SCEFL Premier Division

Stansfeld 1 - 1 Fisher
Saturday 22 March 2025 - 15:00

Stansfeld 1-1 Fisher
Saturday 22 March 2025
SCEFL Premier Division

Attn: 130
Scorer: Donald Macaulay (75 mins)

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

Another frustrating afternoon on the road for Fisher saw them claim a point, or drop two points, depending on perspective, as the local derby with Stansfeld ended with honours shared in a 1-1 draw. With both sides needing a win for battles at differing ends of the table the game was cagey affair with the scant overnight rain doing little to aid the players on a dry bobbly surface. Fisher were missing talismanic midfielder Charles Yiadom-Konadu and left back Ed Sata, giving Omotunmise Akanni a start on the wing as Jake Lovell dropped into midfield and Tyron Mbuenimo covered at right back allowing skipper Jack Gibbons to play at left back.
Playing downhill in the opening forty five minutes, Fisher struggled to find their passing game, often looking for the ball over the top and looking too hurried in getting the ball forward resulting in a lack of pressure around the Stansfeld box. A tenth minute corner led to the first real sight of goal with Ange Djadja planting a header wide of the post from Armani-Jordan Martin’s delivery.
With both sides largely cancelling each other out it was clear this game was not going to be goal fest the first goal would be crucial, and it was the hosts who were to strike midway through the half. Having won a rather cheap looking free kick on their left flank, a sweeping delivery found Mayowa Olufeko unmarked on the edge of six yard box and he guided his header wide of Isaac Ogunseri into the corner of the net amidst the Fisher players shouts of ‘whose man?’
Fisher continued to struggle for fluency in their play, badly missing Yiadom-Konadu’s creative influence. Courtney Barrington found good space down the left with a couple of mazy runs, but the winger was troubled by a knock to his ankle and required an extended spell of treatment late in the half. With half time approaching Fisher continued to press for an equaliser with Jake Lovell seeing an effort charged down and Armani-Jordan Martin drawing a regulation save from a long range effort.
The second half saw Fisher change shape with Akanni dropping in at left back allowing Tyron Mbuenimo to add more bite in midfield in a bid to get play higher up the pitch. Whilst the ploy did see more pressure around the Stansfeld defensive third clear chances on goal were few and far between. Jacob Katonia was introduced on the hour, when Barrington succumbed to his earlier knock, and continued to probe down the left as Fisher finally started to put together their passing game and stretch the Stansfeld back line. Further pace was introduced when Halim Bakre came on for Kesna Clarke, who was hampered by a broken finger, with Katonia switched to centre forward. Before he could have influence down the middle though, his game was over as crude challenge on the right saw him take a heavy fall into the pitch surround leaving him with a suspected cracked rib. Whilst he was being treated pitch side Armani Jordan Martin swung over the free kick and a vicious bounce saw the keeper only able to tip the ball up off the crossbar, with Donald Macaulay first to react and head the ball back over the line to level up the game.
With Katonia dispatched to hospital Dan Flemming came on up top as Fisher pushed hard throughout the final quarter of an hour for a winner. In an incredible ninety second spell as the game moved into added time, almost every Fisher player bar keeper Ogunseri saw a shot charged down or blocked inside the Stansfeld box as the hosts threw themselves at everything to defend and secure their point and Fisher tried everything to force the win. It was to be in vain through and Fisher had to settle for point on a day when some of their rivals for the play offs also dropped points, making it more of a missed opportunity than a disaster. They will however, need to find a way to settle their nerves and play with their mid-season fluency if they are to seal one of the three remaining play-off spots. Three points from next week’s home game against bottom side Lordswood are a must.

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