MATCH REPORT: Fisher 4-2 Larkfield & New Hythe

Fisher 4-2 Larkfield & New Hythe
Saturday 4 January 2025
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 194
Scorers: Kesna Clarke (29 mins, 56 mins), Armani-Jordan Martin (45 mins), Jake Lovell (83 mins)

Goal Highlights: Fisher Film Crew – watch here
Photo Credit – Dave Anderson – full album

Fisher continued their fine recent form, that has taken them into third spot in the league, with a well-earned 4-2 win over fourth placed Larkfield and New Hythe, to keep themselves firmly in the race for the play offs. An injury picked up at training deprived Fisher of winger Courtney Barrington, but they were boosted by Armani-Jordan Martin’s recovery from illness to take his place in midfield, allowing Jake Lovell to switch back to the wing.
On a cold and dark afternoon, the game quickly warmed the crowd as both sides started at good pace. If anything, Fisher were too rushed and frantic and may have benefited from more control in their build up play and longer spells of possession as the game became a little basketball like with both sides pushing forward quickly. It was Isaac Ogunseri who was the busier of the two keepers though, being required to make a couple of early regulation saves.
The opening goal arrived on the half hour, as good midfield work from Charles Yiadom-Konadu found Armani-Jordan Martin in space and slipped a well-paced through ball between the centre backs from Kesna Clarke to run onto and nudging the ball into space he swept the ball across Lee-Wharton in the visitors’ goal and into the far corner. The lead was to last barely two minutes as Larkfield attacked down the left wing on a quick counter attack and whilst it appeared the Fisher defence had done enough to hold up the attack, the ball was pulled back to former Fish Bryan Zepo, who was given too much space inside the area allowing him to control and smash the ball goalwards which after a deflection left Ogunseri with no chance of blocking.
Fisher were then dealt a blow, as left back Ed Sata pulled up sharply, whilst seeing a ball out of play, with a hamstring issue. Don Macaulay came on with Jack Gibbons switching from right to left back, with both then having very confident games for the remaining hour. The equaliser led to Larkfield’s best spell of the game and Fisher had to defend a number of corners and free kicks as the half wore on. On the stroke of half time Fisher retook the lead. Yiadom-Konadu has seen his effort parried for a corner, and as the ball was delivered into the box a resulting scramble saw Ange Djadja bundled over, with the referee pointing to the spot. It took a full three minutes for the referee to quell the resulting protests and Djadja to receive treatment, but after consultation with his assistant the penalty stood and Armani-Jordan Martin confidently slammed the ball in to the corner to the keeper’s right.
Fisher started the second half strongly, with desire to win the second balls and the pace on the flanks to chase the ball when released causing the visitors problems. However, Larkfield were still a threat in attack moving the ball around their forwards well to create space forcing Fisher to concede a dangerous looking free kick. As the kick was blocked by the wall, Fisher set off on a devasting counter-attack, with Jacob Katonia released by Flavio Jumo and his cross reached Kesna Clarke who emphatically slammed home his second of the day and eleventh of the season.
Larkfield still didn’t give up and continued to press but Fisher defence stood firm, with the centre back pairing of Djadja and Vigneswaran excelling, although a long through ball almost caught them ought as Ogunseri rushed from his goal and collided with a Larkfield forward to earn a booking, but the free kick came to nothing. Ten minutes from time, Fisher added a fourth from another lightening break. This time it was Jake Lovell who was sent away down the left and he raced int the box before checking back inside his marker and curling his shot into the far corner. Fisher saw the game out well but in the final minute of the six added, Larkfield scored a consolation second, as a cross come shot from the left by Ross Ibbotson deceived Ogunseri and flew in. It was to be virtually the last kick of the game though, with the three points firmly with the Fish and setting up next week’s game away at table topping Faversham Town nicely.