SCEFL Premier Division

Punjab United 2 - 4 Fisher
Saturday 19 October 2024 - 15:00

Punjab United 2-4 Fisher
Saturday 19 October 2024
SCEFL Premier Division

Attn: 151
Scorers: Armani-Jordan Martin (34 min pen, 67 min), Kesna Clarke (45 min), Teddy Jones (90+8 min)

Fisher won an absorbing game in Gravesend, beating Punjab United 4-2 to inflict their hosts first league defeat of the season and remain on the fringes of the play-off spots in the process.
With Ed Sata on holiday, captain, Billy Brown filled in at left back and Armani-Jordan Martin returned to the midfield, after being rested for last week’s Kent Senior Trophy win against Corinthian, with Courtney Barrington and Jake Lovell also starting in place of Halim Bakre and Jacob Katonia.
Fisher started well, playing down the slope, and inside a minute Kesna Clarke saw a volley flash wide of the upright as Lovell’s flick on fell to him ten yards out. Salim Nassor also went close with his effort from the left of the box also just going wide after good work by Barrington had set him up. It was Punjab who were to strike first though, when on thirteen minutes they won an unusual free kick after Isaac Ogunseri had rehandled the ball after releasing it and with the initial effort blocked the powerful rebound looked to be heading wide until slamming into the head of Jack Hopkins and deflecting into the other corner of the goal.
Fisher fought back well though, with Charles Yiadom-Konadu putting on a masterclass in ball retention in the midfield, twisting and turning past opposition players and probing the defence with well-judged through balls as Fisher turned on the style.  On thirty three minutes their probing paid off as a through ball saw Kesna Clarke hauled down as he raced into the box and Armani-Jordan Martin cooly dispatched the resulting spot kick, slamming it down the centre of the goal.
Both sides exchanged free kicks from dangerous positions without testing the keeper in a very open half of football, but it was Fisher who went into the break in front after superb work down the right channel by Jake Lovell saw him create space for Armani-Jordan Martin who squared the ball across the face of the goal, where Kesna Clarke was on hand to turn it home.
Fisher started the second half looking to take control of the game. A sublime move set up Jake Lovell down the right of the penalty area, but his shot flew just wide of the for post, as Fisher’s attacking play was causing the hosts all sorts of problems, although they were relieved to see a free header from Johnson fly over the bar in the host’s first attack of the half.
Midway through the half, substitute Halim Bakre was hauled down twenty yards from goal and Armani-Jordan Martin curled an inch perfect free kick over the wall and into the top near corner to extend Fisher’s lead. However, the game was far from won and Punjab staged a spirited fightback giving themselves hope when winning a seventy third minute penalty which Ogunseri got hand to low to his left but couldn’t keep out.
Fisher then had to batten down the hatches for a late Punjab onslaught which saw several corners and free kicks delivered into the box, but Ogunseri claimed all and another solid performance by Mayvin Vigneswaran repelled all that Punjab could throw at Fisher. A long stoppage after a clash of heads added to the drama and saw eight minutes of added time for Fisher to hold out.
Punjab continued to press hard for an equaliser, leaving gaps at the back as a result, but Fisher couldn’t quite find the pass or option to release the free man when countering. Into added time in added time, Fisher final settled the nerves as two of the late substitutes combined to add a fourth, as Fisher cleared a Punjab corner and Tyron Mbuenimo sped down the right wing and squared for Teddy Jones, to throw himself at the ball and manage to get the touch to scramble it over the line, sparking huge celebrations with the travelling support behind the goal.

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