Justin Skinner’s double drove Fulham to their first win in eight matches as Alan Dicks’ strugglers smashed Chester City 4-1 at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Whites went in front in the tenth minute when midfielder Skinner struck a superb opener past Billy Stewart from all of twenty yards after being teed up by Gordon Davies. The Chester City keeper was outstanding for the remainder of the afternoon, saving well from Brazil and then twice denying Davies in quick succession.
Simon Morgan cleared a corner off his own line and Jim Stannard kept out an effort from Carl Dale as the visitors threatened an equaliser. Fulham had to show plenty of resilience when Morgan was forced off with a knee problem at half time, with Jeff Eckhardt switching to centre half and Steve Milton coming on to play as a third striker in a bold 4-3-3 formation. The system worked a treat as Dicks’ side threw caution to the wind.
Peter Scott doubled Fulham’s lead with a chip over Stewart that Chester manager Harry McNally described as being ‘worthy of a World Cup final’ and the Whites didn’t look back. Brazil blasted in a third from the edge of the area eight minutes later after Chester had failed to clear Milton’s cross.
Skinner made it four with his second of the afternoon in the 76th minute – finding the far corner fabulously after being fed by Scott’s neat lay-off. The midfielder was only denied a hat-trick by the far post having chipped the goalkeeper – whilst Milton, who deserved a goal for all of his endeavour, twice went close in the closing stages.
The only blot on the copybook came when Dale scored his ninth of the season after sprinting thirty yards to squeeze a shot through the legs of Glen Thomas and between Stannard and the near post.
FULHAM: Stannard; Eckhardt, North, G. Thomas, Pike, Marshall, Morgan (Milton 45), Scott, Skinner, Brazil, Davies. Subs (not used): Ferney.
GOALS: Skinner (10, 76), Scott (60), Brazil (68).
CHESTER CITY: Stewart, Abel, Lane, Butler, Lightfoot, Bishop, Barrow, Dale, Croft, Bennett, Bertschin (Painter 72). Subs (not used): Reeves.
BOOKED: Bennett, Stewart.
GOAL: Dale (81).
REFEREE: Jim Borrett (Diss).
ATTENDANCE: 3,084.
