Ian Branfoot was bitterly disappointed after Fulham let a two-lead slip at the seaside to hand struggling Scarborough their first point of the new season.
Hopes were high that the Cottagers could build on an encouraging start to the season that had seen them put four past Mansfield Town on the opening day and surprise Second Division Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup on Tuesday night. They made a fast start in the Yorkshire, although Gavin Kelly was horribly culpable for the opening goal when he came and failed to gather Micky Adams’ inswinging corner which deflected in off Gary Brazil.
Scarborough’s reserve goalkeeper’s poor start was about to get even worse. He dropped a swirling Duncan Jupp cross at the feet of Martin Thomas four yards out and the midfielder had the simplest of tasks to slam a finish high into the roof of the net. The midfielder should have matched his brace against Mansfield when Jupp delivered another tantalising ball in from the right, but Thomas headed over.
Within two minutes of that miss, the home side had a lifeline. Player-coach Andy Ritchie got off the mark from Scarborough when he punished some slack marking from Mark Todd’s free-kick. A scrappy second half saw the hosts grow in belief as Fulham’s neat passing patterns became a thing of the past. Thomas screwed a shot wide after latching onto a brilliant ball from Brazil, but that was a rare attack for Branfoot’s side, who increasingly were penned back in their own half.
Terry Angus headed off the line to deny David D’Auria an equaliser after he had chipped Tony Lange, but Fulham failed to deal with United’s incessant pressure. Canadian midfielder Oliver Heald struck a sensational leveller from 35 yards when he found the top corner with a first-time finish after Jupp’s clearing header dropped at his feet. Lange made a superb stop from Richie in the last minute to ensure that Branfoot’s bruised charges went home with another at all.
FULHAM: Lange; Jupp, Herrera, Angus, Blake; Mison, Morgan, Thomas (Barkus 77), Adams; Conroy, Brazil (Cusack 77). Sub (not used): Harrison.
BOOKED: Angus.
GOALS: Brazil (7), Thomas (21).
REFEREE: Uriah Rennie (South Yorkshire).
ATTENDANCE: 1,946
