MATCH REPORT: Fisher 2-0 Erith & Belvedere

Fisher 2-0 Erith & Belvedere
Saturday 14 December 2024
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 182
Scorers: Kesna Clarke (6 mins) and Flavio Jumo (41 mins)

Goal Highlights: Fisher Film Crew – watch here

A fine first half performance paved the way for a comfortable Fisher victory against Erith and Belvedere and cement Fisher’s place in third position in the SCEFL Premier Division.
Manager Ajay Ashanike had an almost full squad to select from, benefiting from the week’s rest having not had a game last Saturday. Salim Nassor returned to the starting eleven with Charles Yiadom-Konadu resting on the bench, alongside new signing Donald Macaulay.
However, it was Erith and Belvedere who made the brighter start and only an excellent save from Isaac Ogunseri stopped them from taking the lead inside the first two minutes. In truth though that was probably as good as the visitor’s afternoon was to get and four minutes later it was Fisher who did take the lead. Fine work from Courtney Barrington on the left wing saw him beat his marker and cut into the box and his low cross was expertly controlled by Kesna Clarke who despite having his back to goal, pinned the defender and swivelled to fire the ball home from eight yards out. Fisher thought they had doubled their advantage five minutes later when Clarke profited from a cross from the right, but bringing the ball down and then flicking it home from close range, he turned to see the offside flag denying him the goal. With Barrington running riot down the left flank, Fisher attacked at will and wasted two great opportunities to extend their lead. Firstly, Salim Nassor stole possession from a defender as Erith and Belvedere tried to play out from the back and slipped in Barrington to his left, who rounded the keeper but stumbled and was forced a little wider than he’d have liked so his shot only found the side netting. Then more enterprising attacking play from Fisher saw them recycle the ball from a half cleared corner, with Armani-Jordan Martin found on the overlap down the left by Barrington’s clever back heel and his whipped cross was headed powerfully just past the upright by the unmarked Ange Djadja who had stayed up in the attack.
As half time approached there was a worry that Fisher had not capitalised on a terrific half of football and turned the numerous chances into goals, but four minutes before the break, the second goal they deserved duly arrived. Barrington again nudged the ball past his marker, but this time rather than cutting in checked and pulled it back into the path of Flavio Jumo who opened out to place a precision shot out of the reach of Charlie Cottrell and inside the far post, much to the delight of the coaching staff who had spent Thursday evening’s training working on such a move.
The second half had less fluency, with Fisher content to sit a little deeper and the visitors lacking the craft to fashion any serious attempts on Ogunseri’s goal. On the break Fisher still looked threatening, with the pace of Katonia and Barrington a constant source of trouble for the visitors.
A series of substitutions did little to help the flow of the half as Fisher continued to work hard in midfield, with Jumo, Martin and Nassor winning most of the second balls and keeping Fisher on the front foot. Jacob Katonia forced Cottrell into a good save at his near post as Fisher looked to make the game safe, but despite the third not coming the game petered out a little going in the final stages. Flavio Jumo had a late chance to add his second and Fisher’s third but having wriggled past a defender and into the box his shot lacked power. Substitute Halim Bakre also saw a good chance pass by after his powerful run took him deep into the Erith and Belvedere box but couldn’t find the finish.
With second placed Faversham also winning Fisher remain in third place in the table, but with a four point gap over fourth placed Larkfield and New Hythe, setting up and exciting New Year for the hard working young side.