Paul Barnes scored the only goal of the game as York City produced a battling performance to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Ministermen took a fifth minute lead when Paul Barnes burst away from a horribly square home defence to place his third goal of an already productive season past Jim Stannard having latched onto a lovely through ball from Jon McCarthy had beaten John Marshall, who was forced off with an injury shortly afterwards. Fulham’s fitful response to going behind disappointed the home faithful and it took some blood and thunder football from Simon Morgan to carry the attack directly the visitors, with the skipper’s strong run leading to a shot that was repelled by the excellent Dean Kiely.
The captain headed a Martin Pike cross fractionally wide of goal but Sean Farrell’s untimely slip after he had taken the ball around the grounded Kiely summed up the home side’s ineptitude in front of goal. Peter Baah saw a shot scrambled off the line and Jeff Eckhardt should have done better than shoot straight at Kiely from six yards on the stroke of half time.
Fulham laboured lethargically in the second half, enjoying lots of possession but struggling to create clear cut opportunities. They forced eleven corners but York’s excellent defence stood firm and the visitors might have even increased their advantage on the break through Steve Cooper before the final whistle ended another underwhelming afternoon.
FULHAM: Stannard; Marshall (Jupp 10), Angus, Eckhardt, Pike, Morgan, Onwere, Hails (Kelly 75), Baah, Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Harrison.
YORK CITY: Kiely; McMillan, Hall, Swann, Tutill, Atkin, McCarthy, Pepper, Cooper, Barnes, Blackstone (Barratt 78). Sub (not used): Naylor.
GOAL: Barnes (5).
ATTENDANCE: 3,595.
