A first half strike from Martin Foyle gave Second Division Oxford United a narrow advantage to take back to the Manor Ground for next week’s second leg of this League Cup first round tie.
Foyle scored the only goal of the game from close range in the fifteenth minute after a goal mouth scramble followed Jim Stannard saving a bundled effort from Chris Simpson. The Whites responded well forcing a succession of corners of their own and dominated either side of the interval without managing to beat Peter Hucker in the Oxford goal. The United goalkeeper saved well from Gordon Davies and Scottish striker John Watson, while John Marshall thumped a forty-yard effort against the crossbar just before the hour mark.
Oxford also had the chances to extend their lead with Harry Durnin denied by a superb save from Stannard before Simpson and Foyle also went close. It remains to be seen whether Brian Horton’s men will regret their failure to kill off their lower-division opponents, but on this evidence Fulham are sorely lacking ruthlessness in the final third.
FULHAM: Stannard; Marshall, Eckhardt (Walker 45), G. Thomas, Kimble, Skinner, Scott, Mauge, Barnett, Davies, Watson. Subs (not used): Sayer.
BOOKED: Scott, Eckhardt.
OXFORD UNITED: Hucker; Bardsley, Phillips, Greenall, Ford, Foster, Lewis, Penney, Simpson, Durnin, Foyle. Subs (not used): Evans, Mustoe.
GOAL: Foyle (15).
REFEREE: Mike James (Horsham).
ATTENDANCE: 3,376.
