13 October 2020

Fisher                                    2          Brown 26, Yila 45

Erith and Belvedere          0

DERES STILL STRUGGLE TO FIND THE NET AGAINST FISH

On a rainy night in Rotherhithe, the Deres went down to their fourth consecutive league defeat, and their first of the season by more than a single goal.  They had plenty of the ball and most of the early pressure, but once they fell behind rarely looked like getting back into the game.

Deres started brightly with James Hawkins always looking dangerous.  An early cross was headed wide by Tim Beckford and another on seven minutes was met by Humber but the chance went over the bar.  Two minutes later Beckford’s drive from outside the box warmed keeper Dan Carpanini’s hands.

As the rain began to ease, Fisher started to get into the game, with Tony Foulkes and Jamie Yila influential, winning a corner which came to nothing but indicated a shift of the initiative.  Then on 26 minutes came the opening goal.  Rilwan Anibaba ventured out to the edge of the box to collect a high ball: hindered by Yila, his punch only reached Rob Brown, who was able to lob into an empty goal despite the efforts of Steve Springett to get to the ball.  It was Brown’s 36th goal for the Fish in his 100th appearance.

Foulkes and Yila were causing trouble for the Deres, and one particularly dangerous run by Foulkes was well policed by Springett.  Five minutes from half-time the Deres broke down the right and George Humber was put through to finish neatly but was pulled back for offside.

Then just before half-time came what proved to be the decider.  Former Dere Josh Biddlecombe – who scored for Erith against Fisher ten seasons ago! – played a one-two to make space down the left, and his centre was met on the six-yard line by Yila to make it 2-0.

Fisher started the second half well, winning a couple of corners and Harry Main seeing a shot well blocked by Rob Curtis.  Just before the hour mark Marlon Patterson had a decent chance with a free-kick just over the bar.  James Humphris came on for Beckford and within a couple of minutes had another free-kick chance after Fitzgerald was booked for a challenge on Humber.  The free-kick went around the wall, beat Carpanini but came off the base of the post.

The rain came back with a vengeance, making ball control difficult on the artificial surface.  Sam Fitzgerald with a header and Jacob Katonia with a drive came closest for Fisher in the closing minutes, while at the other end good work by the determined Hawkins set up Guyliano Mpungi for a shot that went frustratingly wide.

Fisher: Carpanini; Thomas, Lockwood, Da Mata, Adesida, Fitzgerald, Main (Ibrahim 61), Foulkes, Biddlecombe (Odedoyun 82), Brown, Yila.

Deres: Anibaba; Adeyemo, Hawkins, Patterson, Curtis, Springett, Dasofunjo (Mpungi 53), Moore (Nosike 73), Beckford (Humphris 61), Krasniqi, Humber.