An own goal from the luckless Dean Thomas extended Northampton Town’s winless streak to six matches as Fulham edged a five-goal thriller at Craven Cottage.
Thomas was unfortunate to turn a low cross from Clive Walker – scoring his second own goal in less than a month – as the crestfallen Cobblers were ruthlessly punished for a lack of quality in both boxes.
Graham Carr’s side appeared to have adjusted well to an entirely new system on the banks of the Thames with teenager Ian Johnson making an impressive debut in defence, Eddie McGoldrick operating as a sweeper and the unfortunate Thomas deployed in midfield. Wingers Paul Wilson and Bradley Sandeman gave Northampton a dream start with a goal after six minutes.
Dave Gilbert found Wilson in space down the left flank and he clipped in a cross that caused chaos in the Fulham penalty area. Gary Peters’ attempted clearance bounced back off a startled Jim Stannard and Sandeman was on hand to scramble home his first senior goal to the delight of the travelling supporters. Fulham piled on the pressure in response but it required a controversial penalty to bring Ray Lewington’s side level seven minutes before half time.
Keith McPherson was harshly penalised for a foul as he cleared the ball from Robert Wilson and Colin Gordon, who both went down. The referee ignored Northampton’s protests and Fulham midfielder Justin Skinner dispatched the spot-kick emphatically into the top corner.
The visitors came out revved up after the interval and might have gone ahead when the returning Paul Culpin failed to find the target with a free header and the visitors were punished swiftly for that miss. Wilson flicked on a throw-in for Gary Barnett to burst into the box and drill the home side into the lead.
The Cobblers’ levelled within three minutes as Sandeman found time and space on the right flank to find Adcock, who guided home his ninth goal of the season after some clever movement had seen the intelligent striker escape his marker. Gilbert then could have the away side the lead but he sliced wide after racing onto a clever pass from Sandeman before the own goal from Thomas gave Fulham all three points.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Peters, G. Thomas, Langley (Walker 75), Marshall, Skinner (Scott 75), Barnett, R. Wilson, Gordon, Sayer.
BOOKED: Peters, Wilson.
GOALS: Skinner (38), Barnett (55), D. Thomas (o.g. 77).
NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Gleasure; McGoldrick, Thomas, Donald, Johnson, McPherson, Sandeman, Culpin, Gilbert, Adcock, P. Wilson. Subs (not used): Flexney, Cobb.
BOOKED: McGoldrick.
GOAL: Sandeman (6). Adcock (58).
ATTENDANCE: 5,514.
