Fisher 0-1 Erith Town - Every game is a hard game in the Kent League, says Ray Powell

FISHER  0-1  ERITH TOWN
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Monday 6^th August 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Champion Hill Stadium

ERITH TOWN player-assistant manager Ray Powell says he was expecting a tough game against a resilient Fisher side tonight.


The Dockers climbed to the top of the Kent Hurlimann Football League table after winning their first two games of the new season and keeping a clean sheet in both.

Tony Russell’s side opened their title-chasing campaign with a 3-0 home win over Sevenoaks Town at the weekend, while Fisher came away from Tunbridge Wells with a creditable point in a 1-1 draw at Culverden Stadium.

Tonight’s game between the two sides – who were both allowed to wear the same colour (white) shorts and socks – was a tight affair and it was only settled by a well taken penalty from 31-year-old substitute Marcos Perona in the final fourteen minutes.

Fisher were reduced to ten-men after right-back Danny Taylor picked up his second yellow card for bringing down the impressive Harry Montgomery inside the penalty area.

Powell, 32, who was rested tonight, said: “We knew it was going to be a hard game coming back to my old club, but six points from two games, happy with that.

“It was always going to be (a game of little chances). We had them watched.  We watched their last pre-season game against Hendon. They played quite well, kept the ball quite well, so we always knew it was going to be a tough game so we did our homework on it and as we always do as Erith Town we try and play football.

“It was always going to be a 1-0 game. That’s what me and Tony said on the touchline in the second half.”  

Fisher boss Steve Firkins, 55, added: “Very disappointed. I thought it was quite a tight game, both teams and it was going to be something like that to settle the game.  Unfortunately it was against us!

“I’ve just spoken to the right-back Danny Taylor. He said he hasn’t caught him.  The position the referee’s in I don’t think he’s got any option and what we’ve said is this is where you’ve got to learn. You can’t afford to dive in, in or around the box.

“We’re not disappointed in a sense that I think everybody’s saying Erith Town are one of the favourites for the title.   I think Tony (Russell) said earlier on in the week that he wants to win it so if they are one of the favourites, we’ve got a brand new team together of youngsters and I think we gave them a game.”

The Fisher boss made just the one change from Saturday’s opening game as Lee Wilson came in to partner Damien Ramsamy up front to relegate Steve O’Donnell to the bench.

Firkins explained: “I could’ve played Steve tonight but to be fair to him he’s literally just came back and I don’t want to cause any problems. He was a little bit stiff after Saturday after we gave him a good 50 minute run. The way we played on Saturday, he had to work hard as one striker up top so it’s a lot of work for someone coming back from a serious injury like that.”

Erith Town made three changes as Dean Morris, Liam Burgess and Chris Walker came in to relegate Powell, Shaquille Richards and Perona to the bench.

Powell added: “I’m getting old! I’m 32 now.  I’m just keeping my legs fresh every game.  Two games in three days for me, I think I have to pick the games.”

Despite both sides getting the ball down and play, the quality of finishing throughout the game was poor and didn’t inspire the decent crowd of 91 at Champion Hill Stadium.

Fisher created the first chance inside the opening four minutes but Wilson’s right-footed volley was screwed wide from fifteen-yards after Ben Frampah and Adam Wadmore combined through the middle of the park.

Fisher winger Ope Aromona swept a left-footed chance into the side netting after he found himself inside the penalty area after Ramsamy played the ball in from the right channel.

Erith Town’s first chance arrived when lone-striker Tyrus Gordon burst through and smashed his shot wide of the near post.

Montgomery created another half-chance for the visitors’ when he swung in a free-kick towards the near post but Aaron Williams sent his header across goal and wide.

Powell had plenty of praise for the impressive left-winger, who has returned to the club after missing through work commitments.

He said: “To be fair I don’t know much about Harry. He’s a good player. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

Wadmore went for goal on more than one occasion and following a move involving Zak Henry and Wilson the Fisher midfielder took a touch before stroking a right-footed drive wide of the left-hand post from 25-yards.

Erith Town midfielder Peter Smith should have done better when he rushed a right-footed half-volley after Gordon looped a long throw into the penalty area but Smith failed to hit the target from 12-yards as the ball bounced wide.

But Erith Town should have broken the stalemate in the 21^st minute when midfielder Chris Walker released Gordon through on goal but he scuffed his shot straight at Danny Firkins, who made a comfortable save at the near post.

Wadmore forced visiting keeper Kevin Fewell into making a dive to his right six minutes later after the midfielder picked the ball up and went on a 40-yard run but his low right-footed shot flashed wide, before the same player tried his luck again from outside of the box, his shot deflecting narrowly passed the foot of the far post.

The best chance of a disappointing first half came Erith Town’s way ten minutes before half-time.

Williams whipped in a brilliant cross from the right flank to find Smith at the far post but the number 6 headed straight at Fisher keeper Firkins when well placed to score.

The crowd hoped for better play in the final third during the second half.

Firkins said: “I think it was quite even in that respect. They had a few shots from long distance that went wide and we’ve done the same.  First half we cancelled each other out really and it didn’t improve much in the second half, but we did try and get the ball down and play, but we were restricted so fair play to them. They came here and done a job.  Good luck to them.”

Erith Town hit Fisher on an early break away early in the second half when Walker released the impressive Montgomery down the left and his clipped cross was swept wide by Williams.

Gordon launched another long throw into the penalty area and the ball came out to Erith Town skipper Ben Payne, who hooked his shot just wide of the right hand post from 20-yards.

Gordon saw a right-footed shot from outside the Fisher box deflect wide, before the game finally came to life in the final 25 minutes.

Fisher’s highly-rated stopper Firkins was forced into making a save when he dived to his left to tip Walker’s deflected left-footed drive from 30-yards around his post.

Fisher’s best chance of the entire game arrived half-way through the second half and a super save from 31-year-old Fewell kept the score blank.

Wadmore lined up a free-kick some 35-yards from goal and got plenty of power behind his right-footed shot after a long run-up, but he was denied by a world-class save from Fewell, who dived to his right to tip the thunderous shot around the post.

Powell said: “Kevin’s always going to be an experienced keeper. Love Kev to bits. I’ve known him since I was young. He’s been around Sittingbourne and those sort of clubs. I love him to bits. That’s why we’ve got him with us!”

Firkins added: “I don’t think either keeper (had a save to make), well I think their keeper made one good save against Wadmore midway through the second half. I don’t recall Dan having to really make a save, I might be wrong there.”

But Taylor can be blamed for Fisher not picking up a point when he slid in to bring Montgomery falling to the deck and referee Mr Lee Dyson showed the right-back his second yellow card and Fisher were forced to play the rest of the game with ten-men.

As the heavens opened, Perona held his nerve and sent Firkins the wrong way with a well-taken right-footed penalty, which found the left-hand corner.

Powell revealed Perona will be taking Erith Town’s next penalty when it comes along.

He said: “I shouted from the touchline, we always said ‘whoever fancies it? Has it!”

“We haven’t got a normal penalty taker, whoever wants it on the game, they can have it!

“Now he’s on penalties. He’s scored one in one. We missed one on Saturday, Tyrus missed one on Saturday so we’ve drawn him out of the conclusion now. 

“He took it quite well to be fair to him.”

Walker almost opened his account for the season after he turned Fisher substitute Greg Wickenden but his right-footed shot curled just wide of the far post.

Fisher almost grabbed a late leveller but substitute Hulusi Mustafa headed straight at Fewell after quick substitute Orlando Richards sent over a cross from the right flank, but Erith Town will hold top spot for at least 24 hours before heading into the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round next weekend.
 
It appears that Powell’s whole-hearted defensive qualities have already rubbed off on to the Erith Town defence, after keeping two clean sheets in two games.

Powell said:  “In pre-season we did concede a lot of goals. Tony’s spoken about it. We’ve addressed it. We ‘ve brought in a couple of players from Welling and we look solid at the back at the moment with me in there and with Dean (Morris) in there. That’s Deano’s first 90 minutes, even in pre-season.  He done really well.”

Powell added: “Every game is a hard game in the Kent League. I don’t know much about the Kent League. I had half-a-season last year with Erith Town.  Every game’s a hard game.  I’ve always said that.”

Firkins took the positives out of his side’s first home defeat of the new season.

He said: “It was a game of few chances. I think they opened up a little bit more once we went down to ten-men.   I still thought we competed well.

“I haven’t put any expectations on the lads’ whatsoever. We’ve learnt something tonight, although Danny should now a little bit better that that to slide in.  Hopefully the younger lads will take that on board. We’ve spoken about it in the changing room. You’ve got to stay on your feet for as long as possible so it’s something that we have to lick our wounds and come back from.”

Frempah’s stock has certainly risen after another commanding performance at the heart of the Fisher defence, following the seventeen-year-old’s arrival from Welling United’s Academy set-up.

“Young Ben, he looks very, very, very comfortable and they both complement each other,” Firkins said of his central defensive pair of Frempah and Frankie Warren.

“Femi (Olugbemi), the left-back, he’s not a left-back, but he’s worked his way into that and I think he’s done an excellent job.”

Firkins added: “I feel sorry for Danny Taylor.  I think he’s come in at right-back, he is naturally a centre half, but he’s come to do a job at right-back. He had a good game on Saturday. Just a moment of madness if you like towards the end of the game.”

Fisher: Danny Firkins, Danny Taylor, Femi Olugbemi, Frankie Warren, Ben Frempah, Adam Wadmore (Hulusi Mustafa 79), Zak Henry, Richie Monan, Lee Wilson (Orlando Richards 46), Damien Ramsamy (Greg Wickenden 77), Ope Aromona.
Subs: Steve O’Donnell, Billy Hensman

Booked: Richie Monan 18, Danny Taylor 53

Sent Off: Danny Taylor 75

Erith Town: Kevin Fewell, Dean Morris, Lee Craig, Cory Walters-Wright, Ben Payne, Peter Smith, Liam Burgess (Marcos Perona 67), Chris Walker, Tyrus Gordon (Lamar Hubbard 86), Aaron Williams, Harry Montgomery (Jamie Humphris 90).
Subs: Shaquille Richards, Ray Powell

Goal: Marcos Perona 76 (pen)

Booked: Lee Craig 41, Tyrus Gordon 56, Harry Montgomery 83

Attendance: 91
Referee:  Mr Lee Dyson (Gravesend)
Assistants: Mr Adam Back (Sidcup) & Mr Martin Cook (Sidcup)