Fishy penalties see us crash out the FA Vase in dramatic fashion
We exited this season’s FA Vase at the third-round stage following a dramatic and extended penalty shoot-out, after showing real character to force the tie to spot kicks late on. Having done brilliantly to score deep into added time and take the game to penalties, disputed decisions during the shoot out saw us exist 8-7, having thought we’d won it by the same score.
Fisher opened the scoring with their first real attack of the match. In the fifth minute, a ball into the box fell to Kesna Clarke, who finished well to put the hosts 1–0 up. While Fisher enjoyed spells of possession, we defended well as a unit and limited clear-cut chances. A lengthy stoppage for a head injury forced us into a change before the break, with TJ Taylor replacing Jake Rumble. Fisher almost doubled their lead with the final kick of the half when Festos Kamara’s effort fizzed just wide, and we went in at the interval trailing by a single goal.
After the restart, Fisher were denied on 56 minutes when a strong defensive challenge stopped Clarke just as he was about to shoot. With the game becoming congested in midfield, both sides made substitutions in search of momentum, and it was the substitutes who would have the biggest impact.
On 72 minutes, Fisher goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri produced an excellent save to deny us an equaliser, pushing the ball away for a corner that came to nothing. Almost immediately at the other end, substitute Lorenzo Duncan made it 2–0, scoring just nine minutes after coming on. Three minutes later, we responded when substitute Hadif Darwysh pulled a goal back, himself only six minutes into his appearance.
Fisher thought they had sealed the tie on 89 minutes when Festos Kamara found the net, but the offside flag denied them. With a minimum of seven minutes added, the drama continued. David Mata saw a shot blocked and cleared, before Kamara tested Sam Gray from distance. Then, deep into the seventh minute of added time, Hadif Darwysh struck again to level the match at 2–2 and send the tie to penalties.
The shoot-out took place at the Dockers End in front of the home supporters, with us taking the first kick. Charlie Postance opened confidently before Donald Macaulay replied. The second penalties for both sides were missed, keeping it level. We then converted through TJ Taylor, Lewis Hillary and Tom Drinkwater, while Fisher matched us kick for kick, leaving the score 4–4 after five penalties each.
Sudden death followed. Sean Swift and Michael Sarpong both scored, as did Hadif Darwysh and Conor Darwish. George Butler then converted our eighth penalty, before Sam Gray saved David Mata’s effort, sparking celebrations that were cut short when the kick was ordered to be retaken. Mata made no mistake second time around to level the shoot-out at 7–7. Our ninth penalty was missed, leaving Tyron Mbeunimo to win it for Fisher, which he did, sending them through 8–7 on penalties.
Fleet Town starting XI
- Sam Gray
- Tom Drinkwater
- Lewis Hillary
- George Butler
- Liam Avery
- Sam Bartlett
- Charlie Postance
- Chike Kandi
- Eoin Fraser
- Jake Rumble
- Ollie Burke
Substitutes
- Sean Swift (on for Kandi)
- 11 George Sellick (on for Burke)
- 16 Hadid Darwysh (on for Avery) ⚽ ⚽
- 18 Alex Keating (on for Bartlett)
- 20 TJ Taylor (on for Rumble)
