Goals from John Marshall, Sean Farrell and Jeff Eckhardt proved just enough for Fulham to edge a five-goal thriller at Mansfield Town this afternoon.
Jim Stannard made two superb saves from Paul McLoughlin and Phil Stant within the first five minutes as Don Mackay’s side weathered a lively start from their newly-promoted hosts. The Cottagers went in front after some lovely interplay between Peter Baah and Farrell led to Eckhardt teeing up Marshall and the veteran midfielder buried a 20-yarder with aplomb. Eckhardt, again deployed as a strike partner for Farrell, almost set up a second for Marshall five minutes later but this time the midfielder dragged his shot wide of the target.
Former Fulham forward Phil Stant, fondly remembered for his winner at Griffin Park, threatened to bring Mansfield level before the break but he was twice thwarted by Stannard’s remarkable reactions in one-on-ones. It was Mackay’s men who pushed for a second after the resumption with Mark Newson’s header hacked off the line by Gary Castledine just a minute into the second half. Stannard spread himself superbly to save from Stant once more before Baah saw a shot cleared off the line by Chris Withie after fine work by Farrell.
Farrell gave Fulham some breathing space in the 74th minute when he raced onto a through ball from John Marshall leaving Kevin Gray trailing in his wake and steering his shot wide of a helpless Gary Pearcey. But that was far from the end of the scoring. Stant hit back from the restart with a powerful finish after Martin Pike could only head Gary Ford’s cross in the striker’s direction.
Eckhardt’s excellent header from Farrell’s fine cross restored Fulham’s two-goal advantage a minute later and, although Stant scored a second of the afternoon from the spot after he had been hauled down in the area by Mark Newson, the Cottagers’ clung on to claim an impressive three points.
MANSFIELD TOWN: Pearcey; Fairclough, Gray, Clarke, Withe, Parkin, Castledine, Charles (Stringfellow 65), McLaughlin, Ford, Stant. Subs (not used): Halliday.
GOALS: Stant (75, 86).
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Ferney (Bailey 56), Hails, Baah (Onwere 80), Farrell.
GOALS: Marshall (25), Farrell (74), Eckhardt (76).
REFEREE: Mick Peck (Burton).
ATTENDANCE: 3,228.
