Goals from Martin Pike and Gavin Nebbeling gave Fulham a much-needed win over a battered and bruised Stockport County outfit at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Traffic congestion meant that the visitors only arrived about half an hour before the kick-off – having to get off their coach and walk the last mile to the ground along a gridlocked Fulham Palace Road – and the crazy nature of the build-up appeared to account for Danny Bergara’s side’s slow start. County’s defence looked all over the place from the outset, with Jeff Eckhardt posing particular problems in an all action performance, and it was no surprise when the Whites took the lead in the ninth minute.
Stockport struggled to clear a cross from the impressive Julian Hails and Martin Pike powered home his ninth goal of the season via the inside of the far post. County’s hopes of getting back into the contest were further hit when both Lee Todd, who injured his knee, and Tony Barrass, nursing six stiches in a head injury, were forced off before half time. The introduction of Brian McCord and David Frain from the bench seemed to give a previously unbalanced Stockport side a bit of structure, but the visitors couldn’t score despite starting the second half in a strong fashion.
Peter Ward was unlucky to see his fine curling free-kick come back off the woodwork, Andy Preece drove over from a promising position and substitute McCord stabbed straight at Jim Stannard when an unmarked Preece, later denied by an excellent save from the Fulham goalkeeper, was screaming for a pass. Stockport paid for their prolificacy and poor marking from a set-play when Nebbeling nipped round the back of their defence to head home a second from Pike’s perfectly delivered free-kick.
Chris Beaumont won a penalty four minutes from time after tumbling theatrically under the challenge of Gavin Nebbeling but Jim Gannon’s sixth goal of the season came too late for Stockport, with boss Bergara bemoaning his side’s sloppy start after the final whistle.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Onwere (Ferney 71), Hails, Brazil. Subs (not used): Tierling.
BOOKED: Nebbeling.
GOALS: Pike (9), Nebbeling (71).
STOCKPORT COUNTY: Edwards; Todd (McCord 21), P. R. Williams, Miller, Barras (Frain 34), B. Williams, Gannon, Ward, P. A. Williams, Beaumont, Preece.
BOOKED: P. A. Williams.
GOAL: Gannon (pen 86)
REFEREE: Steve Dunne (Bristol).
