Steve Firkins points Danny Hunt towards our pre-season game at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Photo: Jacopo Maino

Fisher are delighted to announce that we have been invited to take part in the festivities surrounding the Supporters Direct conference and AGM this summer.

The Fish will battle with Ryman Premier outfit Lewes for the Supporters Direct Shield on Sunday July 8th 2012 in a game that will take place at Enfield Town’s Queen Elizabeth stadium. And in the second game of the day, hosts Enfield Town will battle Blue Square Premier big boys Wrexham for the Supporters Direct Cup!

The conference and football extravaganza are all part of the annual celebration of supporter-owned football clubs. The event is organised by Supporters Direct, who were instrumental in the reformation of Fisher FC in 2009 and who continue to provide significant practical and logistical support to the club as we work to move Back to Bermondsey.

Fisher chairman Ben Westmancott greeted the news by saying, “We were delighted to be invited to take part in this prestigious pre-season event. Enfield Town led the way in supporter ownership when they formed in 2001, and their homecoming last year was a wonderful achievement. We draw inspiration from the story, and are delighted to feature on the same bill as them – and of course Wrexham! Lewes are sure to present a tough challenge but we are all already looking forward to the game.”

James Mathie from Supporters Direct commented:

“In striving towards the goal of a return to their home, Fisher has proved that they have the support of their local community. Key local figures like Simon Hughes MP, the leadership of Southwark Council, community groups and local people want this to become a reality. A real cross-section of the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey community. Their community.

“I believe that seeing the journey the fans of Enfield Town have been on – indeed all the clubs present at the competition and across the weekend – will give the fans and owners of Fisher hope that they too can reach their longed-for destination.”

The day draws together four supporter-owned sides. Our opponents, Lewes, were rescued from financial difficulty by their fans in 2010 and while the new ownership couldn’t prevent relegation from the Blue Square South, the team have competed well this year in the Ryman Premier. Lewes recently published a detailed financial review that provides an insight into the operation of a non-league football club – a commitment to transparency that only comes under supporter ownership.

Enfield Town were the second-ever fan-owned club. Formed by fans of Enfield, who had lost their ground and were heading for extinction, the club showed that it was possible for fans to run a football team and to do so successfully. In 2011, after ten years of exile, Enfield Town moved home to a magnificent new stadium. They won the Ryman North play-offs this year after finishing second in the league to cap a very successful homecoming.

Wrexham moved into fan ownership this season, after a long-running saga that saw them threatened with liquidation before a cast of characters came out of the woodwork to try and buy the club. It was a tumultuous time for the fans, but through it all the Supporters Trust stuck to their principles under tremendous pressure – and provocation. Their commitment and integrity paid off as they finally took ownership of the side, and despite the loss of manager Dean Saunders to Doncaster the club have pushed Fleetwood Town hard at the top of the Blue Square Premier (the Conference).

The SD Cup and Shield will complete a great weekend for supporters with Saturday playing host to the annual Supporters Direct and Football Supporters Federation Conference. Amongst the line up with be the football pundit Gabrielle Marcotti as well as a range of sessions for supporters, and it would be great to have some Fisher fans along. Full details of the Conference and how to buy tickets can be found on the Supporters Direct site.

Danny Hunt nets Fisher's fourth goal against Sevenoaks. Photo: Jacopo Maino

Fisher produced a rousing display of passing, attacking football to end the season with a bang, beating Sevenoaks 4-0.

This performance was Fisher back to their best, with the side controlling possession and putting together a number of fluid passing moves. The game started a little slowly, with both sides misplacing passes in difficult conditions, although the Champion Hill pitch held up remarkably well considering the abysmal weather.

Aaron Jeffery produced the first save of the match from Sevenoaks keeper Ashley Bourne. Fisher were doing most of the attacking and a good move saw a Ken Jarrett-Elliott cross just evade Danny Hunt after quarter of an hour.

Fisher took the lead shortly afterwards. Jeffery floated in a free kick from the left and Theo Larbie out-jumped the Oaks defence and keeper. With the ball heading over the line, Richie Monan nipped in to make absolutely sure and claim the goal that put the Fish deservedly 1-0 up.

Shortly afterwards former Fisher player George Savage was forced off injured for the Oaks. Fisher nearly added a second, Jeffery crossing from the byline and as Hunt dummied the ball was whacked clear by a defender. It was two shortly afterwards though, this time Jeffery looping an incredible finish over the keeper which left him on the floor and the ball in the net.

Sevenoaks forced a save from Danny Firkins as a goalmouth scramble followed a corner, Firkins getting something in the way of a fierce deflected shot to preserve his clean sheet. Jeffery was soon involved again at the other end, his cross looking for Hunt who just couldn’t reach the ball with the goal at his mercy.

That was the last chance of the first half, and it was Sevenoaks who started brightly in the second period. But Fisher put the game to bed with a third goal on 56 minutes, this time a flowing move that started in the Fisher box. Larbie, stepping into midfield, sent a perfect ball to Jeffery who flicked a backheel to the overlapping Stefan Dixon. Dixon’s cross picked out an unmarked Ope Aromona and his low shot beat Bourne at the near post.

Fisher now started to play keep-ball, content to hold on to possession while waiting for space to open up. Aromona could and should have had another goal from a Monan cross but his shot was cleared off the line and the follow-up blocked by a flying save from Bourne.

But it was four on 76 minutes, another flowing move started by a strong run through midfield by man-of-the-match Jeffery who beat two men as he took the ball forward. He found Monan on the left who checked back on to his right foot and picked out Hunt at the far post with a lovely ball that Hunt side-footed home. It was a fantastic team goal and had the fans at Champion Hill purring as Fisher were putting on the sort of display that had been commonplace at the start of the season.

A comfortable win for the Fish, and though this was the final game of the season it left the fans looking forward to the start of the next campaign.

Fisher’s end of season awards followed on Saturday evening, and the supporters’ Player of the Year was Ken Jarrett-Elliott. The players voted for Richie Monan as their player of the year, and Billy Hensman took home Young Player of the Year. The epic 5-2 win at Canterbury City won the award for team display of the season. Look out for a full report and pictures on this site later this week.

Our thanks to Con Maloney for the video of the goals, and to Fisher photographer Jacopo Maino who leaves us after this game to pursue what is set to be a fine career. You can see Jacopo’s snaps from this game and others on our Facebook page.

And of course thank you to all our fans who turned up home and away this season through good times and bad. We are very lucky to have the most loyal and passionate fans in the league.

Fisher: Firkins, Dixon, Jarrett-Elliott, Wilson-Joseph (Walton 71), Larbie, Warren, Jeffery (Taylor 81), Monan, Chattey (Wadmore 60), Hunt, Aromona

Subs: Holley, Bruniges

Goals: Monan 19; Jeffery 31; Aromona 56; Hunt 76

Attendance: 107

Fisher hope to have more to celebrate on Saturday. Photo: Jacopo Maino

It’s our last game of the season on Saturday – and there are lots of ways that you can join in the fun!

We take on Sevenoaks Town at Champion Hill and the team will be looking to put on a show and reward our fans for their loyalty next year. We’re also offering a special discount to fans who plan to take in Millwall’s 12.30pm kick-off against Blackpool – if they hot-foot it over to East Dulwich for our 3pm start then they can get in for half-price. That’s just £3 for adults, and £2 for concessions (OAP/student/unwaged with proof of status) – simply show your ticket stub, Millwall membership card or season ticket at the gate.

With no trains from South Bermondsey to East Dulwich, travel for fans attending both games could be tricky. Fisher have negotiated a special price for a minicab between the two grounds with Orlando Cars of Deptford. If you call the company on 0208 692 70155 or 0208 144 2416 and quote “Fisher football” you can book a cab (up to four people) for just £10 to take you from the New Den to Champion Hill. Please make sure you agree a sensible pick-up time and location near the New Den when you call, and we suggest allowing approximately 20 minutes for the short journey in case of heavy traffic.

We’ll be welcoming groups from our sponsors Downside Fisher Youth Club and Time & Talents to the game, and we’ll have an end of season special programme on sale too for just £1.50 – as well as the usual mix of original writing on Fisher and non-league football in Kent and London we will have a special photo montage of the season and articles from chairman Ben Westmancott and manager Steve Firkins looking back at the season and forward to next year. We also have full details of our exciting pre-season match against Lewes for the Supporters Direct Shield.

After the game we will hold our traditional end of season party and awards ceremony, this year held at the Victoria pub in Page’s Walk SE1. The event will feature a buffet, raffle including two FA Vase final tickets and a football signed by the Fisher squad, and of course the end of season awards – voting details below. The event gets underway from 6.30pm after the game on Saturday, and is completely FREE to attend – we’d love to see Fisher fans old and new at the Vic.

You will get the chance to vote for the end of the season awards at the game on Saturday, but you can also submit your vote by email – simply name your Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season, and Team Display of the Season. The shortlist for Display of the Season is:

Greenwich Borough 2 – 6 Fisher (League, Tue 16th August 2011)
Fisher 6 – 1 Chichester City (FA Cup replay, Mon 22nd August 2011)
Fisher 5 – 1 Holmesdale (League, Tue 6th September 2011)
Fisher 7 – 0 London Tigers (London Senior Cup, Mon 19th September 2011)
Sevenoaks 0 – 5 Fisher (League, Sat 1st October 2011)
Canterbury City 2 – 5 Fisher (League Cup 2nd leg, Sat 5th November 2011)

Or state your own choice on the email.

So please join us on Saturday for what should be an excellent game against Sevenoaks, and then a fun evening in Bermondsey as we look back on a season that has seen Fisher’s best performance since we reformed.

Please note that trains to East Dulwich and Denmark Hill are not running on Saturday. From London Bridge the number 40 bus takes you to the ground and takes about 40 mins, or the rail replacement services will take about 25 minutes. Fans travelling from the New Den after Millwall v Blackpool should pick up the 14:45 bus from South Bermondsey which should see you at East Dulwich just in time for kick-off. It is also just a 3 mile drive – use SE22 8BD for your sat nav.

From Canada Water or Rotherhithe take the Overground to Brockley then pick up bus 484 from stop BA to East Dulwich station.

Fisher FC v Sevenoaks Town
Kent Hurlimann Football League
3pm, Saturday 28th April 2012
Champion Hill, East Dulwich, SE22 8BD
£6 adults, £4 concessions, FREE accompanied under 16s
£3 adults, £2 concessions on presentation of a ticket stub from Millwall v Blackpool, a Millwall FC membership card or season ticket

Ellis Wilson-Joseph scored Fisher's second on Saturday. Photo: Jacopo Maino

Fisher’s winless run finally ended – and in emphatic style as they dominated from start to finish at Winch’s Field and came away with a deserved three points.

It was a strong Fisher side that took the field on Saturday, missing only Adam Wadmore and the suspended Billy Walton. Skipper Frankie Warren dropped into defence to partner Theo Larbie, while Ken Jarrett-Elliott moved to left-back and Richie Monan reprised the successful central midfield role that he had played at Deal the previous week.

From the off, Fisher were on the front foot, taking the game to the hosts on a bumpy pitch at the home of Herne Bay. Their reward for a positive start came after ten minutes, as Aaron Jeffery showed tremendous skill to control a long pass then cut inside in a single movement. His cross found Danny Hunt at the far post and he was left with a simple finish to put Fisher 1-0 up.

Fisher continued to dominate the game. A Hunt cross just evaded Kane Chattey, and on the half hour mark Monan found Ope Aromona on the left but his shot was saved by Connor Quinn in the City goal. It wasn’t all one-way traffic though, and Danny Firkins had to be at his best to keep out a point blank header from Jake Gess.

Hunt had a chance to add his second as he latched on to a Chattey through ball, but his dinked finish past Quinn went agonisingly wide of the near post. Hunt and Chattey’s partnership is beginning to bear fruit for the Fish, and Hunt was back to his best during this game as he worked the channels and didn’t give the City defence a moment’s peace.

Fisher’s second goal came as a result of Hunt picking up the ball wide on the left. Beating his man, he slid a perfect pass to the unmarked Ellis Wilson-Joseph on the edge of the box. The midfielder’s placed finish gave Quinn no chance as it slipped just inside the post, and Fisher went into the half time break 2-0 up.

It was 3-0 just two minutes after the restart, Ope Aromona floated in a cross-shot from wide on the left that evaded everyone, including Quinn who could only turn and watch as the ball ended up in the top corner of the net. With Fisher 3-0 up and looking comfortable it appeared that the game was effectively over. City had other ideas though, and they exploited some slack marking in the Fisher defence to get back in the game. Richard Sinden was allowed space to pick his spot, though it was still an excellent lobbed finish that beat Firkins and gave City some hope.

Fisher regrouped, however, and the game became scrappy as the away side were content to hold what they had. Steve Firkins brought on Danny Taylor as a stand-in striker, and just as the visiting fans were trying to work out what the burly defender was doing in such an advanced position the move paid dividends. Quinn was unable to claim a Fisher corner, and from the resulting scramble Taylor slammed the ball home from no more than a yard to put Fisher 4-1 up and secure the three points.

As the game went in to injury time, Stefan Dixon – who had had another fine game at left-back – was given his marching orders by the referee as a mistimed tackle meant that he picked up a second yellow card. City then grabbed a second goal from the resulting free kick, though there was no time for any further action and the Fish could celebrate a long-awaiting, and fully deserved, three points.

Fisher: Firkins, Dixon, Jarrett-Elliott, Wilson-Joseph, Larbie, Warren (Bruniges 84), Jeffery (Holley 84), Monan, Chattey (Taylor 74) , Hunt, Aromona

Goals: Hunt 10; Wilson-Joseph 36; Aromona 46; Taylor 80

Sent off: Dixon 90

Attendance: 94

Danny Hunt was back amongst the goals on Saturday. Photo: Jacopo Maino

The Fish returned from the long trip to Deal with a point, but it could have been three had they taken one of many second half chances.

With a number of players unavailable for the trip, the Fish were down to the bare bones but put in a creditable display that should have seen the team secure a victory. Deal got off to the faster start, however and they missed an excellent chance at the far post early on in proceedings. The Fish has early chances too, Kane Chattey couldn’t convert an Ope Aromona cross while Bobby Holley blasted over as Fisher forced a string of corners.

Back at the other end, Danny Firkins pulled off a magnificent stop on the half-hour mark to keep the scores level, and just two minutes later the Fish took full advantage. A Chattey flick-on set Danny Hunt through and the striker broke his goal drought with a classy finish. Fisher went in to the half time break in the lead, and looking strong at the back with Theo Larbie in particular in no mood to allow the Deal strikers any time or space.

Fisher looked to extend their lead early in the second period, and a brilliant move saw Richie Monan put Hunt through again, but this time his placed finish somehow hit the post when it appeared certain to go in. Aromona was then denied by a fantastic save from Deal keeper John Sparks.

The game was entertaining end-to-end stuff at this stage, but it was Deal who struck as Fisher paid for their profligacy earlier in the game. Poor defending from a corner let in Aaron Robinson who made no mistake and levelled the scores with fifteen minutes to play.

There were still more chances for Fisher – Holley forced another save out of Sparks and Aromona planted a header over the bar with the goal unprotected. Holley then shot wide in the dying moments and Fisher’s chance to end their winless streak had passed.

Fisher: Firkins, Dixon, Jeffery, Justice (Ajide 66), Larbie, Walton, Holley (Fearon 71), Monan, Chattey, Hunt, Aromona

Goal: Hunt 29

Attendance: 70

Billy Hensman claims a cross while playing for the Fisher first team this season. Photo: David Mullaney

It has been an excellent season for Grant Mason’s Fisher under 18 side, who top the Kent Youth League table and will face Welling in a crunch cup semi-final next Tuesday.

The Fisher youngsters, many of whom are in their first year (of two) at under 18 level, currently lead the North division although they face a challenge from Welling who have games in hand. And it is Welling that the team will face next Tuesday when they take part in the John Ullman Memorial Cup semi-final, a game to be played at the home of Corinthian FC.

Fisher fans have become acquainted with some of the under 18 squad this season, notably keeper Billy Hensman who has turned in some impressive performances for the first team. Bryan Zepo and Keiron Campbell have also featured in the senior side this year.

Speaking to fisherfc.co.uk, manager Grant Mason said, “The boys have been fantastic this year. They’d love to have some of the famous Fisher FC vocal support behind them on Tuesday at Corinthian. It’s going to be a tough game against a good Welling side but we have a lot of talent in the team and we’ve got every chance of reaching the final.”

The team will be running a coach to the game, and places are FREE – for details contact Grant on 07710 459632. If you plan to make your own way, travel details and directions are below.

Welling United U18s v Fisher FC U18s
John Ullman Memorial Cup semi-final
Tuesday 17th April, 7.30pm
Corinthian Sports Club, Gay Dawn Farm, Fawkham, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8LY
Admission: £3

By train: Trains to Longfield run from Victoria via Bromley South. Longfield station is over a mile from the ground, and the roads do not have footpaths. We suggest that you take a taxi from the station. There are trains at 22:00, 22:37 and 23:00 after the game.

By car: Take the A20 out of London. At junction with M25 continue to follow A20 in direction of West Kingswood/Brands Hatch. Go straight across two roundabouts then take second left on Fawkham Green/Longfield. Take third left to Fawkham Green/Longfield. The ground is approximately 2 miles on your right.

Skipper Frankie Warren returned to the line-up on Saturday. Photo: Jacopo Maino

Fisher won plaudits for the quality of their football at Herne Bay, but lost the game against the Kent Hurlimann League champions-elect.

The Bay’s superior firepower, and solid defence, meant that despite the Fish’s dominance in possession there was only ever one likely winner in the game.

Steve Firkins handed a debut to Belgian-Ghanaian Theo Larbie, and his presence alongside Adam Wadmore solidified the midfield. Returning skipper Frankie Warren took up a more advanced role supporting Danny Hunt. The big news was in goal, where Danny Firkins returned after a long lay off recovering from a broken finger.

Bay took an early lead when a through ball found Ashley Baverstock in space and lifted an excellent lob over Firkins. The Fish responded well though and Ken Jarrett-Elliott send a shot in that was deflected wide. The Fish settled into a neat, progressive passing game and while they found the Bay defence tough to break down the retention of possession was extremely impressive.

A quick free kick to Danny Hunt on 15 minutes saw his cross cleared, while a Warren set piece just eluded Wadmore’s head as Fisher were on top. Larbie’s strength allowed him to move clear of a challenge in midfield, but the move broke down. The, against the run of play, Bay doubled their lead. A cross from the left found Baverstock in just enough space to execute a classy flick finish that gave Firkins no chance.

Firkins was called into action shortly afterwards as he pulled off a great stop from a swerving shot – followed by a brilliant point blank save to keep out a header.

The Fish came out after halftime looking to get back into the game. Stefan Dixon shot wide then Richie Monan was found by a Warren pass. Monan beat one man but fired his shot over the bar. Firkins excelled once more as he made two further outstanding stops. Fisher continued to press, and to enjoy the lion’s share of possession, but were unable to force Bay keeper Dan Eason into action.

Bay put the game to bed on 73 minutes although their goal, scored as the ball was pumped back in after a corner was cleared, looked to be yards offside – the video evidence captured by the Bay cameraman strongly supports the view that Fisher suffered from a poor decision from an assistant referee for the second week in a row.

Fisher didn’t give up, and Warren shot over after good work from substitute TJ Rose, but in the end they didn’t quite have enough to break down a solid Bay defence. This win put Herne Bay just five points away from a richly deserved Kent Hurlimann Football League title, and promotion to the Ryman League.

Fisher: Firkins, Dixon, Jarrett-Elliott, Larbie (Rose 86), Taylor (Wilson-Joseph 62), Walton, Warren, Wadmore, Monan, Hunt, Jeffery (Aromona 70)

Subs: Bruniges, Chattey

Attendance: 228

Ken Jarrett-Elliott scored the equaliser for the Fish against Lordswood. Photo: Jacopo Maino

Fisher brought their losing run to an end, but had to settle for a share of the points against Lordswood after a string of controversial refereeing decisions.

The match saw transfer deadline signing Aaron Jeffery make his debut on the left side of midfield, while Ken Jarrett-Elliott stepped into midfield to partner Ellis Wilson-Joseph.

The game started slowly as both sides struggled to get the ball down on the dry and hard Champion Hill surface. Lordswood had most of the early pressure, and they made the breakthrough on 12 minutes. Fisher blocked a free kick on the edge of the box, but the ball was played back in as both attackers and defenders looked to clear the box. Rob Norman was running the other way from just outside the penalty area, and he couldn’t miss as the ball reached him with only Fisher keeper Billy Hensman to beat.

Fisher defenders looked in vain for an offside flag – in truth, on a day of erratic decisions, this was a hard one to call as Norman ran from deep while the Fisher defence raced in the opposite direction.

Lordswood should have had a second minutes later as a corner was only half-cleared and the ball was played back in sparking a goalmouth scramble which somehow ended with the ball being deflected behind. It was all Lordswood at this stage as Fisher’s support began to grow frustrated.

Implored by manager Steve Firkins to get the ball down and play, rather than look to the long pass, the Fish gradually came back in to the game and the imperious Jarrett-Elliott began to dominate the midfield. Just after the half-hour mark Danny Hunt forced visiting keeper Matt Byott into a save, but the ball fell to Jeffery just yards out. Byott got out quickly to slide in and block the ball with his feet, although the two footed nature of the challenge may well have been harshly penalised if it had been made by an outfield player.

Lordswood still posed a threat and Hensman saved well from Richard Styles. It was then the visitors’ turn to show frustration as they had a goal disallowed for offside – the ball took a deflection off a Fisher leg, but the Lords attacker had been offside at the original play of the ball so Fisher fans felt that the assistant had flagged correctly this time.

Fisher pushed forward and a flowing move involving Jarrett-Elliott, Jeffery and Hunt ended with the Fisher striker’s shot saved low down by Byott. Both sides were beginning to get frustrated by an erratic refereeing performance, epitomised as Fisher broke forward and saw Danny Hunt played through on the left of the box in a dangerous position – only to hear the referee blow for a free-kick to Fisher back in the centre-circle.

Richie Monan then had a shot saved and send another wide as Fisher looked to get back into the game. They did so on the stroke of halftime. Awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, Jarrett-Elliott send a low shot past the wall and the outstretched glove of Byott to bring the Fish an equalising goal.

Fisher didn’t let the half time break halt their momentum, and they were ahead on 48 minutes. Richie Monan sent in a beautifully flighted inswinging corner, which beat the crowd at the near post and was met by the onrushing Danny Taylor who planted a bullet header into the net for his first Fisher goal.

It was so nearly three shortly afterwards, from another excellent Monan corner that cause chaos in the Lordswood box. But the Lords were not done, and they came back into what was becoming a very entertaining game. Hensman saved well from Nathan Taylor, while another shot fizzed over the bar.

Lordswood then equalised in controversial fashion – again the ball was played back into the box after being half-cleared, this time to an unmarked Chris Eather who appeared to be a good yard offisde. Eather didn’t hestitate and buried the ball, and with no flag raised he wheeled away in celebration.

Fisher defenders meanwhile enquired of the assistant why the flag had not gone up. The referee intervened, and showed centre-half Billy Walton a yellow card – followed immediately by a second yellow card, and a red. The decision felt extremely harsh – effectively two punishments for one offence – but there was no changing the referee’s mind and the Fish faced the rest of the game with ten men.

Jarrett-Elliott dropped back into the defence, and performed superbly as the Fish saw out the rest of the game in relative comfort. His man of the match performance showed his versatility, and willingness to play whichever position the manager asked him too, and he was responsible for a vital interception late in the game as Lordswood looked to play a forward through – Jarrett-Elliott calmly putting his body in a position to shield the ball, turning, and clearing to a Fisher shirt.

In the closing stages, it was the Fish who looked most likely to get a late winner. Jarrett-Elliott headed over from a corner as the ten men piled on the pressure, and Jeffery was denied a debut goal by a clearance off the line.

In the end the points were shared, and both sides had contributed to what was an excellent afternoon’s entertainment. The match officials too had, perhaps unwittingly, added interest to the game. And the Fish can be happy with a performance that deservedly brought an end to their losing run, prior to the tough trip to champions-elect Herne Bay this Saturday.

Fisher: Hensman, Dixon (Rose 86), Bruniges (Aromona 46), Jarrett-Elliott, Taylor, Walton, Monan, Wilson-Joseph, Chattey (Holley 81), Hunt, Jeffery

Goals: Jarrett-Elliott 45; Taylor 48

Attendance: 97

Fisher lost but Richie Monan impressed against VCD. Photo: Jacopo Maino

Fisher were put to the sword early on at VCD on Tuesday night, falling three goals behind and never looking likely to recover despite enjoying much of the possession.

The Fish have suffered defensive woes all season, and Tuesday was no exception. The opening twenty minutes were all VCD, and they took the lead on five minutes through an unmarked George Mitchell after Fisher failed to clear a corner. Marc Powell, debuting in the Fisher goal, pulled off a remarkable flying stop to keep out a James Duckworth volley but VCD scored from the resulting corner through James Brown.

VCD notched a third through former Erith & Belvedere man Paul Gross on 24 minutes. While the Fish will be disappointed with the space he was allowed before heading home, it was an excellent flowing crossfield move from VCD. By this point the Fish had rarely got out of their own half, but they did come into the game towards the end of the first half – Kane Chattey forced the home keeper into a point blank save from a corner and Fish were able to exert some pressure. But half time came with the side still 3-0 down.

Fisher continued to improve after the break. Debutant Ope Aromona, introduced on the left as a substitute, demonstrated a willingness to take on and beat his full back as he put in an excellent 45 minutes. On the other flank, right-back Stefan Dixon also impressed with his commitment in the tackle and footballing ability further forward, and it was his cross that found Billy Walton in space but his header went just over the bar.

Aromona was at the heart of a Fisher penalty shout, as his cross was mis-controlled by a defender who allowed the ball to bobble up and hit his arm. The referee played on and the Fish suffered a sucker punch as VCD broke and scored a fourth goal through Mike McKenna.

Fisher continued to push for a consolation, and Chattey thought he had scored it late on only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

A poor result for the Fish, although with better football played in the second half and strong performances from Aromona, Dixon and Richie Monan there were at least some positives to take into Saturday’s home clash with Lordswood.

Fisher: Powell, Dixon (Green 83), Bruniges, Walton, Jarrett-Elliott, Taylor, Monan, Wadmore (Rose 75), Chattey, Hunt, Fearon (Aromona 46)

Subs: Holley, Hensman

Attendance: 84

Conor Bruniges faces his former team VCD on Tuesday night. Photo: Jacopo Maino

The Fish travel to in-form VCD tomorrow night – join us at Oakwood for the last floodlit game of the season.

The ground is pretty easy to get to so let’s see plenty of support for the Fish as we make the short journey to Crayford. Vickers have been tough to beat this season, especially on their own turf, but we deserved something against them two weeks ago so the Fish will travel with nothing to fear.

By train: Trains to Crayford run from London Bridge taking approx 30 mins, and some call at New Cross and Lewisham. Services are regular in the early evening. On arrival, the walk is about a mile.  Leave station on north (Dartford bound) side and go right up Station Approach, then left into Station Road, left at roundabout into Crayford Road which becomes Crayford High Street, follow road round to left into Old Road, and the entrance to the ground is on your right. After the game your options are the 21:52, 22:22 and 22:52 back to London Bridge.

By car: Leave yourself at least an hour for the journey at rush hour. Take the A2 out of town, following it until you reach the exit for A220/A223 towards Bexleyheath and Crayford. At the roundabout, take the second exit on to Bourne Road/A223. After just over half a mile, turn right onto the A207 London Road. Keep left at the fork, then turn left onto Crayford High Street/A2000. Where the A2000 bends right, go straight on to pick up Old Road, and the ground is on your right.

Walking directions courtesy of Andy of Kent

VCD Athletic  v Fisher
7.45pm, Tuesday 27^th March 2012
Kent Hurlimann Football League
VCD Athletic Club, Old Road, Crayford DA1 4DN