Four-star Fulham cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Chester City at Craven Cottage this afternoon – and probably dashed their visitors’ promotion hopes in the process.
The Whites were on the front foot from the first whistle and could have gone in front after just two minutes but Gary Barnett failed to hit the target after being presented with a glorious shooting opportunity by City’s Paul Martin. Peter Scott did put the Cottagers ahead in the sixth minute when he rifled home a right-footed finish after poor marking allowed Gordon Davies to tee up the midfielder inside the area.
Winger Clive Walker made it two less than three minutes later, when he pounced to score from four yards after Chester goalkeeper Billy Stewart failed to hold Michael Cole’s speculative shot. Gary Barnett grabbed a deserved goal midway through the first half with another instinctive finish after Stewart had bravely thwarted the onrushing Davies with a sliding challenge.
Harry McNally administered some harsh words at half-time and his side were far more competitive after the break. They grabbed a goal of their own just after the hour mark when Chris Lighfoot lashed home from ten yards after substitute Steve Johnson had flicked on a free-kick from Graham Abel.
But Fulham had the last word just four minutes later when Davies added a fourth with a spectacular overhead kick to underline the home side’s superiority.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Thomas, Elkins, Marshall, Scott, Barnett (Donnellan 80), Wilson (Cawley 88), Walker, Cole, Davies.
GOALS: Scott (6), Walker (9), Barnett (23), Davies (65).
CHESTER CITY: Stewart; Butler, Woodthorpe, Hinnigan (Johnson 65), Abel, Lightfoot, Jakub, Barrow, Benjamin, Graham, Dale. Subs (not used): Hewtin.
GOAL: Lightfoot (61).
ATTENDANCE: 4,196
