Charles strike fires EP to FA Cup win over Fisher

EP, who were far from their best, had keeper Matt Evans to thank for a number of smart saves in a disciplined performances as they edged out their noisy, foul-mouthed visitors in the replay, after things ended all square in London on Saturday.

The Kent League side may have been in the hat for the next round had they put as much effort into playing as they did into dissent and challenging every decision, as, at times, they looked a quality outfit.

EP came out of the blocks the quicker and were ahead inside two minutes. A fine cross-field ball picked out Charles on the left and he took a couple of touches to get a sight at goal and fired in off the underside of the crossbar from outside the area.

Fisher’s Adam Wademore went close to levelling on four minutes when Evans pushed his stinging effort over the bar, before Evans again tipped wide from the resulting corner as Danny Taylor angled a backward header towards the top corner.

Seven minutes later and the tricky Ope Aromona went close as he skipped inside, shrugged off a couple of challenges and fired across goal, Evans was at full stretch to get his fingertips to it to prevent a leveller, despite a goal kick being given.

After such a fierce start, things died down until the second half as both sides had some passing moves but lacked the final ball.

Five minutes into the second half, the post spared EP defender Alex Duncan’s blushes as he sent a low corner onto the upright.

The visitors’ barrage of bad language continued to flow as the air turned as blue as their shirts, and the man in the middle finally started dishing out cautions.

On the hour mark, EP’s best chance to finish it off fell to Jordan Clark at the far post as Matt Axell picked him out, but the unmarked midfielder failed to control and it bounced off him and keeper Danny Firkins managed to collect it.

Clark again went close on 75 minutes as a long kick from Evans bounced through, but he lifted it over the onrushing Firkins but wide of the far post.

Fisher had a couple of golden chances to force extra-time in the final 20 minutes.

First, Zak Henry’s long-range effort, after a short corner, took a deflection just yards out and Evans did well to stop it. While, in injury-time, Fisher squandered their best chance as a lovely lofted ball set Aromona away one-on-one, but Evans raced out to block his effort.

EP boss Dominic Di Paola said: “I’m pleased we got through but I didn’t think we played too well at all.

“I thought we were really poor, actually. They’re a good side and looked fitter and sharper at times, and I don’t know what caused that.

“We’ve still beaten a good side, though, and we’re through so I can’t really complain.”

EP travel to Guildford City in the next round on August 25.