Dale show fight in second‑half thriller, but fall short away against league leaders

Petts Wood & Holmesdale travelled to Rotherhithe to face top of the table Fisher and although the scoreline ended heavily against Dale, the second half performance showed real character and three well‑taken goals.
Dale actually started brightly. After winning the toss, trying a direct PSG style kick‑off routine and pushing on high up the pitch, but within minutes Fisher won a free kick that forced a sharp low save from Reece Hobbs, the first of many on the night.
Mecca Samuels, handed a start, looked lively. In the 5th minute, a long ball from Ryan Mahal almost sent him through and moments later Michael Fenn produced a superb recovery run and sliding clearance to prevent a certain goal.
But Fisher’s quality and pressure was relentless.
In the 12th minute, a looping cross caused chaos and a Fisher forward acrobatically scissor‑kicked the ball in for 1-0. Two minutes later they struck the bar and Dale were starting to struggle to get out.
An early injury forced Michael Fenn off for Mohammed Buhari in the 16th minute. Fisher struck again soon after, another dangerous cross found Festos Kamara, who finished clinically for 2-0 on 20 minutes, the first of his eventual hat‑trick.
Dale tried to respond. Conor Evans nearly got a shot away on the spin and Mecca went close with a header from a Conor cross in the 32nd minute. Fisher though were ruthless. A powerful strike into the top corner made it 3-0 in the 24th minute and their keeper then produced a brilliant triple save to deny Dale a lifeline.

Reece Hobbs matched him with a superb stop of his own, but Fisher kept coming. In the 42nd minute, Kamara struck again from the left side of the box, drilling home for 4-0.

Half time: Fisher 4-0 Petts Wood & Holmesdale

The second half began with another blow, a powerful finish made it 5-0 in the 48th minute.
Pete and AC reacted decisively, making a wave of substitutions in the 52nd minute:
Ollie Andrews, Jayden Boulton, Conor Evans and Joel Wakefield off,
Marley Sablier, Tank, Fynn Rutherford and Armani Jordan Martin on.
But then came the spark....
In the 56th minute, Mecca raced onto a clever ball from Fynn Rutherford and fired a cross into the box. Former Dale player Donny Macaulay turned it into his own net. 5-1 and Dale finally had momentum.
In the 64th minute, Marley Sablier slipped in Charlie Clover who showed brilliant composure to round the keeper and roll in 5-2. Dale were suddenly dangerous.
Marley then hit the bar in the 71st minute and Armani struck the post in the 76th, two big chances in quick succession. So close to being a one goal game!
Fisher though, won a penalty in the 80th minute and Kamara squeezed it under Hobbs to complete his hat‑trick and make it 6-2.
Dale though, did not fold at this point and in the 83rd minute, Marley claimed his second assist of the afternoon, teeing up Fynn Rutherford, who smashed in a superb long‑range strike. 6-3 and a deserved reward for Dale’s vastly improved second half performance.

Full time: Fisher 6-3 Petts Wood & Holmesdale

Next up is a Bromley derby away at Chislehurst Glebe on Saturday.

Written by Jay Underwood
PWHFC Fixture Secretary