MATCH REPORT: Greenways 2-0 Fisher – SCEFL Challenge Cup

Greenways 2-0 Fisher
Tuesday 12 November
SCEFL Challenge Cup Second Round

Attn: 70

Match Highlights: Ashley Hanson – watch here

A disjointed performance from Fisher saw them crash out of the SCEFL Challenge Cup, after a two nil defeat to Division One side, Greenways, under the lights in Rochester. Injuries and unavailability meant it was a fairly mix and match side that Fisher sent out, with two debutants and several players playing out of position, although this was not to take away from a deserved win for the hosts. Ivan Imasuen and Almame Ly Athie came in for debuts in the back line with Almame’s brother Abdoulaye filing in at right back. There were also starts for Teddy Jones, Halim Bakre and Tolu Junaid, with loanee Michael Sarpong returning to the side as he looks to find fitness.
Despite all the changes, Fisher made a lively start to the game and for the first half hour looked to be in control, just lacking a finish to put them ahead. From the first attack at the game Fisher nearly took the lead with a swirling cross come shot clawed away from under the bar by the keeper. Tolu Junaid was a particular threat on the right with several mazy runs and skilful footwork sending him clear on several occasions. A curling effort from Junaid had to be tipped over the bar and a flurry of yellow cards for the hosts saw several threatening free kicks sent it to the box. Teddy Jones was an ever eager runner and almost got onto the end of several through balls down the middle and clips over the top of the Greenways back line as Fisher continued to press.
However, the goal wouldn’t come and on thirty three minutes Fisher’s good start unravelled when defensive mishaps from the makeshift back line allowed Greenways to score twice in four minutes. Firstly, with keeper Isaac Ogunseri well out of position after taking a free kick in the corner, Fisher failed to win the first ball and a header back to the edge of the box was only half cleared and swept into the net from thirty yards by Harvey Donnelly, despite the despairing dive by Ogunseri as he scrambled to get back into position. Four minutes later Fisher’s task was made even harder as a deep delivery from a needlessly conceded corner found Andy Pierce unmarked the back of the box and with no one closing him, his low shot deflected off the hand of a Fisher player to wrong foot Ogunseri and sneak in at the near post, with the referee looking rather amused at the Greenway’s player’s claims for a penalty whilst the ball nestled in the back of the net.
Fisher battled to try and find a way back into the game with a goal before half time, but they couldn’t find the fluency of the first half hour and the goals had buoyed their hosts. With both sides reverting to five men midfields the game closed up and became scrappier. Fisher were further hampered when Michael Sarpong’s season long search for fitness proved unfruitful as he limped off shortly before half time. With Halim Bakre also struggling with a knock Fisher made two changes at the break with assistant manager Luke with and Courtney Barrington both coming on.
The substitutions lead to further positional changes and when Kesna Clarke and Josh Duyile were also introduced on the hour mark Fisher finally found a line-up that suited the five man midfield formation they had adopted. The quality of Fisher’s football improved somewhat in the last half hour, switching the ball wide more effectively with Jacob Katonia having far more influence on the left wing than he had been able to have in the middle, The goal, or even a clear shot on goal, simply would not come as Greenways defended their lead resolutely. The hosts could even have added to their score with Ogunseri doing well deflector back post shot onto his post and away for a corner. Fisher’s injury woes were worsened when Joshua Duyile was forced off later on With what look like a bad ankle injury, on a night Fisher will want to forget as the Challenge Cup campaign was brought to a sorry end by the final whistle.