Fulham eased to an encouraging 3-1 win at AFC Bournemouth this afternoon thanks to goals from Terry Angus, Gary Brazil and Jeff Eckhardt.
The Cottagers took the lead in the fourteenth minute when Peter Baah, who had earlier had a goal chalked off for offside, swing in a corner and Angus punished some hesitancy from goalkeeper Neil Moss by heading home on the edge of the six-yard box. Angus’ joy at opening the scoring lasted barely two minutes when the centre back dwelt on the ball under pressure from Steve Fletcher and turned the ball past a furious Jim Stannard as he tried to prevent the striker from equalising.
The home side should have gone in front on the stroke of half time but Fletcher managed to head wide of an open goal and it was the Whites who started the second half on song. They won a penalty nine minutes after the interval when Brazil was brought down by the jittery Moss and the former Sheffield United star dusted himself down before sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with the spot-kick.
The Cherries then pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser. Stannard kept Fulham in front with a couple of excellent saves from Fletcher and Russell Beardsmore. The home side were still searching for a leveller in the last minute when they were undone by a sprightly Fulham counter-attack that saw Jeff Eckhardt beat Moss at the second attempt to seal all three points to the delight of the travelling fans.
FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Herrera, Angus, G. Thomas, Eckhardt, Bedrossian, Onwere, Hails, Baah (Pike 75), Brazil. Subs (not used): Harrison.
BOOKED: Brazil.
GOALS: Angus (14), Brazil (pen 54), Eckhardt (90).
ATTENDANCE: 5,464.
