Fulham hit rock bottom of the Third Division after being hit for five by a rampant Walsall side at the Bescot Stadium this afternoon.
Walsall took the lead in the second minute. Dean Peer hung up a cross that was turned against the far post by Scott Houghton and the rebound fell kindly for Chris Marsh to open the scoring with the simplest of finishes. Former Crystal Palace youngster Martin O’Connor nodded a header wide and Jim Stannard made two sharp saves to keep out fierce drives from Houghton.
Kyle Lightbourne headed the hosts into a two-goal lead on 25 minutes when he punished poor marking to meet a Marsh free-kick. Any hope of a Fulham revival disappeared on the stroke of half time when a fine home counter attack saw O’Connor conjure up a glorious crossfield ball to put Marsh in behind the Fulham defence and he stroked his second of the afternoon past the helpless Standard.
The lively Lightbourne scored twice in four second half minutes to complete his hat-trick. The Bermuda international started and finished the move for Walsall’s fourth goal, producing a peach of a cross to set up Houghton. Stannard made a superb sprawling save but the danger was not cleared as Houghton recovered his composure to square for Lightbourne to volley home from close range.
Lightbourne registered his first hat-trick in English league football with a simple header from Marsh’s cross to the delight of the home fans. Fulham’s scant consolation came from Gary Brazil, when the forward fired in a fierce drive from an acute angle – with his frustration evident in the finish.
WALSALL: Woods; Evans, Rodgers, Gibson, Marsh, Palmer, O’Connor, Peer, Lightbourne, Wilson (Namark 87), Houghton. Subs (not used): Watkiss, Walker.
GOALS: Marsh (3, 45), Lighbourne (25, 58, 62).
FULHAM: Stannard; Morgan, Herrera, Hurlock, Moore, M. Thomas (Blake 54), Marshall, Jupp, Cork, Brazil, Hails (Haworth 52). Sub (not used): Harrison.
GOAL: Brazil (65).
REFEREE: Mike Riley (Leeds).
ATTENDANCE: 3,378.
