MATCH REPORT: Corinthian 1-2 Fisher

Corinthian 1-2 Fisher
Saturday 30 November 2024
SCEFL Premier Division

Attn: 102
Scorers: Courtney Barrington (55 mins) and Armani-Jordan Martin (69 mins – pen)

Goal Highlights: Fisher Film Crew – watch here

Fisher produced one their finest away performances of many a season, to defeat Corinthian 2-1 at Gay Dawn Farm, recording their first win at the venue since August 2011.
After recent disappointing results in cup competitions Fisher needed to bounce back to stay in the play-off race and were buoyed by being able to name a strong starting line up with Mayvin Vigneswaran returning at the heart of defence. They were further helped by an excellent playing surface, despite the recent wet weather, and so were able to quickly drop into playing a fluid passing game with both wingers, Courtney Barrington and Jacob Katonia seeing plenty of ball on the flanks and causing both full backs problems. Jack Gibbons saw an early header at the back post hit the side netting after Fisher had forced the first corner of the game.
Despite playing up the hill Fisher pushed their hosts back into their own half and with Charles Yiadom-Konadu pulling the strings in midfield, in a virtuoso display of ball control and tricks, Fisher were able to create several good chances for Kesna Clarke, as firstly he was sent clear down the left channel, having outpaced his marker, but saw his shot from just inside the area beaten away by Boamah in the Corinthian goal, with Jacob Katonia’s chipped effort to clear the retreating defenders from the rebound, just drifting wide of the upright. Then after good work down the right from Armani-Jordan Martin beating his man and getting to the by line, Clarke fired the pull back goalwards, only for Boamah to make a tremendous reflex save and deny the Fisher forward. At the other end Corinthian troubled Fisher little on rare sorties into the Fisher defensive third, a header from a corner flashing wide being the closest the came in the first half along with a couple of routine saves from Isaac Ogunseri’s from weak shots at the well placed stopper.
The second spell saw Fisher have the advantage of the slope and it took just ten minutes to make the breakthrough courtesy of some individual brilliance from Courtney Barrington. There seemed little danger when the prolific winger picked up the ball wide of the left of the area, but he cut inside his marker and took his shot early to send a pinpoint low curling effort which wrongfooted the keeper and nestled inside the far post for his tenth goal of the season.
Rather than sit back and defend their lead Fisher continued to play the game on front foot with Jacob Katonia in electrifying form on the right, outpacing his markers and covering centre halves on several occasion, drawing a fine save at the near post from Boamah. Midway through the half Fisher got the second goal their enterprising play deserved. Having just warned the host keeper for pulling prior to a corner, the referee adjudged Clarke to have been pushed to the ground as the corner finally came in and amidst confusion from the player’s awarded a penalty that Armani-Jordan Martin confidently dispatched to double the lead.
Corinthian battled back in an attempt to get something out of the game, and this resulted in their best spell of the game as the finally found some attacking intent. On seventy three minutes they were rewarded with a curious penalty of their own, when Ange Djadja competed to clear a ball centred into the box, but presumably was penalised for, an unsighted by most, tug of the shirt. Oscar Housego successfully drove his effort down the centre of the goal to reduce the arrears and set up a nervy finish for the Fish. The back four stood firm and the constant closing and harrying from the front with Flavio Jumo excelling in front of the back four meant Corinthian found it hard to produce any pattern to their attacks. Substitute Teddy Jones had a great chance in injury time to ease the nerves when he was sent clear, but Boamah came out to save well, but a series of resulting corners and throw ins meant Fisher were able to see out the remaining five minutes deep in Corinthian’s own territory and ease any late pressure on their own goal to secure the vital and well earned three points.