Two goals in three minutes saved Fulham from FA Cup humiliation at non-league Bath City this afternoon as the Whites fought back from 2-0 down to earn a replay at Twerton Park.
The Beazer Homes League outfit were on course for upset when second half goals from John Freegard and former Stoke striker Paul Randall gave them a commanding advantage. But Fulham fought back through right back Gary Peters and former Chelsea winger Clive Walker rolled back the years with a superb 25-yard strike to force a replay at Craven Cottage on Wednesday evening.
The home side proved their no respecters of reputations with a fast start that saw centre back Tony Ricketts twice come close with headers from the edge of the box. The Third Division side should have taken the lead just before the half hour mark when Andy Sayer followed up after Clive Walker had hit the post – only for Chris Banks to scramble the striker’s shot off his own line.
Bath took the lead two minutes after the interval when Freegard spun after collecting a throw-in from Paul Stevens and hit a low shot past Jim Stannard to score his fourteenth goal of the season. The home fans were in dreamland eighteen minutes later when Freegard turned provider, heading down skipper Dave Palmer’s cross to give Randall the simplest of finishes into an open goal. Randall admitted afterwards he breathed a sigh of relief that the goal stood – as he looked offside – but Bath couldn’t hold on to their deserved lead.
Peters powered a swerving shot into the roof of the net to bring Fulham back into it and Ray Lewington’s side were level just three minutes later when Walker cracked a fine finish through a packed penalty and past goalkeeper Jim Preston’s despairing drive to spare the Whites’ blushes.
Bath manager George Rooney was understandably disappointed with the draw – even if it will deliver the financial windfall of a replay at the Cottage. “We lacked composure and discipline after taking the two-goal lead and the defence panicked when Fulham started to pressurise us,” he lamented.
BATH CITY: Preston; Stevens, Palmer, Ricketts, Banks; Brown, Cousins (Singleton 75); Smith, Smart, Randall, Freegard. Subs (not used): Underhill.
GOALS: Freegard (47), Randall (65).
FULHAM: Stannard; Peters, Elkins, Nebbeling, Eckhardt, Lewington, Skinner, Marshall, Barnett (Donnellan 58), Walker, Sayer. Subs (not used): Watson.
BOOKED: Peters.
GOALS: Peters (72), Walker (75).
REFEREE: John Carter.
ATTENDANCE: 4,283.
