Justice Owusu produced three brilliant saves as Fisher beat AFC Stoneham on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first round of the FA Vase last weekend.
Remarkably, it was almost an identical outcome to the previous week when the Fish thought they were through following penalties after a 2-2 draw, only for the Football Association to order the game to be replayed due to the referee erring in not allowing a Stoneham player who had been sin-binned late on to take part in the shootout.
Ajay Ashanike’s side had to do it the hard way again after falling two goals behind against the Wessex League Premier Division side.
It took the visitors just five minutes to level following the hosts’ fourteenth-minute opener. Alli Abdullahi swept a pass across the pitch to Darnelle Bailey-King who beat his opponent on the left before crossing for Jacob Katonia to control and finish for a brilliantly worked goal.
But just as they were back in it Fisher quickly conceded again and went in behind at half-time.
There was a quadruple-blow for Ashanike when the influential Isaac Thompson was forced off injured, Manny Shoderu was sin-binned for dissent, the hosts went 3-1 up and Katonia had a penalty saved.
However, Fisher were not going to go out of a cup competition without a fight – with the experience of eight games in the FA Cup behind them this season – and got one back in the 78th minute through Joseph Adewunmi from Bailey-King’s cross.
And four minutes from time, Katonia atoned for his miss when he showed some excellent footwork in the box before finding Cedric Nganga for the equaliser with four minutes left.
There was little doubt who the hero of the shootout was. Luke Thomas, Jed Brown, Manny Brown scored from twelve yards but it was goalkeeper Owusu who produced the decisive saves with three to help send his side through.
Fisher have been drawn against Jersey Bulls of the Combined Counties League in the second round of the competition for clubs in Steps 5 and 6 of the football pyramid. That game will take place on Saturday, November 12.
Fisher are away at Canterbury City in the SCEFL Premier Division this Saturday. Kick-off is at the earlier time of 2pm.