MATCH REPORT: Fisher 2-2 Corinthian

Fisher 2-2 Corinthian
Saturday 25 January 2025
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 294
Scorers: Charles Yiadom-Konadu (33 mins), Ange Djadja (55 mins)

Extended Highlights: AJH Vision – watch here
Goal Footage: Fisher FIlm Crew – watch here

A late penalty forced Fisher to settle for their third draw in successive games as they shared the spoils in an end to end 2-2 draw with Corinthian at St Paul’s in front of an enthralled crowd of 294. With a virtually full squad to select from Fisher welcomed back Charles Yiadom-Konadu in midfield with Jacob Katonia preferred to Jake Lovell on the wing, having caused Corinthian a lot of problems in the reverse game earlier this season. Centre back Mayvin Vigneswaran passed a late fitness test to take up his position at the heart of the defence.
It was the visitors though who were to make the better start with their bold 433 formation causing Fisher some early problems as Isaac Ogunseri had to make a fine reflex save to beat away a close range effort. With just six minutes on the clock the opening goal arrived. A lofted ball forward drew the Fisher defence out of shape and the ball was flicked wide for Oscar Housego to rifle a low drive that Ogunseri could only tip onto the post and was then beaten to the ball as it rolled along the goal line by Mefose Esumobi, who nudged it into the net to give Corinthian a deserved lead.
The goal woke Fisher up and they started to force their way into the game with some good link up play in midfield as Yiadom-Konadu pulled the strings with a mesmerising display of skills. A mix up in the heart of the Corinthian defence gave Fisher a sight of goal but it was deflected away for a corner off the foot of the post, and then Yiadom-Konadu sent in a rasping drive from distance that just lifted over the bar having slipped through two tackles with more dazzling footwork. The equaliser came on thirty three minutes. A free kick on halfway was nudged forward to Yiadom-Konadu on the right of the penalty area and bamboozling a series of defenders with feints and drag-backs he danced his way along the edge of the area into the D, before finding space with a final drop of shoulder to rifle an unstoppable effort in off the underside of the bar. A true moment of individual brilliance from the virtuoso. Fisher ended the half very much in the ascendancy with some good pressure on the Corinthian goal. Fine work from Courtney Barrington on the left saw him combine with Jack Gibbons and cut into the box but after he went over under pressure from a defender only saw him pick up a yellow card as the ref interpreted his tumble as a dive. The Corinthian keeper quickly followed him into the book the delaying the restart as the card count started to mount in unnecessary fashion.
Fisher started the second half strongly. Kesna Clarke flashed an early chance past the post and a series of corners put the Corinthian goal under heavy pressure with the Armani-Jordan Martin’s delivery always a threat. When he was given another chance to deliver from a free kick to the right of the penalty area his whipped in cross skimmed off a Corinthian defender’s head and Courtney Barrington’s subsequent effort at the back post was beaten away, only falling as far as Ange Djadja who was able to drive the ball low through the keeper’s legs into the net to give Fisher the lead.
Fisher were now in full flow and chances came and went as Clarke just failed to turn home a cross from substitute Jake Lovell and then some sublime build up play fashioned a chance for Barrington on the left, but his curling effort from a tight angle rose juts over the bar with the keeper looking beaten. Corinthian were also proving a handful on the break and won a number of free kicks within range, with one from Jamie Billings whistling past the far post as the game opened up into a fascinating contest of open football, making the flurry of cards being shown all the more bizarre and the frustration on players on both sides growing. Ogunseri was then very fortunate to only receive a yellow card when clashing with Housego after collecting a through ball with Corinthian’s players incensed that no penalty was given, with some justification, leading to their manager being sent off for continuing the argument.
With five minutes of normal time left Corithian were awarded a spot kick as Harris went over the outstretched leg of Ogunseri having burst behind the Fisher back line. Both sides then pushed for a winner, with Fisher trowing cuation to the wind plaing a man short after Vigneswaran received a late curious sin bin. Omotunmise Akanni fired in an effort low into the side netting and Armani-Jordan Martin saw his clip from the edge of the box rise over the bar as a winner eluded the Fish in game packed with drama and incident finally came to a close.