After midweek’s huge fixture against Brentford B, it was more cup action at St Paul’s Stadium, as Combined Counties League Premier Division South side Badshot Lea made the journey from Surrey to face Fisher in the FA Vase First Round proper.
More Attacking Struggles
After Tuesday’s struggles on the ball against Brentford B, Fisher could be excused for not creating much against a Premier League professional outfit. However, the same themes occurred against fellow non-league side Badshot.
Badshot took the game to Fisher in the opening exchanges, pressing in numbers when they didn’t have the ball and creating clever overloads and two vs one situations in wide areas. A clearly well-drilled and organised team.
Inside the open 15 minutes it was Badshot calling all the shots. Dean Rule was left unmarked on the edge of the box and able to try his luck with a curling effort which he put wide.
Full-back James Smith then beat the offside trap, much to the home fans’ dismay as he looked well offside. The defender appeared to be caught in two minds whether to pass or shoot, Smith chose the latter and rashly fired his shot into the side netting.
It took just under half an hour for Badshot to make their dominance count. Tane Caubo flicked the ball goalward against which Fisher stopper Carpanini produced an incredible reaction save, but Caubo reacted quickest and pounced on the parried shot and nodded home from close range.
It took 40 minutes for Fisher to create anything notable. Swaby’s in-swinging corner was met by full-back Cheradi completely unmarked, but unfortunately the defender slightly mistimed his leap and could only head the ball wide of the goal.
Fisher went in at half-time 1-0 down. A tale all too similar to midweek, with a lack of purpose on the ball and some very static movement. The only positive for Fisher was it couldn’t get any worse in the second half.
Fisher Come Out Fighting
Fisher did more in the opening two minutes of the second half than the whole of the first, as they come flying out of the blocks, pressing with intent, winning the ball high and earning themselves a corner.
Having likely had a stern talking to at half-time, Fisher started the second half showing more of what they’re about, neat interchanges between the midfield and passing with speed allowing the full-backs to overlap that saw Fisher finally look a threat when coming forward.
Their revitalised start to the half was rewarded with an equaliser, half-time substitute Tumba Bokula played a great cross from the left to find wide-man Malaki Coker, who expertly collected the ball, turned and set Michael Sarpong on the edge of the box who fired across the goal into the top left corner.
The Fisher faithful were clearly impressed with their side and their change of attitude for the second half, with the noise picking up, Fisher became more confident with each passing minute. It was a much better display, pinning Badshot in their own half as the home team looked for the winner.
Badshot still posed a threat on the break, having some very good technical players in forward areas. Badshot regained the lead a matter of minutes after Fisher equalised. Some great work inside the left of the box from Owen Dean created enough space to cut the ball back to Caubo who stuck across the ball and fired in from around seven yards.
The final 15 minutes became extremely frustrating for the Fish, with Badshot running down the clock and defending very well. Things became tougher for the final 10 as Swaby was sin binned for dissent towards the referee, leaving Fisher down to 10 men for remainder of the match.
Try as they might Fisher couldn’t grab an equaliser to take the game to penalties and Badshot Lea run out 2-1 victors. A spirited second-half display from the Fish, but unfortunately after a poor first-half it left them out of the FA Vase and gave them their second cup exit in a week.
