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Tuesday 1 January 2008	CONFERENCE SOUTH
Fisher Athletic 3 Welling United 2 Thomas 65, 69, 75 Green 67 Coleman 83 261

Referee Linesmen

1 Jamie Turner   2 Leon Solomon   3 Robbie Ryan   4 Richard Carpenter 5 Chris Moore   6 John Wilfort   7 Ellis Green   8 Neil Smith   9 Ellis Remy   10 Charles Ademeno   11 Joe Howe   12 Lloyd Blackman (7)   13 Marc Powell   14 Rory Hill   15 Sam Keevill (8)   16 Omari Coleman (10)

Having had his best match for a while last Saturday, there was no sign of Orlando Smith this time out, with Joe Howe taking his spot wide left, and Leon stepped in at right back to replace Jackson Five who was also nowhere to be seen.

A very dull first half was played out goalless with both teams looking very mediocre. The visitors were sitting back too much and giving the hosts far too much space and time, but for all that Fisher failed to really threaten Turner’s goal whilst the Wings were at least having some pops at goal. Ademeno tried a number of shots – itself an improvement on past performances – but none looked likely to put us ahead. Remy missed a good chance when he stabbed an inviting ball down onto the ground before its was cleared off the line, and clear advice from Matt the Hat on the terraces saw the ref smiling as he awarded a corner that he was going to give anyway.

The second half started in much the same vein, but suddenly ignited with 3 goals in 6 minutes. Fisher went ahead on 65 minutes through Thomas, but 2 minutes later a Wings attack saw the ball reach Ellis Green on the right, and the winger fired a solid diagonal low shot first time past the home keeper to level the scores. Another 2 minutes and Wesley Thomas - who might have been a pre-season target for the Wings – bagged his second to put the home side ahead.

Richard Carpenter hammered a scorching shot from the edge of the box; the keeper did not react at all but was lucky enough for the ball to ricochet off his right shoulder and away to safety.

A piece of pure pantomime was then presented to the festive crowd. Carpenter shaped up to take a free kick inside the home half out on the visitors’ left flank, but with all the players jostling for position as usual along the edge of the box the usual lofted kick did not appear; instead, Chippy knocked the ball along the ground to Howe, who failed to control it under pressure from Thomas. Howe lost the ensuing tussle for the ball as the pair moved towards the halfway line, and Thomas controlled it and was away on a run down the right which ended with him slotting the ball past JT to complete his hat-trick and seal the win for Fisher.

A flurry of Welling subs took place late in the half, with Keevill replacing Smith (the boss having had another of his better games in midfield), Blackman replacing Green (why take him off when he was creating most threats for the Wings?) and a welcome return for Omari who replaced Ademeno. It didn’t take long for Coleman to make his mark and he duly fired in a low rocket of a shot that the keeper just could not hold to notch up the Wings second goal of the day.

Overall this performance was not as bad as some recent ones – notably way at Wealdstone and at home to the Fish on Boxing Day – but was still not good enough. Goals are coming again but the knack of grinding out results must be found soon before the season slips away.

Kappa