Tony Ellis broke his six-week scoring drought with a brace that gave the Potters a narrow win over Fulham at the Victoria Ground.
The striker could easily have scored more than two well-taken goals that settled a tight contest – having given the Whites’ a warning by glancing a great Gareth Evans cross wide of Jim Stannard’s goal inside the first twenty seconds. Alan Dicks’ defence, featuring new signing Simon Morgan, struggled to get to grips with the former Preston North End striker, who found the net for the first time since 31 August in the 28th minute when Fulham went to sleep from a set-piece.
Mick Kennedy’s quick free-kick was helped on by Wayne Biggins and Jim Stannard couldn’t deny Ellis from eight yards. Worse was to follow in the second half. A more direct free-kick from Peter Fox was allowed to reach Ellis and the Salford-born striker spun away from his marker to lash a left-footed effort inside the far post.
Fulham looked dangerous when they went forward, with goalkeeper Fox helping Stacey North’s header on to the crossbar, and then superbly saving a 20-yard drive from Martin Pike. Liam Rosenior halved the deficit with nine minutes left, capitalising on confusion in the Stoke defence to steer Stannard’s long kick past the stranded Fox, but the visitors couldn’t find a late leveller despite throwing caution to the wind.
STOKE CITY: Fox; Sandford, Blake, Carr, Butler, Ware, Kennedy, Beeston, Evans, Ellis, Biggins. Subs (not used): Cranson, Broughey.
BOOKED: Beeston.
GOALS: Ellis (28, 67).
FULHAM: Stannard; North, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Ferney (Cobb 73), Kelly, Brazil, Davies (Milton 73), Rosenior.
BOOKED: Morgan, Pike, Ferney.
GOAL: Rosenior (81).
REFEREE: T. West (Hull)
ATTENDANCE: 12,394.
