Phil Stant’s first-half equaliser earned Fulham a share of the spoils against Reading at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Royals will regret having failed to take advantage of an early lead provided to them by Mick Gooding’s header as they looked like they might score at will in the first half. Ian Porterfield’s side weathered a bright start from their hosts to create the first chance when Steve Moran headed over at the far post after Martin Hicks had helped on Stuart Lovell’s corner. The visitors went in front two minutes later as Gooding first saw a shot superbly saved by debutant Fulham goalkeeper Tony Parks before the striker crashed a header in via the underside of the bar after Steve Moran had kept the loose ball alive.
Trevor Senior seemed set to give the Royals a two-goal cushion six minutes later when he latched onto a through ball and lifted a finish over the stranded Parks only for the ball to stop short of the goal-line. Referee Graham Pooley penalised Lovell for a foul on Stacey North as he sought to score from close range.
Gary Brazil gradually got the better of an injured Linden Jones to become Fulham’s likeliest source of a leveller. The former Newcastle United forward got round the back of the Reading defence midway through the first half to present Stant with a scoring opportunity but the striker skied his shot from inside the six-yard box. Stant then flicked on a Brazil cross to create an opening for John Marshall, but the midfielder blazed badly over the bar.
Reading didn’t heed the warning and Stant brought Fulham level nine minutes before the break. The visiting defence failed to clear a long throw from Simon Morgan and Steve Milton crossed towards the back post where Mark Newson scuffed his shot. The defender’s miscued effort turned into a perfect pass for Stant, who sidefooted in an equaliser before the Reading rearguard could effectively readjust.
Porterfield’s side should have got back in front shortly afterwards when Lovell headed down a deep cross from Lovell – only for Senior to shoot wastefully over the bar. Two minutes before the break, Senior surged through the Fulham defence once again but a superb, saving tackle from Martin Pike averted any danger for the home side.
Fulham were the first to threatened after the interval but Justin Skinner completely missed his kick when it seemed simpler to convert a Stant cross. Reading’s riposte was swift with makeshift left back Mike Conroy making a rare burst forward that culminated in a superb ball to the back post but Senior’s tame header was meat and drink to a relieved Parks in the home goal.
Neither side could find a leveller as a gritty contest turned tempestuous with Gooding and Peter Scott both booked by referee Pooley after an ugly confrontation in the middle of the pitch.
FULHAM: Parks; North, Pike, Marshall, Morgan, Newson, Scott, Skinner, Brazil, Milton (Davies 79), Stant. Subs (not used): Finch.
BOOKED: Scott.
GOAL: Stant (36).
READING: Francis; Jones (Taylor 69), Morrow, McPherson, Hicks, Bailey, Gooding, Lovell (Brooks 72), Senior, Conroy, Moran.
BOOKED: Gooding.
GOAL: Gooding (8).
REFEREE: Graham Pooley (Bishop’s Stortford).
ATTENDANCE: 4,475.
