MATCH REPORT: Clapton CFC 1-6 Fisher

Clapton Community 1-6 Fisher
Tuesday 23 July
Pre Season Friendly

Attn: 175
Scorers: Seb Boyd (10 mins), Courtney Barrington (18 mins), Shaun Omogbai (31 mins), Diego Makesa (71 mins), Bobby Russell (88 mins), Jojo Kinzonzi (90 mins)

Fisher completed their pre-season programme with an emphatic 6-1 victory over SCEFL Division One newcomers Clapton Community, at the historic Old Spotted Dog Ground in East London.
A decent pre-season crowd of around 200, including many travelling Fisher fans, were treated to an enterprising attacking performance from the Fish, who adapted well to the lush grass surface. There were several trialists amongst the Fisher line up, that in the main featured those squad players with less game time under their belts so far in pre-season and included two sixteen year olds from the Fisher Youth set up.
Fisher were quickly in the ascendency with good pressing and harrying , keeping Clapton penned into their own half and on ten minutes the took the lead. Good closing by the Fisher forwards hurried the keeper into a misplaced clearance which was intercepted thirty yards out by Seb Boyd. The newly signed midfielder smashed the ball back into the goal before the retreating keeper could set himself to save.
Minutes later Fisher doubled the advantage, as on trial, former Herne Bay forward, Courtney Barrington, again hurried the Clapton back line into an error and winning the ball he glided into the box and slipped it effortlessly into the net.
Fisher were moving the ball well and making good use of Barrington and Tolu Junaid on each wing. Junaid saw a fierce shot, after a mazy run, parried away and several dangerous crosses were put into the box as Fisher looked to wrap up the game early on.
Clapton showed some threat up top though and a stunning double save from youngster Sam Nwabuko stopped them from pulling a goal back. Clapton were to regret not taking the chances as Fisher added a third on the half hour mark. Quick passing between Boyd and Barrington saw the latter slip the ball into the path of trialist Shaun Omogbai, who rounded the keeper and tucked the ball into the empty net. As half time approached, Nwabuko again saved well to deny a Clapton forward, to ensure Fisher went into the break with their three goal lead intact.
The second spell saw Fisher continue with the same energy and intensity. Josh Duyile came off the bench to provide even further attacking menace, showing good speed and foot work on the right wing. From a corner his work earned, Fisher made it four, midway through the half. The deep corner was headed back across the area and only half cleared to Deigo Maseka. The youngster brought the ball down skilfully off his chest and slammed it low on the volley into the corner of the net, possibly taking a slight deflection enroute.
Clapton still showed spirit and Nwabuko again saved well to smoother a goal bound effort on the line from a close range follow up shot, after a header from a Clapton corner had bounced back off the bar. The hosts finally got their reward with ten minutes to play when Cameron Gordon burst down the right and cut into the box before unleashing a powerful low drive into the net.
The goal woke Fisher up again and in the closing stages they confirmed their superiority with two further goals. Firstly, good work around the box recycled the ball to find sixteen year old Bobby Russell well placed fifteen yards out and he picked his spot to convert at the far post with a low shot. Then on the stroke of full time Fisher’s sixth came after Jojo Kinzonzi spun his marker and carried the ball into the box before finishing with aplomb to cap a good night for the Fish.
Plenty of players staked claims for places in the opening league game squad on Saturday and several of the trialists will have done their chances of being signed no damage at all.