Fisher 2-1 Kingsbury London Tigers - My naive team will improve, insists Lisney

Monday 05th October 2009

FISHER 2-1 KINGSBURY LONDON TIGERS
Hillman Contractors London Senior Cup First Round
Monday 5th October 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Champion Hill Stadium

GARY LISNEY says his Fisher side have room for improvement, as they booked their place in the second round of the London Senior Cup tonight.

A good first half display was rewarded by goals from Tasser Hassan and Wayne Grant, although Spartan South Midlands League outfit Kingsbury London Tigers made it interesting when substitute Kye Hendrix scored late on, during a game that had three goals ruled out through offside.

Hassan went close through a low sixth minute 30-yard free-kick, which flashed past the diving Kingsbury keeper but also just past the post, before he broke the deadlock with a stunning free-kick just eight minutes later.

After Jamie Lawrence ran over the ball, the impressive 18-year-old right-sided midfielder, stepped up to curl a 19-yard free-kick over the wall to find the far corner, which left visiting keeper Axinte Valentin rooted to the spot.

Fisher had a goal ruled out for offside in the 21st minute as full-back Mark Lewis swung in a free-kick from the right and Grant’s overhead kick towards goal was met by a glancing header from Lloyd Boateng, but the central defender was in an offside position, inside the six-yard box.

Kingsbury’s first chance on target arrived two minutes later and Fisher keeper Adam Lisney had to be at his best to tip over Rehia Csagie’s right-footed hooked drive following a corner from the right.

Hassan was lively down the right and his cross flashed across the face of goal and this was picked up by left-back Lewis, who stabbed the ball across to central midfielder Trevor Elliott, whose right-footed drive from 35-yards was straight at the keeper.

Fisher had their second goal chalked off for offside in the 38th minute.

Hassan was the architect and right-back, Kris Hollidge, in a supporting role, must take credit for his strong challenge to win the ball and slide the ball to Elliott, who weaved past three defenders before setting up Andre Brooks, whose left-footed drive from inside the box deflected off Elliott to find the net - only for the flag to dampen celebrations once more.

But no flag could save the north London visitors, as Fisher doubled their lead just two minutes before the break.

Hassan’s skill down the right produced an excellent cross, which was met by a stunning Grant right-footed volley, which the striker smashed into the roof of the net.

Kingsbury smacked the Fisher crossbar just before the break, when Pauliu Ghisautka cracked a right-footed drive from 35-yards onto the woodwork, which gave Lisney no chance.

The introduction of half-time substitute Kye Hendrix lifted Kingsbury’s spirits, and they were by far the better side after the interval.

Fisher keeper Lisney - son of the manager - pulled off his second save of the night to push away a left-footed swept shot from 25-yards from Ghisautka.

But Kingsbury were left to rue missing a gilt-edged chance after 61 minutes.

Hendrix’s through ball was missed completed by Boateng and this released Kingsbury skipper Edson Cata and his pass found striker Rehia Csagie and with only Lisney to beat, he fluffed his lines and his shot from ten-yards looped over the crossbar.

Kingsbury keeper Valentin made his first save of the second half in the 71st minute.

Hassan, who disappeared for most of the second half, whipped in an excellent cross, which flashed across the face of goal, only for Daniel Westerman to retrieve the ball and to square to Bryan Glover in space.

Glover looked up and unleashed a right-footed drive from 35-yards, which was beaten out by the diving goalkeeper.

The final 15 minutes, however, belonged to Kingsbury and after Renars Zarchenko swept in a high hanging free-kick from 35-yards, which was met by Marcus Lansiquot’s glancing header, but the offside flag had once again been raised and Fisher escaped.

Kingsbury did pull a goal back in the 78th minute when Khada Egge released Hendrix down the inside right-channel and the striker struck an angled drive across the keeper which bounced into the bottom far corner.

The visitors pressed for a late equaliser as Fisher sat back and they had keeper Lisney to thank when he beat out Ghisautka’s downward header at his near post late on.

But manager Gary Lisney, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, was pleased that his side sealed back-to-back wins for the first time this season and win travel to the winner of tomorrow night’s tie between Haringey Borough and Erith & Belvedere in the second round.

“Very pleased when you win games of football,” said Lisney. “It wasn’t pretty at times to be honest, we didn’t play particularly well as a team but we’ve had a little bit of a shuffle round from the last league game and a win’s a win!

“There’s nothing like winning football games, two on a spin. I’m disappointed to concede a goal, perhaps we could’ve had another couple but a win’s a win!

“Like I say, it weren’t pretty, we could’ve played better but you can’t knock them, everyone worked hard, that’s the main thing.”

Lisney was impressed with his opponents, who took his side all the way at Champion Hill tonight.

He said: “I was really impressed with them to be fair, they were a very good team. They got the ball down and tried to play. They played better football than us at times to be honest, but we were a little bit effective but I was really impressed with them - they’re a decent side.”

Lisney was pleased with some parts of Hassan’s contribution - but insists the midfielder must work on his game.

“I’ve known Tass for a number of years,” he said. “He used to play for me as a youngster when I was manager at Cray Wanderers when I was doing the under 15s, under 16s, something like that.

“Tass played for me, he’s got great technical ability, but he’s got an awful lot to learn in the game - his decision making at times is not the best. One example is he’s got great ability, scored a fantastic goal, a fantastic strike, sets up the second for us with a great piece of skill and then we’re defending a free-kick, they’ve got men in the box and Tasser’s trying to take people on instead of actually clearing the danger and letting us regroup.

“He’s got a lot to lean but he’s young, he’s very enthusiastic and he works hard so he’ll do alright if he keeps listening.”

However, there was no sign of 8-goal Elstrom Die, and Lisney kept tight lipped when asked whether the Frenchman was subject to a seven-day approach.

He said: “Lots of rumours in football, I’d rather talk about factual things really and the fact was he didn’t play tonight so I’d rather much talk about people who did!”

Tenth placed Fisher (with two wins and a draw from their first eight Kent League games) travel to Sporting Bengal (in 12th place with six more points than the whole of last season) on Saturday.

“They’re doing alright this year by all accounts,” acknowledged the Fisher manager. “I’ve not seen them play this year but they’ve improved 100% on last year already.

“Every team in the Kent League has some good players.”

Speaking about his own side, Lisney hopes they take on board what he is telling them so the club can start climbing the table.

“We’re very naïve, we will make some bad decisions all over the pitch but they’re attitude and their work-rate is tremendous and I’ve got a lot of faith with what we’ve got at the moment,” he said.

“We’ve still got players coming down, keen to join in, keen to trial, and the players that we’ve got at the moment are working tremendously hard.

“They’ve got a little bit to learn about making the right decisions at the right time but we will improve, we’ll keep improving.”

Fisher: Adam Lisney, Kris Hollidge, Mark Lewis, Bryan Glover, Lloyd Boateng, Trevor Elliott (Simon St Aime 65), Tasser Hassan, Jamie Lawrence, Wayne Grant, Andre Brooks (Raphael Akala 67), Daniel Westerman.

Subs: Ashley Everitt, Nick Nowotny, Louis Rosen.

Goals: Tasser Hassan 14, Wayne Grant 43

Booked: Wayne Grant 56, Kris Hollidge 90

Kingsbury London Tigers: Axinte Valentin, Franklyn Morris, Benjamin Kargbo, Abdulla Hassan (Jon Muzzi 77), Marcus Lansiquot, Farhad Anvari (Kye Hendrix 46), Pauliu Ghisautka, Khada Egge, Rehia Csagie (Armand Ravaja 70), Edson Cata, , Renarj Zarchenko.

Goal: Kye Hendrix 78

Attendance: 74

Referee: Mr Errol Walker (Colliers Wood)

Assistants: Mr Tair Isayev (Sutton, Surrey) & Matthew Day (Ealing)