fisher side, with games against the divisions front runners and there will be, on paper, easier opposition to come. The key will be to take the chances when they come and cut out the individual defensive errors which against the quality of top five sides will always be punished.