SCEFL Premier Division

Fisher 1 - 0 Sutton Athletic
Saturday 26 October 2024 - 15:00

Fisher 1-0 Sutton Athletic
Saturday 26 October 2024
SCEFL Premier Division

Matchball Sponsor: Millwall Community Trust

Attn: 170
Scorer: Kesna Clarke (54 mins)

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

A solitary strike from Kesna Clarke was sufficient to give Fisher the three pints in their 1-0 win over Sutton Athletic at St Paul’s and keep them in fourth position on the SCEFL Premier Division.
With a full squad to select from and on the back of two fine away victories in the last seven days, manager Ajay Ashanike had a selection headache and opted to bring Charles Yiadom-Konadu back into the starting line-up with Abdoulaye Ly Athie reverting to the bench.
A rather scrappy first half saw neither side find any fluency and despite Fisher sending in some good balls into the box, the Sutton defence was equal to them. Tyron Mbuenimo saw a opportunist long range effort drift wide of the post after the Sutton keeper had misplaced a clearance, when running out of his area to intercept a through ball just before Kesna Clarke could pounce. The best chance of the half saw Courtney Barrington released down the left and cut into the box, but his attempt to beat the keeper via the gap that appeared at the near post only found the side netting. The lively Barrington also clipped curling effort just wide of bar and post after some good build up play around the edge of the area.
Sutton’s best moments came from dead ball situations, with the Fish again guilty of conceding too many free kicks within range of their own goal in an eagerness to win the ball. However, the radar of Sutton’s dead ball takers was missing, as the kicks either hit the wall or flew into the trees at the Pond End.
After the scrappiness of the first half, the second spell came to life as both sides found more quality in their approach play. Sutton looked to strike first and only a fantastic recovery tackle by Ange Djadja stopped Matty MacArthur from bearing down on goal having been slipped in down the right. Despite the visitor’s bright start to the half, it was Fisher who were to open the scoring. Ed Sata fed Kesna Clarke in a central position and the centre forward, twisted and turned to wrong foot his marker and allow space for him to drive the ball into the net from fifteen yards out.
Sutton responded well, with Ogunseri having to push away a dangerous cross come shot from under his bar, before making a stunning double save to preserve Fisher’s lead as another  free kick into the box was headed goalwards from close range with the second save from the rebound somehow seeing the ball clawed away, before the third attempt, albeit joined by an assistant’s offside flag was smothered on the line, leaving the Sutton forwards puzzled as to how they had not scored. Fisher heeded the warning and got back in control of the game taking the game to Sutton in the final stages. Jake Lovell rattled the base of the post with a low drive, having been found on the right by a sweeping cross field pass from Yiadom-Konadu.
With a strong bench to call on Fisher refreshed tiring legs and substitute Billy Brown almost added to the lead with his first touch as he benefitted from a loose pass by a Sutton defender but dragged his effort wide of the post.
With ten minutes of added time going up on the board, Sutton were reduced to ten men when England Kurti picked up two quick cautions for late challenges. Substitute Teddy Jones had a late chance to seal the game when muscling out the left back and bearing down on goal, but opting to round the keeper he was then adjudged to have initiated the contact that saw him brought down and issued with a yellow card rather than a penalty and a further curious decision saw Sutton given a very late free kick twenty five yards from goal, but with the clock on 102 minutes, it was sent into the car park and the resulting goal kick saw the final whistle blown and the three points safely in Fisher’s possession.

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