A second hat-trick of the season from Micky Ross helped Exeter City recover from an awful start to win a ten-goal thriller at St. James’ Park this afternoon.
Julian Hails fired Fulham into a seventh minute lead when he lashed home from just outside the area after Kenny Veysey had parried a fierce drive from Sean Farrell, Farrell doubled Fulham’s advantage thirteen minutes later when he volleyed in an excellent cross from Jeff Eckhardt.
Exeter were stung into life by the Londoners’ rapid start. They hit back on half hour when Ross was left all alone at the back post to tap in Stuart Storer’s low cross from two yards out. The home side went in ahead at half time after breaching the Fulham defence twice within ninety seconds. First, Ronnie Robinson rifled in a free-kick from 25 yards past Jim Stannard’s despairing dive. Scott Daniels headed the Grecians into the lead with a powerful far post header when he was left unattended from Jason Minnett’s deep free-kick.
Fulham equalised within four minutes of the restart as Jeff Eckhardt stabbed home from close range after Glen Thomas had flicked on a Gary Brazil corner. But Ronnie Jepson restored Exeter’s lead eleven minutes later as forward showed predatory instincts, sliding in to score from five yards out after Stannard had failed to hold Steve Wigley’s drive from a well worked short corner.
Ross swept home his second superbly from another inviting Storer cross to make it 5-3 in front of the Big Bank. Fulham hit back five minutes later with Gary Brazil reducing the Cottagers’ arrears to a single goal by stroking home Farrell’s pass to set up a thrilling finale. Ross completed his hat-trick in the final minute as Stannard spilled a cross from Jepson at his near post and the centre forward squeezed home his shot at the near post.
EXETER CITY: Veysey; Minnett, Daniels, Whiston, Robinson; Storey, Coughlin, Bailey; Jepson, Wigley, Ross.
GOALS: Ross (30, 64, 90), Robinson (45), Daniels (45+2), Jepson (60).
FULHAM: Stannard; Angus, Eckhardt, G. Thomas, Herrera (Baah 31); Bedrossian, Onwere, Ferney (Tierling 80), Hails; Brazil, Farrell. Subs (not used): Harrison.
BOOKED: Ferney, Hails.
GOALS: Hails (7), Farrell (20), Eckhardt (49), Brazil (69).
ATTENDANCE: 2,919.
