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| Spring had arrived in Barnehurst |
After a weekend away in Antwerp, it was back to reality this weekend. I didn't want to travel too far out of London and so I had a choice between Phoenix Sports versus Fisher in The Southern Counties East League and Hollands and Blair against Glebe in The Kent Invicita League. Engineering work forced my hand and so I headed to South East London. This is Phoenix Sports' second ever season at this level following their title winning season in The Invicita League in 2013. They are having a phenomenal season and had only dropped two points in the league all season - the only game they hadn't won was last weekend at Woodstock Sports. As well as the impressive league form, they also managed to reach the last 16 of The FA Vase. The only other time I'd seen Fisher play was away to Clapton in The London Senior Cup several seasons ago. The visitors were keen for points to pull themselves away from the bottom of the league table. In the reverse fixture, Phoenix won 3-0 at Dulwich Hamlet's Champions Hill Stadium.
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| Kick off at Phoenix Sports Club |
The opening stages are fairly scrappy and the only real early chance of note is a Phoenix header from a corner which is blocked by the defender. Fisher's first real chance is an in swinging corner which is cleared off the line by a Phoenix defender. It is then the home side's turn to come close with a set piece but the diving header at the back post misses the target. Fisher then take a shock lead as the ball is prodded through the defensive line and the forward beats the keeper to the ball and he slots the ball in to the empty net. Phoenix go on the attack and a long throw in to the area causes panic. Fisher further extend their lead when the forward evades several challenges and gets his shot away. The keeper gets a strong hand to it but the ball is well over the line to put the visitors two up. Phoenix half the deficit almost straight away. A diagonal ball in to the area is flicked on in to the net. In the closing moments of the half, the Phoenix player is shown a second yellow and a mass brawl erupts. For a moment it looks like the referee is going to abandon the game but is able to restore and finish the half.
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| Phoenix attack in front of their new stand |
Fisher have a chance to restore their two goal lead when the ball falls to the attacker at the edge of the area but his effort is well over. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Phoenix push on for the equaliser. They get in a couple of good positions, the best being when the winger gets to the byline and his pull back is hacked away by Fisher defence. The numbers are levelled when the Fisher keeper handles the ball outside of the area and is he is shown a second yellow card. There is no sub keeper so an outfield player goes in goal and he is bailed by his defence when he misses a long throw. Phoenix can smell blood and the attacker should do better with a chance from around the penalty spot. The home side do eventually get the equaliser when every stops to look at the referee following a possible infringement. One Phoenix player does play to the whistle and curls the ball in to the net while everyone else is stood still. There are no further goals as Phoenix Sports draw their second game in a row.
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| Fisher attack the clubhouse end in the first half. |
The closest station to Phoenix Sports in Barnehurst. As I eluded to earlier, the journey doesn't take too long and is about forty minutes. Trains depart from either Charing Cross or Victoria. If you walk away from the ground in to Northumberland Heath you can visit
The Brewers Arms which despite the poor reviews is a fairly decent pub. Right next to the station is
The Red Barn which did the job and had Sky Sports. The ground is then a steady twenty minute walk from the station. The clubhouse seems fairly new and had the usual selection of drinks as well as BT Sports on a big projector screen.
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| Uncovered side of the ground |
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