Five-star Fulham produced a flawless display as they thrashed second-placed Notts County 5-2 to the delight of the Craven Cottage crowd this afternoon.
The Whites went in front on seventeen minutes when Steve Milton headed home from Gary Barnett’s brilliant right wing cross. County had their chances – with Paul Barnes twice missing the target from inside the box – and it came as little surprise when Neil Warnock’s promotion chasers levelled matters on the half hour mark. Jim Stannard came and failed to collect a free-kick leaving the home defence at sixes and sevens when Mark Draper returned the ball into the box and Phil Robinson tapped into an unguarded net.
The game was delayed by a half-time demonstration demanding that Fulham remained at Craven Cottage, by the fervour of the home fans seemed to fire up Ray Lewington’s side. They retook the lead five minutes into the second half when Ronnie Mauge leapt prodigiously to head home Clive Walker’s corner and Peter Scott seemed to have put the game beyond the visitors when his right-footed shot gave Steve Cherry no chance after the midfielder dribbled through the penalty area to create a shooting opportunity all for himself.
But County roared back through a fantastic free-kick from substitute Tommy Johnson who curled an unstoppable effort past Jim Stannard from 35 yards out. That seemed to set the stage from a grandstand finish but, instead of sitting back, Lewington’s side went for broke. Gordon Davies restored the two-goal cushion within a minute by firing home from 20 yards after Milton’s progress down the right flank had been halted by Dean Yates.
Three minutes later, Milton slotted a fine finish past Steve Cherry for his fifth goal of the season after latching onto a flick on from Davies. There has been precious little to cheer the home faithful down by the banks of the Thames this season, but this was an impressive victory to savour.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, Nebbeling, Pike, Scott, Bremner, Mauge, Barnett, Walker, Davies, Milton. Subs (not used): Peters, Sayer.
BOOKED: Scott.
GOALS: Milton (17, 74), Mauge (50), Scott (60), Davies (71).
NOTTS COUNTY: Cherry; Yates, Platnauer, Norton, Short, Robinson, Draper (Johnson 62), Turner, Lund (Law 62), Barnes, O’Riordan.
GOALS: Robinson (30), Johnson (70).
ATTENDANCE: 4,625.
