Lewisham Borough 0-4 Fisher FC

Fisher took the short trip to Ladywell Arena to face near neighbours Lewisham Borough on a sunny April afternoon. Ede and Wanogho continued their recent fruitful partnership at centre back, Richie Hamill made a welcome return to the starting line-up and first choice wingers Jamie Brown and Mathieu Ramsamy completed a potent looking first eleven. Pekun and Adeshina returned on the bench after missing out in recent weeks, with birthday boy Trey Small also finding a place among the subs.

There was little to signal in terms of action in the early stages: both sides took some time to adjust to a tricky pitch which was deceptively flat looking from the sidelines, but which in reality was bobbly and bumpy. Fisher settled first, and Rob Brown came close on 7 minutes with a volley from the edge of the box which spun wide. Lewisham tried to get in the game, and won a free kick on the Fisher left after Ede was penalized for a push in the back. The dead ball was crossed into the box, and Ede himself headed clear for a throw which was then returned into the box. This time his defensive partner Wanogho was able to head clear under pressure.

On 15 minutes, Nic Taylor started a dangerous counter-attacking move for Fisher. After catching a long throw into the box, he bowled the ball out to Ramsamy who charged forwards before finding Rob Brown. Brown in turn slipped the ball wide right to his namesake Jamie, before continuing his run into the box where he met Jamie’s cross with his head and sent the ball looping over the keeper but also over the bar.

The two Browns continued to cause problems for Lewisham, exchanging a one-two before Rob was fouled just outside the Lewisham box to the right of goal. Richie Hamill crossed the free kick into the box, where the home keeper had to be alert to punch clear just as Jamie Brown looked to be about to head home. On the 20 minute mark, Jamie Brown broke clear down the Fisher right, rounded one man and was then brought down when just about to play Jack Bullock in on goal. Rob Brown took the free kick low and hard, but the keeper gathered at the second attempt.

Right on the halfway point of the half, Fisher took the lead with a quite brilliant goal made and finished by Mudiaga Wanogho. The uncompromising defender charged out of defence with the ball at his feet after stopping a Lewisham attack, and the middle of the pitch opened right up for him. Fisher found themselves with a three on three situation on halfway, and Wanogho played the ball wide to the right touchline where Jamie Brown was powering forwards. Wanogho continued his forward run, took Brown’s return pass in his stride then swept the ball into the bottom left hand corner with a curling effort from the edge of the box. A stunning and lethal counter attack, and a composed finish! 0-1, Wanogho, 23 mins

As usual, Fisher’s videographer John caught the goal on film – watch the finish again here:

https://twitter.com/John84Green/status/982663051026542593

Fisher now had the upper hand, and kept the pressure on for the remainder of the half. Jamie Brown came close with a header from a Hamill corner on 25 minutes, but the ball looped just over the bar. On 33 minutes, Hamill went on one of his trademark surging runs and was fouled several times before the ref gave a free kick. He crossed the free kick into the box where it was met by Jamie Brown. His header was gathered by Rob Brown, who turned and shot but the ball was blocked and cleared.

With ten minutes remaining in the half, a Hamill corner from the right was headed behind for another Fisher corner from the left. Ramsamy’s low cross from the second corner was cleared, but the ball was worked back to him form the halfway line, and another low cross was flicked up by Jamie Brown, who then volleyed on the turn but the ball was held by the keeper.

In the final minute before the break, Jamie Brown sent a dangerous free kick into the Lewisham box, where it was met by the head of Wanogho, but his free header went just past the right hand post with the keeper motionless.

Half-time: Lewisham Borough 0-1 Fisher FC. Fisher were well worthy of the lead at the break, with Lewisham having no chances to speak of. The away team would be looking to extend the lead in the second half.

Gaffer Dean Harrison made a chance at the break, bringing on Trey Small for Jack Bullock. However, the start of the second half was again scrappy and disjointed as it had been in the first. Indeed, the first real action of note came a full 18 minutes into the half: a beautiful diagonal volleyed pass form Richie Hamill from inside his own half was only headed up in the air by the Lewisham left back, and Jamie Brown pounced on the loose ball then lobbed from home keeper from outside the box for an exquisite finish. 0-2, Jamie Brown, 63 mins

Hamill then had a couple of attempts to extend the lead, trying his luck from the edge of the box on 64 minutes and again on 69 minutes. The first effort was held by the keeper low to his left; the second, after good work by Ramsamy and then Small, was a fierce curling effort which just evaded the right hand post.

On the 70 minute mark, Sam Pekun came on for Ramsamy. A minute later, Lewisham forced a rare corner, but Wanogho headed clear. Moments after that, Jamie Brown hooked in a cross after good work down the right wing. Trey Small chested the ball up in the air then hit the ball on the volley, but the keeper held it in front of his face.

With 15 minutes remaining, Fisher had a big shout for a penalty after Pekun looked to have been brought down, but the referee was having none of it. Nic Taylor took advantage of his quiet afternoon to have a wander in his own half, and could be heard serenading the linesman with The Archies’ 1969 classic “Sugar, Sugar” – relive the action at Lewisham by listening along here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSP0e5rXUl8

Dwayne Agyemang then came on for George Ede for the closing stages. The Browns continued to work together to extend Fisher’s lead, a good move resulting in a cross from Jamie which found Hamill on the edge of the box but his shot flew over.

The last five minutes of the match proved to be the most entertaining spell of the whole match. First Sam Pekun broke down the left before seemingly being muscled off the ball. Trey Small nipped in to steal the loose ball and squared to Jamie Brown but his shot from the centre of the goal was blocked at extremely close range by the keeper. Lewisham broke and won a corner, which was headed up and then out by Trey Small. On 89 minutes, a fantastic ball by Rob Brown released Sam Pekun who ran into the box from the right wing. He cut the ball back to Hamill whose shot only found birthday boy Small, who took a touch then fired into the bottom left hand corner form ten yards out. 0-3, Small, 89 mins

See John’s video of the goal here:

https://twitter.com/John84Green/status/982663782630608896

There was just time for Fisher to make it four in injury time. Again Rob Brown released Jamie Brown, who chipped to the back post for the waiting Pekun to connect with a diving header which the keeper got a hand to but couldn’t keep out. 0-4, Pekun, 92 mins

See it again here:

https://twitter.com/John84Green/status/982664619922722817

Full-time: Lewisham Borough 0-4 Fisher FC. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon for the Fish: four goals, another clean sheet, and the victory never in doubt. A controlled and disciplined performance on a tricky surface, and a well-deserved three points.

Man of the match: this week’s award is a joint one – in recent weeks, the partnership between the two Browns has really blossomed, and the two are a constant threat for Fisher. A goal and two assists for Jamie, and Rob having a hand in two of the goals too: well played, Jamie and Rob Brown!

Lewisham Borough 0-4 Fisher
Saturday 7 April 2018
SCEFL First Division
Ladywell Arena, Catford

Fisher:
Mudiaga Wanogho, 23 mins
Jamie Brown, 63 mins
Trey Small, 89 mins
Sam Pekun, 92 mins

Attn: 101

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