MATCH REPORT: Fisher 0-1 Faversham Town

Fisher v Faversham Town
Saturday 24th August
Isuzu FA Vase First Qualifying Round

Match Sponsors: Available
Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn:173

Photo Credit: Dave Anderson – Full Album

A hardworking Fisher performance was not enough to see them progress against a strong Faversham Town in the FA Vase, going down to a solitary first half goal in a game of few clear chances for either side.
Both teams opted for narrow formations, with Fisher sitting deeper to play on the counter and as a result they cancelled each other out in a cagey opening to the game. It was Fisher who carved the first chance with a well worked move as Diego Makesa picked out Jake Lovell on the right and he tucked the ball inside for Jack Gibbons whose shot come cross almost caught keeper Jacob Russell unaware at the near post.
Faversham’s early threat came from the long throws from ether flank and from one of these, Billy Bennett fired in a low shot from the edge of the box, which was deflected away for a corner.
Some good fortune almost gifted Fisher the lead midway through the half as Jack Gibbons slipped forward from right back and his delivery into the box deflected off a Faversham defender forcing the keeper to shovel the ball over his crossbar. Another Faversham throw caused problems when Sam Hasler was given to much space and fired in a low shot from distance that Isaac Ogunseri had to push away for a corner, but it was little respite for the Fish, as on half an hour they fell behind. A floated cross from the right by Hasler found the former Bermondsey schoolboy, Ben Gorham, and his looped header dropped off the underside of the bar leaving Jake Lovell an impossible task to keep the ball out.
Faversham looked to use the goal to take control of the game and Ogunseri had to save well with his feet to block a one on one chance for Tashi-Jay Kwayie, but Fisher weathered the pressure to go into the break still very much in the tie despite trialling by the only goal.
Fisher came out from the break with a forced change as Diego Maseka made way for returnee Michael Sarpong and tweaked the formation to play two up front, but it was Faversham who created the first chance of the half when Kwayie shot from the edge of the box across Ogunseri but harmlessly past the far post.
Alvin Reji forced the Faversham keeper to gather at his near post when heading on a long Billy Brown throw as Fisher started to look more of a threat to the Faversham back line. However, it took a good low save from Ogunseri to deny Bennett to keep Fisher in the hunt.
Fisher managed to mount some late pressure. Good work on the left from Ed Sata and Courtney Barrington saw the latter’s cross reach Tyron Mbuenimo but his header looped off target. Fisher then went even closer when Armani-Jordan Martin floated in a corner and Jack Gibbons found space to glance a header that looked to have beaten everyone but agonisingly flew just wide of the post.
With Faversham managing injury time well Fisher tried in vain to fashion a final chance to take the game to penalties, but the ball wouldn’t drop kindly from a couple of scrambles inside the box and when Armani-Jordan Martin fired a half chance on the edge of the box over the bar the game was done with fisher bowing out of both FA competitions at the first hurdle.