Stuart Lovell’s first half strike ended Reading’s two-month wait for a home win as the Royals edged past Fulham at Elm Park this afternoon.
The eighteen year-old winger delighted incoming chairman John Madjeski by ending Reading’s miserable home run with a fine finish past Fulham goalkeeper Jim Stannard a minute before half time after excellent build-up play from Mick Gooding and Scott Taylor.
The home side threatened to increase their advantage in the second half. The dangerous Michael Gilkes, rumoured to be interesting Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough at the moment, went on a mesmerising run that was only halted by an alert piece of defending from Stacey North. Taylor should have wrapped up the points for Ian Porterfield’s men but volleyed over from inside the box.
Madjeski was indebted to home goalkeeper Simon Francis for preserving Reading’s clean sheet. The former Chelsea goalkeeper produced two fabulous stops to deny Leroy Rosenior – back at Fulham for a second time this season – an equaliser. The Craven Cottage cult hero had already seen Francis fingertip over an effort on the hour mark and when Rosenior’s rasping volley was somehow kept out with five minutes remaining you knew the Whites weren’t going to return home happy.
READING: Francis; Hicks, McPherson, Richardson, Gooding, Taylor, Gilkes, Lovell, Leworth, Friel, Conroy. Subs (not used): Seymour, Marshall.
GOAL: Lovell (44).
FULHAM: Stannard; North, G. Thomas, Pike, Morgan, Newson, Kelly, Skinner, Brazil, Gray (Milton 70), Rosenior. Subs (not used): Langley.
BOOKED: Morgan.
ATTENDANCE: 4,073.
