MATCH REPORT: Rusthall 0-3 Fisher

Rusthall 0-3 Fisher
Saturday 31 August 2024
SCEFL Premier Division

Attn: 171
Scorers: Courtney Barrington (70 mins), Armani-Jordan Martin (76 mins), Perez Goumou (80 mins)

Fisher continued their climb up the SCEFL Premier division with a dominant win over Rusthall, to complete back to back 3-0 victories. Mayvin Vigneswaran coming in for Tyron Mbuenimo and Armani-Jordan-Martin starting in place of Michael Sarpong were the only changes from the midweek win over Stansfeld, but the side were buoyed by the return of talisman Charles Yiadom-Konadu and new signing Perez Goumou on the bench.
Fisher started in impressive fashion, making first use of the slope and early chances saw Teddy Jones flash an effort across the face of the goal and Armani-Jordan Martin fire just wide of the upright. There was little let up for the hosts as Fisher dominated play, eagerly pressing the Rusthall back line as they looked to play out, trapping them in their own half. Good work on the left from Courtney Barrington, linking up with Ed Sata saw a fine delivery into the box headed just wide by Jake Lovell with the keeper looking beaten, as it looked only a matter of time until Fisher broke the deadlock. However, despite territorial dominance, the goal wouldn’t come and when Jake Lovell broke clear but sliced his shot wide of the near post, it felt like it might be one of those days when the were made to pay for not taking the chances.
As the half wore on Rusthall finally found some attacking intent and some good passing in midfield found their forwards dropping into pockets, but a well marshalled defence kept them at distance and a wild shot, high and wide of Isaac Ogunseri’s goal, was the closest the host’s came before the break.
The half time whistle brought puzzlement as to quite how Fisher had managed to be so on top without leading and the change of ends on the restart did little to change the flow of the game, as the Fish continued to take the game to Rusthall. With both Jack Gibbons and Ed Sata in the full back roles providing a continuous supply of good through balls down the channels, Fisher attacked at will. Just before the hour mark Fisher conjured up their best chance so far, as Lovell’s good work on the right saw his cross bounce dangerously into the area and Barrington’s stooped header was saved on the line by the home keeper.
Martin, Brown and Barrington then saw efforts all blocked by a massed defence, as Fisher struggled to find a clear sight of goal, but that all changed with the introduction of Charles Yiadom-Konadu. Within five minutes of coming on he picked up a short corner and a drop of the shoulder and shuffle of the feet sent him clear along the by line and his low cross found its way through to Courtney Barrington, who controlled with one touch and fired home with the second, from six yards out.
The goal was no less than Fisher deserved and saw them continue to press forward with Salim Nassor and Yiadom-Konadu teasing and probing with a constant supply of through balls and passes. Fisher added their second with fifteen minutes to play, as a series of intricate passes found Armani-Jordan Martin on the left hand edge of the penalty area and he skipped past a couple of defenders as he took the ball to a more central position before firing a low shot back into the reverse corner of the net. Five minutes later Fisher wrapped up the game when debutant substitute Perez Goumou was on the end of Lovell’s cross to slam the ball home for Fisher’s third.
Diego Makesa came close to turning home Goumou’s cross to add a fourth before a timely Ange Djadja tackle prevented Rusthall grabbing a late consolation goal and they were further denied by an excellent smothering save from Isaac Ogunseri in the final moments. However, the final whistle signalled back to back clean sheets and another three points from a highly impressive performance.