Fisher 1-2 Millwall - We're not going to change our style of play, says Fisher boss Steve Firkins

FISHER  1-2  MILLWALL
Pre-Season Friendly
Wednesday 18^th July 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Champion Hill Stadium

FISHER manager Steve Firkins says he will maintain his carpet football philosophy for their forthcoming Kent League campaign after their narrow defeat to a youthful looking Millwall side tonight.

The Championship club sent a teenage squad to Champion Hill to face a Fisher side, who recorded their highest attendance when a crowd of 263 saw the Lions come away with the win.

After a goal-less first half, Millwall broke the deadlock through Charlie Penny, before Fisher equalised through left-back Greg Wickenden, but any hopes of the Fish securing a draw were dashed by Keatan Wood’s late winner.

Fisher, who got through 23 players, were chasing shadows for the opening 20 minutes against a much-fitter and younger side, where midfielder Niall McManus pulled the strings from the middle of the park.

Millwall kept the details of their squad within closed ranks right up until kick-off before a notepad of the names of their starting eleven finally emerged, and there were more than the seven substitutions that are listed at the bottom of this match report.

Maybe they wanted to keep their players’ identities under wraps to confuse the scout from Premier League Norwich City, who was in attendance.

Reflecting on their biggest pre-season friendly of the summer, boss Firkins, 55, said afterwards, “We chopped and changed again, but I wanted to give all the lads a run-out and give them a little bit of experience against a professional outfit and I think it paid dividends.

“I think it showed me some questions that I asked about certain players and I think I’ve got the answers and we’ll make a decision on that in due course.”

Millwall got off to a flying start and they called Fisher keeper Danny Firkins into making his first save inside the opening four minutes.

Fisher gave the ball away just outside their penalty area and Millwall’s right-back Daniel Newman floated a ball into the penalty area, which was brought under control by Dylan Richards, before he turned and cracked a shot on the turn, which stung the fingers of the highly-rated stopper at his near post.

Richards swung in a corner from the left which was met low on the volley by Connor Callaghan and Firkins got down low to his right to turn around the post.

Fisher weathered the early storm, however, and striker Steve O’Donnell, back to fitness following a career threatening injury, drilled a shot straight at Steve Mildenhall from the edge of the penalty area after a pacy run forward by Damien Ramsamy.

And when midfielder Hulusi Mustafa cracked a speculative right-footed drive from 35-yards, which bounced past the post after sixteen minutes, Millwall knew Fisher were not going to lie down and die.

The boss added: “I don’t know if we got, maybe a little bit in awe if you like. Most of the players wanted to make a good account of themselves.

“It’s something that we spoke about before we went out there.  I just think we started fairly slow but they were a good outfit and they’ve got some good youngsters there. I think Millwall’s future looks quite right with some of those youngsters.”

Goalkeeper Firkins, 23, who should be playing at a higher level, spent a year on Millwall’s books at the age of eleven, made a world-class save to deny the Lions from deservedly opening the scoring in the 28^th minute.

Richards once again swung in a corner from the left and picked out central defender Max Fitzgerald lurking at the far post and his bullet header from 10-yards was destined to crash into the roof of the net, but a diving Firkins stuck out a strong left-hand to palm the ball over the bar.

Steve Firkins said: “It certainly was (a brilliant save).  We’re unfortunate with Dan and Bill (Hensman) that we haven’t really got a goalkeeping coach – they just have to work amongst themselves at the moment.

“Dan looked good tonight. He goes away for two weeks tomorrow so that will be an opportunity for Bill. Let’s hope he comes back fit to carry on because he showed (what a good keeper he is) tonight.”

Fisher winger, Ope Aromona, was twice guilty of going for glory after he cut into the penalty area from the left, but on each occasion he lacked composure and failed to trouble Mildenhall in Millwall’s goal.

Millwall were thwarted by Firkins again when he dived low to his right to deny Penny’s low drive after Tobi Alabi cut the ball back to him from inside the penalty area.

McManus then cracked a right-footed snap shot from 35-yards, which only just cleared Firkins’ crossbar.

Reflecting on the first half, Firkins said: “I just thought we sat a bit too deep in certain areas and I wanted us to be a bit more forward thinking. We did that in the second half.  We started chopping and changing the team around, obviously it disrupts the flow but we acquitted ourselves well.”

Inevitably, the three goals all arrived in the second half, as both camps made numerous substitutions.

Millwall drew first blood, by taking the lead in the 58^th minute, with Fisher substitute defender Billy Walton at fault.

Alabi cut in from the left and beat two Fisher defenders before he played the ball across towards the near post and Penny bundled the ball over the line from close range.

“It’s a little bit harsh on Bill,” admitted Firkins.  “He’s come on a little bit cold and maybe he was looking or something that he wasn’t going to get.  That’s a part of football.  Sometimes you get them. Sometimes you don’t.  Unfortunately this time he didn’t get it.”

His father, Bill Walton, who left Fisher in the close season, revealed tonight that he has joined the coaching staff at Kent League VCD Athletic.

But to their credit, Fisher gave their fans’ something to cheer, by showing enough character and they restored parity just seven minutes later.

Fisher were awarded a free-kick on the very corner of the penalty area and Adam Wadmore drove a low free-kick towards the near post, which substitute keeper Luke Bartlett parried and Wickenden reacted the quickest to tuck home the rebound.

Firkins added: “That’s what you want from your team at 1-0 down.  When we did go 1-0 down I just hoped we didn’t start getting sloppy and conceding stupid goals. We kept our shape, our discipline and we got our reward.”

With Fisher players chopping and changing throughout the second half, Millwall substitute Joe Guinchard was left in space to unleash a curling right-footed drive from 30-yards, which beat Firkins but the ball cannoned off the crossbar and to safety.

Firkins was replaced by understudy Billy Hensman for the final eleven minutes and the substitute keeper was beaten in the final three minutes when Millwall substitute Wood smashed home a looping right-footed shot after the home side failed to deal with a free-kick from the right.

Boss Firkins said: “I’m disappointed to lose any game, even if it’s a five-a-side match.  I don’t like losing!

“Again, set-piece and that’s something we’ve got to really, really get out of our system.  Again, a little bit unfair because the back four has completely changed and one of them has literally just come on and he hasn’t dealt with it.”

Firkins, who operates without a playing budget, felt the attendance was brilliant and he would like to see more Millwall fans watching his side’s Kent League adventure.

“Brilliant.  That’s what we need. It’s a shame we can’t get that every week. I might have a few quid to give the lads. Excellent crowd, midweek as well. We were hoping for a decent crowd.”

Fisher have four friendlies remaining to get things right for the trip to Tunbridge Wells on the opening day of the Kent League season on 4 August.

Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin was on a scouting mission at Champion Hill tonight.

Firkins said: “I’ve said before, I won’t change the way I’ll play.  I like to keep the ball on the floor and play out from the back. I think every Kent club knows that by now.  They obviously have their ways and means of shutting us down.

“At the AGM on Monday a couple of supporters asked me whether we would change our style and I said no – and they were quite happy with that.

“I think football should be played this way. Whether we’re good enough to do it, only time will tell.”

Fisher: Danny Firkins (Billy Hensman 79), Josh Omonigi (Rob Depeazer 67), Greg Wickenden (Femi Olugbemi 75), Frankie Warren (Danny Taylor 67), Ben Frempah (Luqman Adesina 85), Adam Wadmore (Sean Brown 75), Hulusi Mustafa (Zac Henry 46), Richie Monan (Lee Wilson 81), Steve O’Donnell (David Akinmosa 59, Chris Telesford 83), Damien Ramsamy (Thomas James Rose 68), Ope Aromona (Billy Walton 46).

Goal:  Greg Wickenden 65

Millwall: Steve Mildenhall (Luke Bartlett 46), Daniel Newman, Max Fitzgerald (Keatan Wood 63), Wil De Havilland (Ben Thompson 63), Mitchel Hunter, Niall McManus (Sid Nelson 63), Dylan Richards (Richie Danquau 46), Connor Callaghan, Calum Thompson (Nico Thongvivat 46, Joe Guinchard 62), Charlie Penny, Tobi Alabi.

Goals: Charlie Penny 58, Keatan Wood 87

Attendance: 263
Referee:  Mr Jeff Lengthorn (New Eltham, London SE9)
Assistants: Mr Alex Valentino (Bexleyheath) & Mr Jonathan Bottomer (Bromley)