Kentish Football 
Beckenham Town 1-2 Fisher - Gary Lisney admits: We needed that win!
Monday 13th December 2010
BECKENHAM TOWN 1-2 FISHER
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Monday 13th December 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Eden Park Avenue
FISHER boss Gary Lisney praised his players for bouncing back from their embarrassing defeat at basement side Sporting Bengal United at the weekend with a morale boosting victory at their high-flying rivals Beckenham Town.
Two goals from diminutive central midfielder Halusi Mustafa, 18, ended a run of seven straight defeats and put a dent in Beckenham’s confidence going into Saturday’s massive FA Carlsberg Vase Third Round tie against Kings Lynn Town.
This Kent League clash was only confirmed on Saturday afternoon as Fisher answered Beckenham’s SOS call to play the game so that influential pair Danny Lawson and skipper Nick Curren could end their suspensions tonight and play in the club’s biggest game of the season.
But the move back-fired as only 33 fans turned up and the home side threw away a point as Mustafa grabbed a last-gasp winner on the counter attack following a Beckenham corner.
Beckenham levelled just ten minutes from time through an unlikely source, former Croydon central defender Dave Waters, from open play.
“I thought we thoroughly deserved it to be honest,” a delighted Lisney told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.
“One-all, last couple of minutes, but from where I was standing I see a definite penalty in my book and I thought we worked very hard.
“We was poor on Saturday to be frank so I was expecting a little bit of a reaction from the players and I absolutely got it and I’m delighted for them to be fair and I’m absolutely delighted for our supporters. We had brilliant support down at Sporting Bengal on Saturday and we let them down a little bit so hopefully our supporters that have come along tonight have seen a bit of a reaction and seen a performance as well.
“Beckenham are a good side and I wish them all the best of luck in the Cup but tonight’s a league game, it’s about three points and we were fortunate enough to come away with them, but I think we deserved it.”
Beckenham’s football is sometimes a joy to watch when they spray it about on their bowling green of a pitch - but their final ball lets them down on many occasions.
They should have taken a fourth minute lead, following their first corner, which was swung in left-footed by Steve McNamara and Waters leapt like a salmon at the far post to power his header across the goalmouth for Chris Hill to divert over the bar from close range.
But Fisher grabbed the lead, against the run of play at the time, with their first attempt on goal, after 13 minutes.
The impressive Fisher left-back Mark Lewis had time and space to float a cross into the penalty area for Mustafa to beat his marker to plant a header into the corner of the Beckenham net.
Beckenham striker Gary Gorman slid the ball forward for Danny McKone and he swept the ball out to the unmarked Reece Parmenter but his low right-footed drive lacked power and Adam Lisney was able to save comfortably at his near post.
McKone then directed a header over the Fisher crossbar, before the visitors created a trio of chances before the break.
Right-back Luis Rozan released nippy French striker Elstrom Die through on goal and after cutting in from the right his weak low shot rolled into Nick Blue’s arms at the near post.
Efforts from Rob Hughes and Mustafa from outside of the penalty area were easily dealt with by the former Orpington goalkeeper, before Lisney made a fine block to thwart Gary Gorman after the Beckenham striker cut along the by-line and tried to thread the ball home from the tightest of angles.
George Belchamber smashed a shot high over the Fisher crossbar after just 33 seconds into the second half after some impressive work from McKone down the left before the game - that was played at a high tempo - died down.
Beckenham stepped up a gear after the hour-mark and Waters issued Fisher a 62nd minute warning when he powered McKone’s corner from the right just over the crossbar.
Facing a four-man wall some 30-yards from goal, Belchamber’s long run up resulted in his right-footed free-kick ballooning over, before Danny Gorman’s throw dropped at brother Gary’s feet and the striker turned and swept a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box into Lisney’s arms.
Beckenham’s pressure finally paid off with an equaliser with only ten minutes left.
Parmenter sent Gary Gorman racing down the inside right channel and the striker looked up before sending a delicious cross over to the far post with his right-foot and Waters powered a bullet header into the back of the net from six-yards out - a finish that any striker would have been proud of!
Fisher brought the very best out of Blue when the keeper dived full length to his right to prevent George Savage scoring from a dipping right-footed free-kick from 30-yards and calls for a penalty were waved away as Blue contested the loose ball and appeared to send Die tumbling to the ground.
But pressing Beckenham squandered their best chance to snatch victory when McKone released Gary Gorman with an excellent bouncing pass with the outside of his right boot but Lisney made a smart block with his knees.
But the manner of Fisher’s winner - timed at 48:44 - was simply outrageous.
Beckenham substitute Richardo Moralico swept in a poor corner from the right and this was hooked clear at the near post and the ball was played up to Die to exploit the Beckenham defence with his pace.
The Frenchman slipped the ball through for Mustafa - who had sprinted down the middle of the pitch - and he nipped in to slide the ball under Lisney and the ball trickled into an open goal to the delight of the travelling Fisher fans.
Manager Gary Lisney was full of praise for his two-goal hero.
“He got a similar goal to (his first one) to that against Deal, in the last minute of the game when we played Deal Town away,” he said.
“He’s got on the end of a very good cross and to be fair scored a very good second goal as well, both good goals.”
Left-back Lewis, meanwhile, was also praised by his manager.
“Mark’s been consistently good this year to be fair,” he said. “Mark and Luis Rozen are both left-backs to be fair, Luis’s playing right-back at the moment because he’s playing well enough to get in the team but Mark’s playing well enough to keep Luis out of the left-back position.
“Last year Luis and Mark rotated a little bit, neither of them dominated that position but to be fair Mark’s had a bit of a run and he’s made that position his again so it’s up to Luis to keep playing well, keep trying, if his playing on the right sometimes it may be a lot more difficult but Mark’s benefited from having a bit of competition around.”
Lisney was pleased that his side stole the points in time added on.
He said: “We’ve scored quite a lot of late goals so it’s testament to my team’s character, their never-say-die attitude, they kept going until the end.
“People’s attitudes were good tonight. We needed that. I wouldn’t say Saturday was the worst performance since I’ve been here, certainly one of the worst, so I’m pleased.”
Beckenham approached Herne Bay to play tonight, but the coastal club declined their offer, but Lisney was more than happy to step in at the last minute.
He said: “We had a game on Saturday against Sporting Bengal and we had an opportunity to get a game on tonight.
“Beckenham are mindful of their Cup game so we were quite pleased to come down and have a game. To be frank after Saturday tonight’s game couldn’t have come quick enough for us to be honest because I wouldn’t have wanted another 2-3 week break after Saturday’s performance.”
Beckenham Town assistant manager, Michael Marks, admitted to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards why the game was hastily arranged.
Referring to Lawson and Curren, he said: “Being fair to Fisher, I thank Fisher for it. They’ve agreed to put this game for us and they’ve done well.
“We needed the game, we’ve not played for a month and we needed it but 11 of the boys got 90 minutes under their belt. You can do all the training in the world, if you ain’t played in a month you need the fitness levels, not only to get the two boys back but to get the 90 minutes.
“We trained three times last week but at the end of the day it’s still ain’t enough. You can do all the running in the world but fitness is match fitness.”
Reflecting on the game, Jason Huntley’s number two added, “Once we got the equaliser I thought we get back into the game. To tell you the truth we was back into it.
“I thought we was going to go on and win it. I honestly think that’s what the players thought. We took our foot of the pedal a bit after we equalised and to be fair to them they could’ve had two penalties, I believe and could’ve won a little bit easier but then we’ve gone up the other end after one-all and had a free header and could’ve won the game ourselves.
“But all fairness to them, they came here and had a right go and I think they deserved it in the end.”
Marks, meanwhile, was bitterly disappointed with the way that Fisher scored the winning goal - straight from a Beckenham corner.
“Instead of hanging on to the point we could have had, we’ve gone wholeheartedly into trying to win the game and get the three points and we’ve come a bit unstuck at the end,” he bemoaned.
Beckenham Town: Nick Blue, Danny Gorman, Chris Hill, Dave Waters, Nathaniel Johnson, Nathan Paul, Reece Parmenter, George Belchamber, Steve McNamara (Ricardo Moralico 57), Gary Gorman, Danny McKone (Darren Wise 89).
Subs: George Blake, Jack Carthy, Jason Clews.
Goal: Dave Waters 80
Booked: Gary Gorman 16, Danny Gorman 90
Fisher: Adam Lisney, Luis Rozan, Mark Lewis, Halusi Mustafa, Callum Roberts, Marc Hughes, George Savage (Joe Oatley 88), Isa Bangura, Dexter Babalola (Steve Sallis 76), Rob Hughes (Adrian Ma 76), Elstrom Die.
Subs: Misari Alampan, Kris Hollidge.
Goals: Halusi Mustafa 13, 90
Booked: Adam Lisney 80, Adrian Ma 90
Attendance: 33
Referee: Mr Steve Brown (Ashford)
Assistants: Mr Josh Rudd (Dartford) & Mr Ryan Whitaker (Bexleyheath)
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd