Fifth placed Punjab United defeated Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division runners up Fisher to advance to the play-offs decider.
Despite playing their fifth match in ten games, the visitors summoned up the energy and willpower to win at a ground at which they had lost five-one just two months earlier.
They came out strongly and Wayne Bushell drew an excellent save out of Fish goalkeeper Isaac Ogunseri after the hosts had struggled to clear a long throw. Less than ten minutes were on the clock when they went ahead, Steve Ratcliff picked out Chris Edwards with a delightful cross field diagonal pass. Edwards looked up and crossed to the far post where Jack Hopkins rose to head home.
Soon after, the hosts had a great chance to equalise when a corner caused chaos in the Punjab area and it fell to Rafael Garcia who skied over from close range. Garcia had another shot, this time on target, and Mitch Beeney got down to hold it well.
Edwards headed towards goal and Ogunseri was relieved to punch it out, before the Fisher custodian saved from Ratcliff after Hopkins headed a deep free kick back across goal.
Two minutes into first half stoppage time, Punjab doubled their lead. Another Edwards low cross found Roman Campbell. He managed to force it back to Zak Bryon and with the goal gaping, he slotted it home.
Tom Jones was introduced as a substitute for Fisher at the start of the second period and eight minutes in, he made an impact. His measured through ball sent Festos Kamara away and the striker’s clever finish gave Beeney no chance.
Roman Campbell got on the end of a long pass forward but launched his shot out of the ground before a succession of substitutions broke up any flow in the game.
There were seventeen minutes remaining when Punjab gave themselves breathing space by adding a third. Once more, Edwards crossed and Ogunseri was unable to deal with it. Will Johnson-Cole was gifted an open goal and he accepted it gleefully.
Although Fisher huffed and puffed, Punjab coped with everything thrown at them and can now prepare for a visit to Rusthall on Monday to decide which club is promoted to step four for the first time.
Fisher: Ogunseri, Macaulay (Lawson 56), Djadja, Darwish, Duncan; Sarpong, Mbuenimo; Garcia (Jones 46), Martin, Kozak (Lovell 70); Kamara (Lahan 81).
Sub not used: Owusu.
Goalscorer: Kamara (53)
Yellow cards: Mbuenimo (32 foul), Kamara 53 (ungentlemanly conduct)
Punjab United: Beeney; Lewin-Thomas, W. Bushell, Ratcliff, J. Campbell; Bryon (Johnson-Cole 67), Singh; Edwards (Gill 90+3), Hopkins, Bird; R. Campbell (Ottaway 71).
Subs not used: Scudder, Monger.
Goalscorers: Hopkins (9), Bryon (45+2), Johnson-Cole (73)
Yellow cards: Lewin-Thomas (25 delay of restart), J. Campbell (51 foul), R. Campbell (55 foul), Bryon (63 foul), Edwards (90+1 foul)
Referee: Byron Beard
Assistants: Thomas Marshall and Martin Belsom
Fourth official: Krystian Kaczala
Attendance: 449