Bearsted’s victory today cemented their place in the SCEFL play-off places as they drew level on points with today’s opponents Fisher, both of whom are now five points clear of fourth placed Larkfield and New Hythe.

The game itself saw both teams playing good football and defending well, Bearsted had the first half chance when in the 12^th minute Jake Embery slipped the ball through for Aiden Clarke whose first time shot went just past the post.

Two minutes later Sam Flisher on the left passed inside to Embery but his shot was saved by Isacc Ogunseri. Fisher got their first half chance in the 15^th minute when Lorenzo Duncan running forward into the area saw his angled shot saved by Leighton Fanshawe.

Three minutes later Bearsted had a glorious chance to score when Richard Jimoh latched onto a long ball in the area, but his weak shot was easily saved. 

In the 25^th minute Fisher should have scored when Duncan on the left saw his low cross evade everyone except Rafael Garcia on the back post, who from two yards scooped the ball over the bar.

Then in the next minute Bearsted took the lead when another long ball found James Bessey who crept into the area and chipped over the advancing Ogunseri. In the 30^th minute Tom Jones saw his thirty-yard shot easily save by Fanshawe.

Then in the next minute Bearsted doubled their lead when Ryan Blake running forward from his own half passed to Sam Stace in the area and he shot past Ogunseri. In the 35^th minute Fisher nearly pulled a goal back when a corner into the six-yard box saw Adejola Lahan on his own head over the bar.

The last chance of the half came in the 38^th minute when Bessey on the left wing cut inside and passed into the path of Clark but his shot from eighteen yards was saved.

The second half saw Fisher take complete control of the game as they dominated possession with Bearsted relying on scraps.

In the 67^th minute Duncan on an overlap saw his low cross find Eric Koduah but from eight yards he shot over the bar. Then in the 77^th minute Fisher got a well-deserved goal when a low cross to the near post was headed in by Michael Sarpong from five yards.

Fisher now threw the kitchen sink at Bearsted in search of the equaliser and in the 84^th minute they should have equalised when Festos Kamara’s cross into the area found Chibueze Echem on his own, but he headed over the bar. The final whistle went and it was relief for Bearsted but at this stage of the season it doesn’t matter how you get the three points as long as you get them.

        Bearsted:

1. L.Fanshawe   2. S.Flisher  3. C.Lee  4. J.Palmby  5. R.Blake  6. S.Jackson  7. J.Bessey (53)

8.   A.Clark (69)  9. J.Embery  10. S.Stace (88)  11. R.Jimoh (69)

Subs Used:  16. N.Light (53)  15. A.Adesite (69)  17. J.Wisson (69)  12. P.Headley (88)

Subs Not Used: 14. J.Nurden

Bookings:  9. J.Embery (28)

        Fisher:

1. I.Ogunseri   2. J.Gibbons  3. L.Duncan  4. T. Mbuenimo  5. A.Lathan  6. C.Darwish  7. R.Garcia (45)

8.   Aj. Martin (45) 9. F.Kamara  10. T.Jones (75)  11. A.Kozak (66)

Subs Used: 15. E.Koduah (45)  16. M.Sarpong (45)  14. C.Echem (66)  12. F.Jumo (75)

Subs Not Used: 17. D.Macaulay

Bookings: 4. T.Mbuenimo (60)

Referee: Mr D.Kempson

Assistants: Mr J.Borga And Mr J.Neil

Att: 114