Ten-man Exeter City ground out their third away win of the season with a gutsy 2-0 win over struggling Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Whites badly needed a win over the Grecians to breathe new life into their battle against relegation to the Third Division but Ray Lewington’s afternoon couldn’t have got off to a worse start when Exeter took the lead through one of the strangest goals of the season in the very first minute. Right back Jason Minnett lifted an early free-kick into the penalty area but a stiff wind blew it beyond a backpedalling Jim Stannard and into the Hammersmith End net to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Former Fulham midfielder Mark Cooper made it 2-0 from the penalty spot ten minutes before half time after referee Jim Borrett penalised Terry Angus for a foul on David Mehew. Exeter played the final fifty minutes with ten men after goalkeeper Kenny Veysey was dismissed for a professional foul three minutes before half time, but substitute goalkeeper Allen McKnight made a string of fine saves in the second half keeping out efforts from Alan Brazil, Rob Haworth and substitute Ara Bedrossian.
Exeter defended diligently and even carved out chances on the counter attack with Dennis Bailey, Mehew and Cooper going close to extending their advantage as they claimed an impressive three points to leave feeble Fulham even deeper in relegation trouble.
FULHAM: Stannard; Angus (Mison 64), Eckhardt, Herrera, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Tierling, Ferney (Bedrossian 51), Brazil, Haworth. Subs (not used): Harrison.
BOOKED: Morgan, Eckhardt, Ferney.
EXETER CITY: Veysey; Minett, Daniels, Llewellyn, Storer, Thirlby (McKnight 42), Bailey, Cooper, Phillips, Mehew, Turner.
SENT OFF: Veysey (42).
GOALS: Minett (1), Cooper (pen 35).
REFEREE: Jim Borrett (Ipswich)
ATTENDANCE: 4,602.
