Fisher 0-5 Erith Town - I might give it until Christmas and re-asses the situation and see how I feel, says struggling Fisher boss Dean Harrison

Fisher 0 – 5 Erith Town
Location	Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD
Kickoff	07/12/2015 19:45

FISHER  0-5  ERITH TOWN
Southern Counties East Football League
Monday 7^th December 2015
Stephen McCartney reports from Champion Hill Stadium

FISHER manager Dean Harrison says he will consider his future at Christmas after suffering a 5-0 thrashing at home to Erith Town in front of the club’s lowest crowd of the season.

The Dockers moved up a couple of places into fifth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League table on 28 points from 16 games – 14 points adrift of league leaders Hollands & Blair, but with a couple of games in hand, after this impressive win in front of only 56 fans at Champion Hill.

Tom Youngs scored twice in the first half to put Erith Town in the driving seat, before the floodgates opened in the final 11 minutes as struggling Fisher capitulated.

Man-of-the-match Ola Rabiu capped off an impressive performance with his seventh goal of the season, before striker Tom Garrick netted his 16^th goal of the campaign, before Youngs completed his hat-trick at the end of a very impressive performance by Erith Town.

Harrison kept his players’ inside the dressing room until 22:30 to clear the air with his players, who also put their points across.

When the struggling Fisher manager emerged from the dressing room, he said: “Am I allowed to swear? S***! It’s not good, not good enough at any level, not a good enough performance at all!

“We were just having a little chat about what went wrong tonight. What was the difference between the good performance Saturday, where we should’ve got something from the game at Ashford if we hadn’t had a man sent-off and the performance tonight. 

“The two performances were like night and day and there was only two days between them - so why?

“I think what it comes down to, what we just said then, the three key words were; a lack of trust in each other tonight; a lack of desire and a lack of intelligence.  They were the three key words from them.”

Fisher remain in the bottom four on 15 points from 17 games, six points clear of bottom side Holmesdale.

When asked about his future at the club, Harrison admitted his time may be up soon.

When asked whether he can bring in better players, Harrison replied: “No because we haven’t got any money and there lies the problem.  I don’t know how many teams in this league haven’t got a budget, there’s not many, they’re all paying.

“Players in this league will go anywhere for £40, that’s a fact because some of them might need the money but a lot of them like to say they’re getting paid to play football so if you can’t offer them any money, they’re going to go somewhere where someone is.

“What do you do? Do you fight a losing battle. It’s a tough one.

“I don’t know how I feel at the minute, I’ve got to be honest with you. It’s just not the results and the team, it’s the whole thing in general at the moment.  I’ve been thinking about it over the last month. I’m not sure. I might give it until Christmas and re-assess the situation and see how I feel.

“There’s a lot of things at the top which I don’t think are right and I think if the tops not right, it’s hard to have it right at the bottom, so I will make my decision and I’ll have a think about it.”

Erith Town joint-manager, Joe Ford, meanwhile, was delighted with his side’s Monday night in Dulwich.

“I thought the performance was absolutely exceptional from start to finish,” he said.

“I thought we controlled the game, yes, absolutely over the moon with it.

“It’s been coming for a long time. We’ve let ourselves down over the last couple of weeks with a few poor performances and poor results but I thought tonight we approached the game exactly how we asked them to and an exceptional performance from the lads.”

Erith Town opened the scoring with the first attempt on goal, with five minutes and 59 seconds on the clock.

The Dockers played the ball across the back with Jason Mensah, Danny Willis and Luke Coleman all getting touches before right-back Coleman released talented winger Rabiu down the right.

He skimmed past Fisher left-back Veejay Miller to cut into the area and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Youngs to drill his right-footed shot across goal and into the far corner from 16-yards.

Ford said: Ola ripped their number 3 (Miller) to shreds tonight. I thought Ola sort of done really well against him tonight.  Great cross, good delivery. It’s gone through everyone and Youngie’s there with a composed finish at the end for his first goal.”

Harrison added: ”Ola’s a good winger, he caused us problems all night and then the ball goes in and there’s two over at the back post. If you don’t mark in the area, you’re going to concede goals.”

Coleman hit a deep free-kick from the left which sailed over the Fisher defence but Garrick failed to keep his hooked volley down when lurking unmarked at the far post.

Fisher were to be denied an equaliser in the 12^th minute when right-winger James Fray cut in and his angled drive was palmed away by visiting keeper Joe Hagan, diving to his right.

Harrison said: “Listen, for 10 minutes until they scored, what minute did they score in? Sixth minute? I think after that for probably 10-15 minutes we were alright.

“It wasn’t a one-sided game, obviously they caused us some more problems down the wings but we were in it. We had a couple of chances but didn’t score. We didn’t score. We ain’t scoring, we ain’t creating chances.”

Ford added: “They started quite brightly, like I thought they would.  First five minutes we struggled to get into the game but as soon as we had our first breakaway from that point onwards we were firmly in control. I think we scored from our first break as well.”

Fray then collected a pass and stroked a right-footed drive from 35-yards, which bounced into the hands of the former Fisher keeper.

Holding midfielder Aaron Jeffrey then released Rabiu down the right and his driven shot was blocked by Ade Adeniyi’s foot at the goalkeeper’s near post, as the winger tried to steer his shot into the bottom near corner.

Erith Town produced a slick move in the 15^th minute when Rabiu played the ball inside to Garrick, who passed to Damian Ramsamy, who swept the ball out to Youngs on the left.

Youngs lashed his left-footed drive towards the top near corner, which Adeniyi palmed over the bar for a corner.

Ford added: “Good movement. When you look at those four players you’ve just mentioned, they’re absolutely frightening going forward, good lads to have at the club. All in it together, a great move again and unlucky not to score.”

Rabiu put Garrick through on goal and the Fisher keeper moved swiftly to make a fine block as Erith Town continued to dominate.

Fisher weathered the storm and space opened up in front of Miller, who drilled a speculative right-footed drive from 35-yards, which whistled harmlessly wide of the goal.

Fisher winger Travis Gregory then swung in a free-kick from the right and Jalloh came up from the back to stoop his header up and over the Erith Town crossbar from six-yards.

Harrison added: “He should’ve scored, he didn’t, he should’ve scored!

“We weren’t getting over-run. I think we were getting ourselves adjusted after they scored. Obviously we were still in the game at 1-0.”

Fisher produced a good move in the 28^th minute when Gregory and Miller linked up down the left inside the Dockers half of the pitch.  Miller whipped in the cross which was cleared out to Jack Martin, the Fisher right-back flashing his right-footed drive just past the foot of the left-hand post from 20-yards.

A penetrating run down the left by Youngs saw the winger play the ball inside to Jeffrey, who swept the ball out wide to Rabiu down the right.  The winger cut inside and cracked a fierce left-footed drive just over the crossbar from 20-yards.

But Erith Town doubled their lead in a controversial manner with 40 minutes on the clock.

Rabiu clearly fouled Jalloh as the pair challenge for the ball down the right and the winger cut inside, played the ball inside to Garrick, whose shot was parried by Adeniyi, the ball looping off his body and clipping the crossbar and Youngs showed desire to nip in and head the ball into the empty net from eight-yards.

Harrison said: “He’s reacted quicker than anyone else. He was free again in the same areas, no one’s picking up, no-one’s taking responsibility.

“By the way, leading up to that second goal. Ola fouled our left-back right in front of the linesman and it was a foul and our boys have stopped expecting the whistle to be blown or the flag to be waved and it wasn’t!

“That did change the game right on half-time. I wasn’t very happy about that!  It was a blatant foul and it shouldn’t have been 2-0. It changed the game in my opinion right on half-time.”

Ford added: “We spoke about getting players in the box today. Ola’s been playing exceptional for the last couple of games and he’s put in some great deliveries for us but we haven’t had people getting into the box.

“That’s why we put Aaron Jeffrey in there tonight, just hoping that he’d get in the box along with Damo (Ramsamy) as well playing central midfielders, hoping they’d get in the end of things again.”

Erith Town created one final chance on the stroke of half-time and once again Rabiu was the architect, passing the ball inside to Jeffrey, who swept the ball out to Youngs, who cut inside and drilled his angled drive straight at Adeniyi at his near post.

Harrison said: “He did well Ade tonight. He came in for Joel (Hannington), who pulled his quad Saturday so we brought Ade in and he did ok. He made a couple of good stops tonight.”

When asked their thoughts at half-time, Erith Town’s victory was never in doubt.

“At half-time I told them to keep the tempo up,” said Ford.

“We done well tonight. We worked really hard, something that’s not been there in recent weeks and told them to keep doing what they were doing. Keep passing the ball, keep getting on the ball.  I thought the minute we started changing the way we play would be the minute they’d get back into the game but the passing football that we played from start to finish tonight was a joy to watch.”

Harrison simply added: “At half-time we know we just had to keep it tight  and one goal would’ve got us back into it.”

Erith Town created the first chance of the second half inside the opening four minutes –and that man Rabiu involved again!

Rabiu released Ramsamy down the right and he played the ball back inside to Rabiu, who spun and stroked his right-footed shot just past the foot of the near post.

Fisher’s best chance arrived in the 51^st minute through substitute Emiliano Hysi, who replaced captain Alfie Nunn at the break.

Mensah gave away the free-kick four a foul on striker Shelton Gooden and Hysi got his right-footed 25-yard free-kick up and over the wall and towards the near corner, but Hagan got across to his right to turn the ball around the post.

Ford said: “Disappointed to give the free-kicks away. I thought we gave a few too many away, especially in the first half.

“I did say to them at half-time to try not to give too many away, especially at 2-0 because you know the next goal is important so I was a bit disappointed we gave the free-kicks away but we dealt with it very well.”

Harrison added: “He scored from a similar area on Saturday against Ashford.  He He
HarrHe can take a free-kick, the keeper did well.”

An unmarked Youngs then hit a shot over the crossbar when Fisher’s defence went missing, not for the first time.

There was a lull in play before Fisher called Hagan into making a comfortable save, as Fray hooked his looping shot into the keeper’s hands from 30-yards.

Erith Town created yet another chance with 63 minutes on the clock when their left-back Timi Osibodu reached the by-line.

Youngs fed Osibodu on the overlap and he cut the ball back from the line to Ramsamy, who sliced his right-footed shot past the foot of the post from 20-yards.

Fisher should have pulled a goal back with a decent opportunity as the second half edged towards the halfway mark.

Martin threw the ball in from the right, Hysi, on the edge of the penalty area, laid the ball to Daniel Lawson, who attempted to curl his shot into the left-hand corner from 20-yards, the ball curling just past the post.

Erith Town wasted a great chance when Adeniyi made a smart low save to prevent Rabiu powering a low right-footed drive into the back of the net.  The ball fell at Garrick’s feet and the Erith striker placed his first time shot past the foot of the post from 15-yards.

Ford said: “Tom Garrick didn’t have the greatest of games tonight, he’ll be honest with you.

“Everything seemed to have ricochet off him. He usually makes it stick a lot more then what he did tonight but full complements to him for getting in to the area. He’s a forward and he scores goals.”

But Harrison was alarmed with the way that his young inexperienced side capitulate late in the game.

Erith Town substitute Merrick Simms beat a couple of hapless Fisher defenders down the left channel and whipped in a low cross which was tucked home by Rabiu, slotting the ball across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from eight-yards, after 79 minutes.

Ford said: “He did deserve his goa, young Merrick we brought on.  He’s got a twin brother who has been playing for us as well recently and the pair of the mare huge talents for the future.

“Merrick came on tonight, he’s gone past two players like they’re not there, his pace was superb and again composure to put in a great cross and it was a superb finish.

“Ola done well. We keep talking about Ola and how well he’s doing and bits and pieces. But he’s at this level for a reason at the moment. I still think he’s better than what he’s shown tonight and he’s had a good game tonight.

“I’ve just spoken to him in the changing room. I think he gets into areas sometimes where he can do a little bit more damage so that’s a part of the game that we’re going to work on him because he’s another player we’re looking to push on into a higher level if we can.”

Harrison said: “What can you do? They were creating space, what they did well.  Erith Town tonight, which we didn’t, was move the ball quickly and they had options every time somebody got the ball and you’re not going to create opportunities.”

Erith Town scored their fourth goal only 100 seconds later.

Youngs fed Jeffrey, who played in Garrick, who skipped around keeper Adeniyi before drilling his shot into the back of the net.

“Great finish again, I thought Aaron was superb in there tonight. Aaron’s joined us recently from Thamesmead. He’s come in tonight and done a job in central midfield. He set some great plays up, some great phases of play and again Tom’s in the right place at the right time to finish.”

Harrison added: “They took their chances. If you take your chances, you win games, either create chances and take them, you will get three points. We’re not doing either at the minute.

“It’s what it was, it was going by then. Went in at three the heads have dropped and that was the end of that, we capitulated.”

Fisher substitute Taylor Thomas ran at the Erith Town defence before shooting wide, before Erith Town wrapped up an impressive night’s work with a fifth goal with 43:36 on the clock.

Coleman released Rabiu down the right and he cut into the penalty area to cut the ball back for Youngs to hit his first time shot past the flat-footed keeper to find the bottom right-hand corner from 15-yards.

“I think that was Luke Coleman’s best game for the club tonight,” praised Ford.

“I thought he looked assured. I thought his passing was superb, switching play was second to none. He looked a class above tonight and that’s why we signed him.

“Great ball through and Youngie’s finished it absolutely superbly as well, a lovely bit of composure there.”

Reflecting on Young’s 13-goal tally from wide left, Ford added: ”Another huge talent, another player who shouldn’t be playing at this level and he’s doing really well for us.  Again, all I can say is good things about him.”

Harrison added: “They took their chances. If you take your chances you win games.

“Create chances and take them, you will get three points. We’re not doing either at the minute.  When we are creating chances, we’re not taking them. We didn’t create enough tonight but recently we have been.

“That was a very poor performance tonight on how we have been playing.”

Fisher were to be denied a last-gasp consolation following a corner from the right from Thomas, which was met by Gregory’s towering header at the far post from six-yards, which he planted against the crossbar.

Harrison was cursing his side’s bad luck, by saying, “He’s a good lad Travis. He’s got up and won the header and it’s hit the bar. That’s what happens even at 5-0 we can’t score a goal. It’ just not happening at the minute.”

Ford added: “On a serious note we spoke at half-time about having a great opportunity to keep a clean sheet. I think that’s only our third one of the season and Joe and the back four deserve more of them.

“We switched off from a corner, it was a good header and its hit the bar and luckily we’ve come away with a clean sheet because of that.”

Fisher, meanwhile, host league leaders Hollands & Blair, while Erith Town travel to Croydon on Saturday.

“Hollands & Blair Saturday, that will be fun,” said Harrison.

“I’ve just told them in there, they won’t score five. They started toying with us a little bit tonight Erith Town. I think it came a little bit easy for them once our heads dropped after three.  They passed the ball about and they enjoyed it. 

“I just said to them Hollands & Blair won’t do that. They’ll just keep going, they’ll get to double figures.

“If we play like that, so they need to be prepared or that and show a couple more desire.”

Ford, whose side are 14 points adrift of the Gillingham-based league leaders, added: “I think Croydon are in a false position in the league.  We go into Saturday full of confidence after tonight. I think if we play the football that we played tonight – against any side in this division – we’re going to test them and go all the way with every team.”

Fisher: Ade Adeniyi, Jack Martin, Veejay Miller, Jamie Taylor (Tyrell McLeod-Bentley 75), Gassimu Jalloh, Daniel Flemming, Travis Gregory, Daniel Lawson, Shelton Gooden, Alfie Nunn (Emiliano Hysi 46), James Fray (Taylor Thomas 76)
Subs: Alfie Roche, Frazer Bent

Booked: Alfie Nunn 41

Erith Town: Joe Hagan, Luke Coleman, Timi Osibodu, Danny Willis, Jason Mensah, Aaron Jeffrey (Hassan Nalbant 86), Ola Rabiu, Max Williams (Ciro Donadio 86), Tom Garrick, Damian Ramsamy (Merrick Simms 75), Tom Youngs.
Subs: Alex Gaggin, Hassan Jenneh

Goals: Tom Youngs 6, 40, 89, Ola Rabiu 79, Tom Garrick 81

Attendance: 56
Referee: Mr Leigh Judd (Tunbridge Wells)
Assistants: Mr Graham Scott (Gillingham) & Mr Notis Liappis (Croydon, Surrey)