Fulham threw away a two-goal lead against their local rivals as Brentford staged a fabulous fightback to earn a 3-3 draw in a dramatic west London derby.
The Whites made a storming start to the New Year by taking a two-goal lead inside the first 27 minutes. Peter Scott struck a superb opening goal, lashing a left-footed drive into the net from outside the area, and the Craven Cottage faithful had a second to celebrate five minutes later. Welsh striker Gordon Davies scrambled the ball past Tony Parks from close range after Clive Walker’s shot cannoned off the crossbar.
But the Bees bounced back quickly. Andy Sinton’s gave the visitors’ hope on the half hour mark by punishing Jim Stannard for a poor punch with a lovely 30-yard lob. The winger’s eleventh goal of the season galvanised Steve Perryman’s side, who drew level a minute before half time when Richard Cadette brilliantly beat two home defenders and delivered a low cross that was converted by Kevin Godfrey for the midfielder’s second goal as many matches.
Cadette flicked Brentford ahead ten minutes into the second half by cleverly re-directing Terry Evans’ header past Stannard to the delight of 3,000 travelling fans in the Putney End. But the drama was far from over from the crowd of more than 8,000, who were enjoying an enthralling end-to-end encounter. Davies scored his second of the afternoon midway through the second half – slotting assuredly past Parks after sprinting away from the Bees backline that had been unlocked by a perceptive pass from Glen Thomas.
FULHAM: Stannard; Cawley, Eckhardt, Elkins, Marshall, Scott, Skinner (Sayer 80), Barnett (Elkins 63), Walker, Cole, Davies.
GOALS: Scott (21), Davies (26, 64).
BRENTFORD: Parks; Feeley, Pearce, Evans, Bates; Jones, Cockram, Sinton, Godfrey; Cadette, Blissett.
GOALS: Sinton (30), Godfrey (44), Cadette (55).
ATTENDANCE: 8,021.
