Fleet Town 2 - 5 Fisher Athletic

Dr Martens Eastern

Match Report by Steve Cantle

Three goals in quick succession ten minutes into the second-half sealed this match for visitors, Fisher, in a pulsating match, full of drama, at Fleet's Calthorpe Park ground.

The game was only 6 minutes old when Fleet were reduced to 10 men, after defender, Lee Blakely was sent off for bringing down Fisher's Richard Brady just short of the penalty area. Brady then cleanly struck the resulting free-kick past an out-stretched Calvin Sparshatt to open the scoring for the visitors.

Player/manager, Gary Abbott then made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute, with a well-judged header from a corner.

For their part Fleet were playing well, despite the man disadvantage, and in the 25th minute fully deserved to get one back, courtesy a header from Dan Jeffrey, after a great cross from striker Craig Leworthy.

A bizarre incident 10 minutes later reduced Fisher also to 10 men when mid-fielder, Michael Smith was shown red, after an angry exchange with one of his own players, Brady. Fleet then sought to capitalise and enjoyed their best spell of the game, putting keeper, Michael Holder under considerable pressure.

The visitors came out strongly after the break. Wingman, Dan Fletcher hit the woodwork, and then Brady made no mistake after rounding the Fleet defence to score his second in the 55th minute. Ten minutes later, Brady again beat two men to fire across the goal for Goma Lambu to score his side's fourth. Abbott then made it five, directly from a corner.

Fleet didn't give up and played some attractive football despite the wet, slippery conditions. Sub, Eddie Smith pulled one back for Fleet, from the penalty spot, after being brought down in the box by defender, Matt Rouse. Wingman Shaun Hale then hit the woodwork, but the visitors held out to take all of the points back to London.

FLEET TOWN: Sparshatt, Clark, Blakely, Hare, Chalmers, (sub Millerick, 75 mins), Jeffrey, Black, Anstey, (Buckland, 75), Whitcher, Leworthy, (Smith,75), Hale. Subs (not used): Proctor, May.