Fisher Athletic 3-1 Maidstone United - Friendly finishes as a nine-a-side farce

With the Stones leading courtesy of a fifth minute strike from Welshman Andy Martin, who was playing in an unfamiliar central midfield role, Blackheath based referee, Mr James Garrett stole the show on the half-hour mark.

Waiting for skipper Sam Tydeman to whip in a free-kick from the right, Mr Garrett decided to show straight red cards to Stones’ new signing from Welling United, central defender, Ben Lewis, and Fisher’s new signing from Dagenham & Redbridge, right-winger, Sean Batt.

The pair had exchanged pushes and shoves as they jostled for position awaiting Tydeman’s delivery.

The decision to send both players off sparked uproar from the crowd and both dug-outs, and both sides threatened to walk off the pitch following the controversial decision.

Tydeman was also sent off by the card happy official, for something that he said, following the initial incident.

But in a remarkable show of sportsmanship, Fisher Athletic’s manager, Wayne Burnett, withdrew right-back Jason Thompson at the break - with the score at 1-1 - so the rest of the match was played as a training ground exercise, instead of a gripping match for the paying spectator.

Fisher, who had levelled inside first-half stoppage time through Ross Gaynor, went on to score two second half goals through Gavin Heeroo and Leo Gohann, whilst Stones substitute, Mo Takaloo saw his 47^th minute penalty saved.

But both sides were allowed to play their free-flowing football for the opening 30 minutes.

Fisher should have opened the scoring inside the opening three minutes, but Gaynor drilled a shot just past the right-post.

But former Tonbridge Angels and Cray Wanderers striker, Martin, gave the Ryman Premier League visitors a fifth minute lead.

Martin unleashed a left-footed drive from sixteen yards that found the bottom right hand corner, following a cross from Alex Tiesse that just sailed over Simon Austin’s head.

Austin squandered an excellent chance to double the Stones lead soon after but his half-volley cleared the crossbar.

Winger, Nick Hegley, skipped past two Fisher defenders out on the flank, before squaring the ball for Austin.

But the striker’s right-footed drive, from sixteen-yards, flashed just past the foot of the near post.

Sean Batt sent a volley over Pat Mullin’s crossbar from twelve yards after 27 minutes, following a left-footed cross from Gaynor.

Gaynor had initially received the ball from Batt, who shrugged off Hegley, who had tracked his run from midfield.

But fans had to watch a training ground match for the remaining sixty minutes, following the three-cards that were issued by Mr Garrett, as it took five minutes for the game to re-start.

Mullin had to be alert to tip Gaynor’s cross-come-shot over his crossbar but was beaten by the same player inside stoppage time, when the left-sided midfielder drilled an angled shot into the corner.

Maidstone United made four changes at the interval, and Burnett sacrificing Thompson to make it nine-a-side.

And the Stones should have taken the lead after 47 minutes but Lewington dived to his right to beat out Takaloo’s right-footed penalty, after Nathan Paul was fouled inside the box on the right-hand side, following one of his trade-mark runs.

Another substitute, goalkeeper Michal Czanner made a string of fine saves during the second half, although he was twice beaten.

Another half-time substitute, Craig Wilkins, a summer signing from Dover Athletic, sent a left-footed hooked shot over Fisher’s crossbar after 57 minutes from eighteen-yards, before the south Londoners took the lead a minute later.

Gavin Heeroo’s left-footed drive from thirty-yards skidded of the lush turf and found the bottom right-hand corner, past the diving Czanner.

Later, Czanner pulled off a smart save to thwart Jamie Martin, by tipping over the fierce drive from the substitute.

Fisher wrapped up the victory with two minutes remaining when substitute Gohann rifled the ball over Czanner and into the roof of the net from close range, following a cut-back from substitute, Theo Fairweather-Johnson.

However, it might have been a different outcome, as Maidstone United were playing well, before the Blackheath referee lost the plot.

Mr Garrett was more interested in his post-match meal than explaining his actions when www.kentishfootball.co.uk tried to get his reaction in the boardroom afterwards.

Fisher Athletic: Chris Lewington (Tim Roberts 70), Simon Jackson, Jason Thompson, Ramauld Boudaji, Nicholas Plumain (Dean Matt 75), Gavin Heerou (Serge Musungu 66), Sean Batt, Luke Hickey (Kenny Beaney 66), Gavin Tomlin (Leo Gohann 60), Matthew Batt (Jamie Martin 60), Ross Gaynor (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 85).

Sent off: Sean Batt 30

Goals: Ross Gaynor 45, Gavin Heerou 59, Leo Gohann 88

Maidstone United: Pat Mullin (Michal Czanner 45), Roberto Corbishley (Kane Rice 45), Jason Barton (Jim Bodle 69), Ben Lewis, Mario McNish (Chris Smalling 72), Nathan Paul, Sam Tydeman, Andy Martin (James Peacock 72), Alex Tiesse (Mo Takaloo 45), Simon Austin (Jimmy Strouts 57), Nick Hegley (Craig Wilkins 45).

Booked: Mo Takaloo 66

Sent off: Ben Lewis 30, Sam Tydeman 32

Goal: Andy Martin 5

Referee: Mr James Garrett (Blackheath)
Assistants: Mr Phil Stevens (Streatham) & Mr Gordon Manning (Bromley)