MATCH REPORT: Fisher 0-1 Holmesdale

Fisher 0-1 Holmesdale
Tuesday 3 September
SCEFL Premier Division

Match Sponsors: Gavin Witt, Stephen Playford, Emma Glass, Jake Dear, Roma Tmava and Tyler Ardley
Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 161
Photo Credit: John Cronin

Fisher were edged out in a tight game under the lights at St Paul’s, as a single second half goal from visitors Holmesdale took the points and in the process went to the top of the SCEFL Premier Division.
Manager Ajay Ashanike was forced into changes from Saturday’s fine win at Rusthall , with Teddy Jones on holiday and Salim Nassor delayed by transport problems, meaning a first start for youngster Kristian Cato-Barrett and a recall for Michael Saprong.
The opening exchanges were fairly even, with both sides looking to get the ball down and play. Holmesdale threatened with the pace of their front two whilst Fisher looked lively down the flanks. An offside flag halted the Daler’s Jack Church as he looked to break through, in the games first chance, much to his frustration as after the whistle he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net to which the referee turned a lenient blind eye.
Just after the half hour mark Fisher created the best chance of the half. Some excellent passing on the right between Jack Gibbons and Jake Lovell released Kristian Cato-Barrett, who cut in to the box, but his drilled cross was turned over the bar by Lovell, arriving late into the penalty area, with the Holmesdale defence pulled out of shape for once.
Holmesdale continued to cause problems with some bright passing in the Fisher half and the speed of their forwards needed close marshalling from the impressive Ange Djadja, with Fisher ending the half having to do a fair bit of work in their own defensive third.
The second spell continued in the same manner with both sides playing some slick football. Two early substitutions for Fisher, with Salim Nassor coming on for Saprong and Perez Goumou for Cato-Barrett seemed to affect Fisher’s concentration and within two minutes of the changes they were behind. An initial attack was thwarted when Church raced through to beat the outcoming Ogunseri and lofted the ball goalward, but Vigneswaran did well to cover and clear as the ball come off the post, blocking the rebound for a corner. However, the corner was not well defended and failure to compete for the second ball after some head tennis, allowed the unlikely figure of centre back Don Macauley to slam the ball home from twelve yards out.
The tight game always looked like a single goal may be enough to settle it and Holmesdale battened down the hatches in two banks of four and looked to absorb all Fisher could throw at them. There was no shortage of effort and endeavour from the Fish as they laid siege to the Holmesdale goal looking for an equaliser, immediately forcing a succession of corners and free kicks around the box, However, a well drilled defence stood strong.
A long throw from Billy Brown saw a relieved Holmesdale defender, as the ball flicked off his head and flew just wide of the far post and Salim Nassor almost struck a wonder goal drilling the ball first time form full fifty yards only for a back peddling keeper to finger-tip the ball away for a corner, as Fisher continued to press. Further changes from the bench, which whilst adding extra effort, did seem to affect the flow, as the formations changed with Billy Brown ending the game at left back and rather than patiently breaking down the determined rearguard Fisher became hurried and frantic. Late chances did come, both in added time, but alas fell to substitutes who were perhaps not et in tune with the game and Alvin Reji saw his effort from Josh Duyile’s excellent drag back, saved when the goal gaped, and Diego Makesa saw a goal bound header blocked by a flying defender possibly by as much luck as judgement, but it was enough to seal the points for the top of the table bound visitors and consign Fisher to another home defeat.