Two goals in the last three minutes at Manor Ground saw Third Division Fulham dump Oxford United out of the League Cup in dramatic fashion this evening.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Oxford overcome the loss of summer signing Steve Foster to a serious injury in the third minute to double their aggregate lead in the twentieth minute. Steve McClaren’s long throw was flicked on by Martin Foyle and Paul Simpson stabbed home from four yards out after Jim Stannard had spilled the loose ball. The Cottagers drew level ten minutes later when Peter Scott hammered home from ten yards after David Bardsley had blocked an effort from Glen Thomas.
The visitors hopes of a giantkilling increased four minutes later when Justin Skinner converted a penalty after Bardsley had blocked Gary Barnett’s goalbound shot with his hand. The full back was astonishingly not even booked despite an intentional hand ball five yards out with goalkeeper Peter Huck out of his goal. Skinner sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot and put Fulham in front on away goals.
But their advantage lasted just ten minutes as Simpson sneaked a shot around the Fulham wall and past an unsighted Stannard at the near post from an indirect free-kick just before half time. The visitors replied five minutes into the second half when a long punt from Stannard caused confusion Steve Ford and Bardsley in the United defence, allowing Clive Walker to feint his way around Hucker and restore Fulham’s advantage.
Oxford roared back with Simpson threading a brilliant ball through the Fulham defence for Harry Durnin to drive United’s third of the evening past Stannard from the right side of the penalty area. That seemed to give the Second Division side a comfortable enough cushion to progress in the second round – but Fulham’s remarkable late comeback changed everything.
Skinner lashed a left-footed thunderbolt from the edge of the box high into the net after Sayer had made a nuisance of himself in trying to hold on a high ball from Thomas. That looked to have set up extra time with the two sides level on aggregate but Scott had other ideas. The midfielder’s second of the evening was sidefooted superbly past Hucker after Des Bremner had played a low cross from Clive Walker into his path.
OXFORD UNITED: Hucker; Foster (Ford 3), Greenall, Bardsley, Penney, Phillips, Simpson, Lewis, McClaren, Durnin, Foyle. Subs (not used): Heath.
GOALS: Simpson (21, 44), Durnin (55).
FULHAM: Stannard; Nebbeling, G. Thomas, Marshall, Scott, Skinner, Mauge, Barnett (Bremner 78), Walker, Sayer, Watson (Kimble 26).
GOALS: Scott (30, 89), Skinner (pen 34, 87), Walker (50).
REFEREE: Jim Ashworth (Rutland).
ATTENDANCE: 3,896.
