Steve Milton scored the only goal as Fulham eased their relegation worries with a nervy win over near neighbours Brentford at Craven Cottage this evening.
The striker glanced home Gary Barnett’s corner eleven minutes before half time to give the Whites a vital lead – but it was a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Jim Stannard, hampered by a hamstring injury, that delivered the precious three points. Stannard made a magnificent stop to prevent Simon Ratcliffe from putting the Bees in front midway through the first half and then excelled himself again to keep out Neil Smilie’s shot-on-the-turn seven minutes before the break.
That stop took on greater significance when Ray Lewington’s side went right down the other end and won a corner thanks to the persistence of Gary Elkins. Barnett’s inswinging flag-kick was right on target and Milton’s deft header gave Colin Smart no chance in the Brentford goal. Smart, on loan from Glasgow Rangers, made three fine saves to prevent Fulham from wrapping up the victory in the second half. He spread himself well to deny Gordon Davies from close range, kept out a Gordon Davies header and then denied Ronnie Mauge with fifteen minutes remaining.
Fulham’s largest crowd of the season roared the Whites on to a famous derby victory, which lifts the Cottagers to within one point of their local rivals in the middle of the Third Division table.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Pike, Elkins, Newson, Scott, Mauge, Barnett, Davies, Milton. Subs (not used): Skinner, Walker.
GOAL: Milton (40).
BRENTFORD: Scott; Millen, Ratcliffe, Buttigieg (M. Gayle 67), Evans, Sparham, Stanislaus, Smillie, Jones, Driscoll, Holdsworth.
ATTENDANCE: 6,729.
