Fulham moved to within three points of confirming a place in the Division Three play-offs after Justin Skinner’s first half header secured an impressive win at Reading this afternoon.
The visitors rode their luck initially as a shaky start saw Glen Thomas panic as he tried to head the ball back to Jim Stannard and only find Keith Knight. The Royals midfielder fluffed his lines in front of goal, however, shooting straight into the relieved Fulham goalkeeper’s legs. The richly talented Michael Gilkes spooned a shot over the bar when it seemed more straightforward to score at the far post after Trevor Senior had flicked on Lee Payne’s cross.
Those two scares woke Fulham from their slumber and Skinner spurned a glorious chance to put Ray Lewington’s men ahead when he shot horribly wide after being played in beyond the home defence by Peter Scott. The midfielder then met Clive Walker’s cross emphatically but saw his powerful header brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Steve Francis. Michael Cole headed the rebounded back across goal and, with Francis still on the floor, Skinner nodded in from close range at the second attempt.
Cole then released John Marshall with a wonderfully disguised ball only for the midfielder to blaze wildly over the bar – but the interval brought no change in the complexion of the match. Fulham were now dominant with Gordon Davies driving wide of the far post as they threatened to make it two. Walker waltzed his way into the area before being thwarted by a combination of Francis and Martin Hicks, with chances few and far between at the other end.
Knight missed a golden opportunity on the hour when Stuart Beavon and Senior’s quick free-kick caught Fulham by surprise, with the midfielder taking too long to pull the trigger in front of goal. He was immediately hauled off in favour of Steve Moran but the rejigged Reading forward line failed to stretch Stannard as Fulham made it ten away league wins for the season, setting a new club record.
READING: Francis; Hicks, Tait (Taylor 82), Gernon, Richardson, Knight (Moran 60), Beavon, Elsey, Gilkes, Payne, Senior.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Thomas, Rougvie, Marshall, Scott, Skinner, Mauge, Walker, Cole, Davies. Subs (not used): Elkins, Wilson.
GOAL: Skinner (37).
REFEREE: Brian Stephens (Stonehouse).
ATTENDANCE: 5,152.
